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Justine Noel, PhD interview, Share Your Research Series
Science Communication Lab
Overview
This video features an interview with Justine Noel, a PhD candidate studying the impact of environmental exposures during pregnancy on maternal and infant health, specifically focusing on immune development. Justine shares her journey into research, her passion for science communication, and advice for aspiring scientists. She highlights the importance of asking questions, perseverance through experimental challenges, and the value of interdisciplinary skills like graphic design in conveying scientific findings effectively. The interview also touches on the personal side of being a scientist and the initial spark of curiosity that often fuels a scientific career.
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Chapters
- Justine Noel is a PhD candidate at the Icahn School of Medicine, studying how environmental exposures during pregnancy affect maternal and infant health.
- Her research specifically investigates immune development and the role of the immune system in children's disorders.
- Understanding these environmental-immune system interactions can lead to new therapeutic strategies for diseases.
This chapter introduces the core research area, establishing the significance of prenatal environmental factors on long-term health outcomes for both mothers and babies through the lens of immunology.
- Justine's initial interest in science began with neuroscience and spinal cord development during her undergraduate studies.
- A consistent theme in her research has been understanding how exposures impact development at cellular and molecular levels.
- She was drawn to basic science research, finding it more compelling than her initial aspiration of becoming a medical doctor.
Understanding Justine's personal trajectory helps illustrate how diverse scientific interests can converge and how early exposure to research can shape career paths.
Her undergraduate work in neuroscience, focusing on spinal cord development, provided a foundational understanding of how external factors influence biological development, a principle she now applies to immune system research.
- Scientists are passionate individuals with lives outside the lab, not reclusive 'cave people'.
- Their passion for science drives their work and their desire to share discoveries with others.
- Early experiences, like elementary school science fairs, can ignite a lifelong curiosity and passion for scientific inquiry.
This section demystifies the perception of scientists, emphasizing their humanity and passion, which can encourage broader engagement with science.
Justine vividly remembers building a tornado model from soda bottles at a science fair, an experience that sparked her curiosity about physics and the process of asking and testing questions.
- Scientific research is inherently challenging, with experiments often not working as expected.
- Perseverance and creativity are crucial for finding alternative solutions when experiments fail.
- Aspiring scientists should not be discouraged by perceived barriers and should actively pursue opportunities, even if acceptance is uncertain, to avoid future regret.
This chapter provides practical advice on resilience and mindset, essential for anyone pursuing a career in science, highlighting that setbacks are part of the process.
The advice to 'pursue even if you think that you're not going to get that opportunity or get that acceptance, still apply, because you never know' encapsulates the need for proactive engagement despite potential rejection.
- Skills from other disciplines, such as graphic design, can significantly enhance scientific communication.
- Justine uses her graphic design background to create clear and compelling figures for her research presentations and publications.
- Effective visual communication is vital for conveying complex scientific messages to diverse audiences.
This highlights the growing importance of interdisciplinary skills and effective communication in making scientific research accessible and impactful.
Justine implements her graphic design skills to design figures that clearly communicate her scientific findings, making her research more understandable to a wider audience.
Key takeaways
- Environmental exposures during pregnancy can significantly influence the immune system development of both mother and child.
- A consistent thread in scientific inquiry is understanding how external factors impact biological development at various levels.
- The passion for science is a driving force that motivates researchers to overcome challenges and share their knowledge.
- Early childhood experiences, like science fairs, can be pivotal in sparking lifelong scientific curiosity.
- Perseverance, creativity, and a resilient mindset are essential qualities for navigating the challenges of scientific research.
- Applying skills from other fields, such as graphic design, can greatly improve the clarity and impact of scientific communication.
- It is crucial for aspiring scientists to actively seek opportunities and apply for positions, regardless of perceived odds, to avoid future 'what ifs'.
Key terms
Environmental exposuresPregnancyMaternal healthInfant healthImmune developmentImmune systemDisordersTherapeuticsBasic science researchScience communicationGraphic design
Test your understanding
- How do environmental exposures during pregnancy impact maternal and infant health according to Justine Noel's research?
- What was Justine Noel's initial area of scientific interest before focusing on immune development?
- Why is it important for scientists to be passionate and communicate their work effectively?
- What advice does Justine Noel offer to young people interested in basic science research regarding challenges and opportunities?
- How can skills like graphic design be beneficial in the field of scientific research and communication?