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The Interview:

Karen: Tell me about your current research. What did you work on this summer?

Loy: Since March of this year, I’ve been working in Dr. Eugene Serebryany’s research group. Our lab focuses on protein aggregation in the eye lens and is investigating the development of non-surgical treatments for cataracts. We know that the formation of protein aggregation in the eye lens is the primary contributor to the development of cataracts, a leading cause of blindness and impaired vision worldwide. The inner core of the human lens, which doesn't regenerate cells or proteins, has developed unique ways to resist these aggregates for a lifetime. However, as people age, the lens becomes increasingly susceptible to oxidative stress, triggering protein misfolding and aggregation. Previous research has shown that a lens metabolite called myo-inositol helps prevent these protein aggregates without directly interacting with the oxidative process. Studies have quantified aggregation suppression using in vitro aggregation assays of oxidation-mimicking human γD-crystallin variants and investigated myo-inositol’s molecular mechanism. We are experimentally testing computational predictions of myo-inositol's aggregation suppression mechanism by site-directed mutagenesis of the aggregation-prone N-terminal domain. And I'm specifically looking at how myoinositol interacts with and suppresses the aggregation.

How did you first get involved in research at Stony Brook?

I previously worked in Dr. Natasha Vitek’s lab, and my research experience there was super great. I learned so much from that lab! And I got to participate in the SOAR program in summer 2023. But I came to realize that I wanted to pursue a different field that was more connected with the medical field, and which has a personal connection for me. …My mom actually became blind due to optic nerve atrophy before I was born. So, growing up with a blind mom, I’ve seen how her life was affected by this and have always been very interested in ophthalmology. I learned about the work that Dr. Eugene Serebryany was doing, through my mentor in the Asian-American Pacific Islander mentorship program here on campus. When I learned that Dr. Serebryany was looking for undergraduates to join his lab, I reached out to him because I was very interested in the work that he does on cataracts. 

What are your long- term goals?

I plan on going to graduate school to pursue a PhD. I definitely want to go into biomedical sciences and I’m interested in pursuing research that could potentially interact with ophthalmology. I really enjoy the research I’m doing now. 

What do you enjoy most about doing research?

A lot of times when you hear about medical breakthroughs or treatments in the news, you don't realize that it takes months and typically years of work behind the scenes. I think being able to get involved in that scene just motivates me to learn more. The idea that I may eventually be able to contribute towards the goal of a treatment for people really motivates me to continue working. In a way, I didn't expect that the things I learned in class would have an immediate, real-life application because you learn about so many things in class. But here I am, applying what I’m learning in class to the research I’m doing. And it's really cool to see that. 

How did you initially find your first research experience on campus?  

 I applied for a research assistant position on handshake through the Career Center. I already knew coming into Stony Brook that I really wanted to get involved in research. And it turned out that someone else got offered the position in the lab. But then a little while later, during winter break, Dr. Vitek wrote to me and asked me if I was still interested. Shortly after that, I started working in her lab, and since it was my first real research and lab experience, I didn't really know about lab procedures, or how to look at things analytically. Professor Vitek really helped me and guided me through every step. I think it was such a positive experience for me because of the training and mentorship she provided. And then I got the chance through the SOAR program to spend a whole summer working in her lab.

My work in the Vitek lab involved analyzing CT scans of mice teeth. Dr. Vitek made me realize the importance of getting data properly, and how to follow lab protocols and be meticulous about everything. And I think that having that background really helped me when I entered Dr. Serebryany’s lab. He also has helped me expand on what I can do in the lab in order to be able to perform experiments and grow proteins. He taught me how to conduct my own experiment, to see what to troubleshoot and see what is working, what is not working. My experiences overall have been very positive and I have learned a lot with both of my mentors.  

As a participant in the SOAR program, did you enjoy the experience of presenting a poster?

Yes, the poster presentation was really fun! Sometimes when you are doing research over a long period of time, you may feel like you’re not seeing any results or that you haven’t made that much progress. But when you go through the process of putting together a poster presentation and are gathering your results to communicate what you’ve done over the summer, I think it really makes you appreciate all of your work. You can really see how much you’ve done. I also really liked seeing the other posters there and being able to talk to the other students to find out more about what they were working on. I made so many friends through the program, which was really fun. But being able to communicate my results to a wider audience and show them what I've been working on was a really fulfilling experience for me. And especially because it was my first time presenting, I think it gave me more confidence for future presentations.

Did you enjoy the SOAR programming and workshops?

Yes, we had a lot of professional development workshops and were able to go to events including one where there was a panel of PhD students talking about graduate school. At that time, the summer after my freshman year, I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do in the future. But being able to hear a panel of PhD students just talk to the other students in the program I think did strengthen my determination to go to graduate school and pursue a PhD. After that, I was connected to my graduate student mentor in the AAPI program. So all of these experiences have helped me on my path and influenced me to learn about possible careers with a biology degree. A lot of my friends are pre-health, pre-med or pre-dental. And until I started the summer program, I hadn’t even met that many people who were considering a PhD path. So it opened up possibilities that I hadn’t thought about before.

What advice do you have for other students? 

I was talking to some students recently at the Involvement Fair last week. And that reminded me of how the idea of emailing professors can seem really daunting and scary at first. Through my own experiences, though, I have found that the professors are helpful, and even if they don't think you're the best fit for their lab, oftentimes they will refer you to other labs and other professors. My biggest advice is to just take that step forward, take the initiative to reach out. Before you contact someone, it’s good to be familiar with what kind of research they do. But at the same time, you should know that the professors don't expect you to know everything coming into the lab.  When I started working in Dr. Serebryany’s lab recently, it took some time to get used to being in a new lab and doing different procedures. But they do train you, and they do help you. And there are a lot of grad students in the labs as well that help you out. So my biggest advice is just to not be scared to reach out. It’s definitely worth it.