Career Conversations: Q & A with Biologist Akhila Rajan

Dr. Akhila Rajan. Credit: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. “What makes being a scientist exciting is that I don’t know what I’m going to find tomorrow,” says Akhila Rajan, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the basic sciences division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Rajan is supported by an NIGMS early stage investigator Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award. These awards provide stable and flexible funding for a program of research that falls within NIGMS’ mission. Check out the highlights of our interview with Dr. Rajan to learn about her research and journey as a scientist. Q: What’s your biggest accomplishment? A: In terms of research, I would say it’s showing that the fat biology of the fruit fly has relevance to human biology, and that we can use this amazing research organism to study a complex physiological question. In terms of personal accomplishment, it’s being an immigrant coming from a household where neither of my parents went through traditional 4-year college training to now running my own research group. I hope my experience shows people that despite the barriers, there is a possibility to break through. Q: What led you to study fruit flies (Drosophila)? A: I had to choose a research organism for my master’s thesis, and Drosophila was the one I chose—mostly because it was available in a city close to my home. I didn’t think I was going to like it at all. But my mentor, Dr. ...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Being a Scientist Cells Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology Profiles Source Type: blogs