The PostDocs Forum

PhD Candidate Yanina Shevchenko is our Featured Scientist of the Month. Make sure to follow Yanina on twitter and LinkedIn.

An overview of her current research:
I work at Carleton University under the supervision of Dr. J. Albert and Dr. M. C. DeRosa. My research is primarily focused on the development of a fiber sensor that can be used for chemical and biochemical analysis. Many people working in biochemistry and optics are familiar with the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect, which is widely used in analytical chemistry for molecular interaction analysis, on a quantitative scale. I am involved in the development of a fiber sensor that could be used as an alternative to the existing SPR platforms. This research entails a lot of interdisciplinary work and requires a good understanding of physical processes, as well as an ability to simulate and predict behavior of SPR. Along with that, there is room in my work for a serious knowledge of biochemistry that is sometimes not as trivial and predictable as other sciences. Blending knowledge from different disciplines, and working with people of different scientific backgrounds is something that I really enjoy in my everyday student life.

Yanina’s favorite part of research and lab work:
I think my favorite part of research is in the initial development of research ideas through simply brainstorming, or reviewing recently published literature. I also really enjoy meeting with scientists from other fields to find out what they are working on and what concerns them. From such communication you can pick up new ideas that are not usually, directly related to your research; but these ideas are sometimes the most valuable as they can cause you to reassess your work and look at things from a slightly different perspective. All aspects of this initial research phase are exciting in that they allow and empower creative freedom.

The most important quality for a scientist to be successful:
This is an excellent question. I think every successful scientist has a certain combination of qualities that engender accomplishment.

I believe success comes from a well-structured knowledge of one’s own field of study, as well as an understanding of the science and events taking place in adjacent fields (the so called ‘breadth and depth’). This more comprehensive awareness and understanding is required for scientists to excel in their own area of expertise, bridge to other fields, and innovate.

In addition to this quality, as a rule, a successful scientist also has to be a good project manager, which requires strong people skills and the ability to prioritize. It seems that people who remain in academia do not go through specialized management training; as a result, management styles appear to be based more upon a trial and error method. However, good management skills are necessary to distinguish top-ranked scientists in their field.

Finally, another vital attribute is passion for the work. There are many aspects of a scientist’s career that are not so easy, including the day-to-day struggle to secure funding, and other mundane aspects of administration. Without the underlying motivation of passion for scientific research, these tasks could become too burdensome.

Tips for lab management and organization:
Throughout my graduate studies, I have noticed several guiding principles that can be applied, regardless of field of study; here are a few of them:

· Transparency and clear goal setting are essential for good teamwork. Everyone working on the same project should be on the same page and understand project goals and objectives.

· It is important to keep your colleagues and collaborators up to date on the progress of your projects. When you think you are running into a wall, you may be able obtain a different perspective from your colleagues, leading to an unexpected solution.

· Ongoing communication and motivation is the key to inspiring your team members. It is important to spend a certain portion of your work-time talking with colleagues, learning about their concerns and needs, and offering assistance.

· Research in academia has a very high level of uncertainty. High-risk projects can have very low predictability and deadlines may need to be repeatedly extended. Re-structuring, considering alternative projects, setting new goals (i.e. having a contingency plan) should help along the road.

· I am a firm believer that introducing the latest kinds of software to lab routines and trying new ways of digitizing the information involved in procedures, is beneficial. Sharing information, at least with lab members, through online tools, and trying some fancy visualization tools could help simplify data exchange and the process of data analysis.

Future Plans:
It seems that everyone I meet asks me about my postgraduate plans. There are so many options for students completing the doctorates in science, and I wish I could definitely say what exactly I am going to be doing. I think I will pursue a research path either in academia or in industry: hopefully in a group where I can take advantage of my Photonics background, but also in a setting where I can constantly learn and be challenged. I enjoy the intellectual stimulus of involvement in discovery and the project design process. I hope my work will continue being intellectually stimulating.