I talked to Carolyn Ruiz, a senior at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, about her experience with the Biological Interactions Summer Research Program organized by WISCIENCE. Carolyn spent the 10-week program doing research in the Hite Lab of Evolutionary Epidemiology while participating in a wide variety of professional development activities and events—and she even had time to explore the city with new friends.
To start, could you tell me a little bit about yourself?
My name is Carolyn Ruiz. I’m from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, where I’m doing a major in biology with a minor concentration in chemistry, and I do research in microbiology. This summer, I’m here at UW-Madison working as an undergraduate researcher at the Hite Lab, where our research centers on finding new ways to develop treatments for antibiotic resistance. Specifically, we’re targeting pathogen metabolism, and the idea is that if we make it extremely hard for pathogens to live and grow, then they won’t have any extra energy to devote to antimicrobial resistance. So in my project, we focus on iron metabolism because iron is really crucial for bacterial growth and other essential processes. So we’re testing adjuvants that alter iron availability with the goal of increasing bacterial sensitivity to antibiotics.
A fun fact about me is that I like to play instruments. I play piano and guitar, and I was trying to learn violin, but then I stopped because I like doing my nails! I couldn’t have nails to play the violin, but I really like to play instruments. I have an artsy side outside of science, so also drawing and painting.
What led you to apply for this program?
I had actually visited UW–Madison’s booth at two different science conferences and I asked them about their summer opportunities. As I was reading through the information, it caught my attention about all of the really good benefits that they had for the students and how they really seemed to be invested in the students’ professional development. So that was one of the main reasons why I wanted to apply. Because they were so nice and the program was really well structured. It also had topics that I was really interested in, so it was a win-win.
What has the experience been like for you?
It has been the best experience I’ve ever had! I’ve loved Madison, at least in the summer, because I can’t do the cold! It’s been really fun and the environment here in the lab has been super—getting that real life experience of how you work in the lab outside of classrooms. It’s a totally different experience and I’ve learned a whole bunch of new things that I can apply in my future. Everyone here has been really great at mentoring. The program has been really great with developing our skills, so it’s been an amazing experience.
What’s one of the most interesting things you’ve learned so far in this program?
The most important thing for me is that I’ve solidified my passion for research, because yeah, I’ve done research at school, but it’s not the same as fully immersing yourself in just research for a longer period of time. I absolutely love doing research, so I definitely know that’s what I want to continue doing. The program has really helped me see what options there are outside of academia. I’ve learned about industry, I’ve learned about project management. They have been really great at exposing us to all these different areas within science. So that’s been really great.
Can you tell me a little bit about your past research experience?
At my university, I have done and am currently doing research in antibiotic resistance, which is kind of what I do here. But in my school, I focus on discovering new antibiotics. So I look for bacteria that exhibit antimicrobial resistance and then I try to isolate that active compound. Whereas here, I do work with antimicrobial resistance, but more so looking for ways to improve current treatments instead of discovering new ones.
But yeah, my first experience was in my school, which led a pathway to being here. Because I work on a similar topic, it has actually been a really great transition. I didn’t come from one topic to an extremely different topic where I felt like everything was unknown. So that has helped me feel a lot more comfortable and expanded my knowledge overall.
Yeah, that’s really great that they were able to set you up with someone who was doing something similar.
Yeah, that was really great. It’s also my first time going out of the country. I live in Puerto Rico, so everything I do has been there. I’ve traveled about 12 hours between flights from home to here. And it’s my first time doing that for summer research out of state. So it really helped a lot. I feel comfortable and at peace.
What excites you about doing research in general?
What excites me about research is that it seems so interesting how you’re in the lab working with something that maybe you don’t know well yet, nobody knows well. But you’re doing all these experiments and you’re troubleshooting and you’re investigating things, and then these things turn into results. Those results turn into actual protocols or products or new treatments that people can use. And we can help advance society in whichever situation, like vaccines or new treatments, and it’s the behind-the-scenes of what those treatments are and how that stuff got to where it is today and how we use it.
I also love that making mistakes is alright, because sometimes you actually discover things by mistake! Mistakes don’t make you feel bad—you actually expect them, and they actually help you a lot, like which direction you need to take for the future. So that’s what I really love about research.
