Coronavirus Contributions

Coronavirus Contributions

How to adapt and expand your research during the pandemic.

Each issue we ask a trainee to pose their career questions to an established investigator and mentor. Here, Benard “Ben” O. Ogola, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at Tulane University, New Orleans, asks Margarita Curras-Collazo, PhD, FAPS, associate professor of neuroscience in the Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology at the University of California, Riverside, how to protect unique ideas and adapt and grow during the pandemic. 

Q: How do I present my research data and future experiments or goals to colleagues in scientific meetings without feeling like my ideas are taken away?
A: It’s always a great opportunity to convey your ideas and enthusiasm to other scientists. This connects you with scientists tackling similar questions. It triggers opportunities for networking with scientists and programs and promotes invitations for seminars and job interviews. Many scientists worry about getting their ideas scooped, and some actually do. This creates a lot of unneeded stress on a scientist’s day-to-day well-being and creativity. However, even if you do get scooped, I would propose that no two studies are actually the same and both will get published. Consider using pre-registered report services like BioRxiv.org and journals with “scoop protection.” In the grand scheme of things, it really doesn’t matter who published a few months ahead of another. You stand to lose much more if you don’t share. The possibility of collaborations is one of the greatest benefits of being a scientist. Interdisciplinary teams of scientists are an important contributor to success. Let’s face it, in order to probe into Mother Nature we need to explore many levels of complexity, and likely from many angles, to further the discipline.

Q: Scientific innovation is important, as is currently evident in the search for COVID-19 treatments, including a vaccine. How should young scientists adapt or contribute during the pandemic?
A: As we learn more about vulnerable patient groups it is clear that there are health disparities associated with COVID-19. We are also learning how the virus infects and how the host immune, respiratory and nervous systems are likely responding. Interested scientists who may be able to contribute because of their unique expertise or career interests and/or access to vulnerable patient groups should investigate new and exciting grant opportunities initiated at the local and national level. At the University of California, Riverside, for example, there are small grants advertised that even students can apply for as co-principal investigators. In addition, scientists can develop new educational seminars, lectures or even review articles to help the scientific community advance in the scientific “battle” to contain and suppress the adverse effects of coronavirus.

Q: Given that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted basic research, how should mentored scientists manage the “publish or perish philosophy” and foster collaboration while training toward independency?
A: One positive aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic is the time afforded to individualized work that can be utilized for creative and scholarly activities. Even trainees with incomplete data sets can benefit by writing parts of their oral qualifying proposals, dissertation or even manuscripts and review articles. One can also use the time to catch up on the scientific literature in emerging areas within your field. Training in these professional skills can come from online webinars, workshops and conferences and/or meetings with your mentors and senior peers. These are all desirable skills to gain that will help trainees develop independency. We are lucky to live with modern tools that keep us connected remotely by facilitating group activities while keeping us safe from the pandemic. However, some of us have additional elderly or child care and other responsibilities brought on by the need to stay home and may not be able to benefit fully from remote work. It bears reminding that some have fallen ill or are caring for others that have fallen ill or have lost their financial lifeline and are facing real adversity and anxiety. 

Got a career question you'd like to submit? Email it to tphysmag@physiology.org. We may use it in an upcoming Mentoring Q&A.

This article was originally published in the November 2020 issue of The Physiologist Magazine.