Yeah, I’ve heard people say that you have more failures than successes when it comes to experiments.
One hundred percent! It’s ninety percent failure and ten percent success. But you learn from it and you actually get better. Or you find new directions to go to. So it’s really fun to do research.
How do you want to be involved with research going forward? Do you want to go the same direction with what you’ve been studying, or do you have other areas you want to study?
I’ve always been interested in infectious diseases. So before, I was planning on going to pharmacy school, but then I started to do research at my home institution and I realized that I really, really liked that. And then I decided that I was always interested in infectious diseases, but since I didn’t know much about research, I didn’t realize that was actually what I was working with, because antibiotic resistance is because of infections, and it’s in that line. And then I came here and I’m also working on the same thing, so I’m really happy that I’m actually working on that topic that I’m interested in.
And going forward, I’m really looking forward to doing a PhD in microbiology with a specialization in infectious diseases. I’ve actually been working toward that without realizing it, but now I do! I’m really happy that I get to have that background come with me to grad school and continue to grow that.
What is something surprising or unexpected that you’ve experienced in this program?
When I first visited the [UW-Madison] booths, I was learning about all the benefits that they have and how they were invested in developing students, but I didn’t actually think that it would be as serious as it is. I thought it was going to be maybe one workshop every two weeks, that’s it. But actually it’s been pretty intensive. We have learned so much about how to write papers, so much about how to do research, so much about different career paths. And they really, really are fully invested in shaping us into really great scientists and giving us all these tools that we can use.
And I really love that every Tuesday, we meet, we get workshops, we talk about our week, we hear other faculty talk about their work and what they do, and that has really helped me understand the things that I want to do and see what other options there are that I didn’t know about. I think that overall, they have really set me up for success and have given me so many tools that I can continue to use.
Are there things that you’ve learned that are immediate takeaways that are going to change how you approach your education, science, or how you do research?
In terms of labs, I’ve learned so many techniques that I can apply at home that would actually make my life so much easier! So I’m definitely going to be applying those to my research when I go back home.
And career-wise, I’ve learned to look for certain resources that will help me get to where I want to get in grad school, in terms of applying to school, finding the right lab for me, finding the right mentor for me. And since that’s next semester, I’m immediately going to apply all that stuff that I learned. So I’m really excited for that.
I thought that because I wanted to do research, then maybe I had to work at a university and be a PI, but I’ve learned that that’s not necessarily true. I can do independent research with other companies or I can work in industry, and I’ve learned all of these new paths that I’m more inclined to do. I’m super thankful that I’ve learned about it before fully committing to it once I’m done with my PhD. So yeah, those are two main things that I’m going to apply and continue to look into.
Is there anything that you would want to tell other students who are applying for this program?
Yeah, I would definitely tell other students to apply and not let their past experiences or if they feel ready or not [hold them back]. Just apply, because that’s what these programs are for. They’re for helping you to develop yourself and gain that experience that you need. And getting that step forward. When I was starting to apply, I was thinking, oh, well, maybe I don’t have enough experience in that. Or I don’t know if I’ll get in. And if I don’t know if I’ll get in, I don’t know if it’s worth it to apply. But I definitely put all those thoughts aside and just applied. And I would really recommend for future students to just do that. Just apply and have a little bit of faith in yourself, and know that not everyone is born knowing everything. You need to put yourself into those experiences, and a way of doing that is to just expose yourself to them.
Have you been able to go out and enjoy Madison?
Oh yeah, actually, I found it really surprising that when I came here, I met a whole bunch of Puerto Rican students. We’re a group of like 18 students. And we actually had never met before in Puerto Rico, but we all met in the airport. And from there, we all became best friends. And since we’re in the same dorm, we always go have breakfast together. We always go outside and explore Madison, and we have gone almost everywhere. All the museums, the farmers’ market, the Capitol…we have done practically everything in our free time so it’s made the experience even nicer. It was really comforting to know that I’ve had a group of people that I could really relate to and feel really at home. That has made my experience even better.
Is there anything else that you wanted to share?
I think that’s all. Again, it’s been a really amazing experience. I’m so thankful that I got to be here in Madison.