Keeping up with the USC Chlamydians: A (ir)regular week in research
Our communications ambassador Martina Jelocnik, ARC DECRA Research Fellow, Genecology Research Centre / Chlamydia Research Group at the University of The Sunshine Coast, shares her a week in research during the current pandemic.
The ongoing SARS-Cov2 pandemic, together with implemented measures to control the coronavirus spread, has not just impacted our daily activities, but also imposed new challenges to the conducting research as we know it.
Recently, we (the ASM) asked on Twitter: “Has or has not the coronavirus isolation changed our work as microbiologists, and what are the different ways microbiologists (and in general, researchers) are adapting?”. The adaptions to the “new normal” research and challenges will be different for each of us. In an attempt to answer the question above from a new PI perspective, I compared my regular week in research to my recent “new normal” week in isolation and/or working under restricted access with physical distancing measures.
A regular week in the office and lab
#lablife, #busy, #chaotic, #social, #fun, #exciting, #educational
First, for every day of the week, a good breakfast, a double shot espresso with a dash of cold milk, and a bright lipstick to start the day.
Monday
AM
9 am-ish: Go through at least 10 emails since Saturday/Sunday (not complaining, as I do acknowledge that many of my colleagues would have received 100, and I do check them during the weekend (I was finishing a task from last week anyway!)).
Make a list with all things I want to tick off by Friday, e.g. Apply for X,Y; call/meet A, B, C; URGENT: LAB STUFF A,B,C,D, AND E TO BE DONE!!!; Write the paper; Forms; Learn about X,Y,Z in case my students ask me because I should be at my best as a supervisor and mentor; etc; etc; etc.
Meet with my ever-inspiring students so we can philosophically transact on:
the wonders of Chlamydia and other bugs (contrary to a popular belief, we do like many non-Chlamydia microorganisms!);
improvements of our project(s) - with more work, we generated more new questions rather than actual answers, and we are curious to see what happens (whilst slightly freaking out inside but maintaining a studious (read: brave) face);
food, fashion and TV (hands up if you do not have a favourite show(s) - nope, can’t see any hand there!);
supervision and the must do’s; and
finish with some newly concocted inspirational wisdom (I’m told I’ve always done this but now as a new PI they have to listen, right?), positive outlook, ready for action full of élan, whilst oozing “Rockstar” coolness. (Yes, I do imagine my team and me like this - anything to keep us from never stop never stopping!
More emails, quick assay in the lab, and lunch time (sometimes, lunch is not until 3pm and gummy lollies in various shapes (e.g. snakes, bears, fruits) can be devoured in the meantime). Note to self: eat more fruit or vegie sticks.
PM
[Academic] Twitter check in, justified by the numerous real-time notifications about papers, projects, grants, potential collaborations, cute pet photos (these alleviate my stress levels!).
Check lab stuff and run off to a new meeting.
Start those conference abstracts and applications for every possible award, grant and similar!Most excited to do a conference abstract than others – One does need a valid a reason not just to hear about some super cool projects, but also to catch up with all of the “Micro friends”. Note to self: Now, get going with those XYZ analyses so I can present them on the conference!
Quick reminder from my dear colleagues not to stay too late.
6:30 – 7 pm-ish: At least, I should go for quick walk around the campus before finishing for the day.
Tuesday
AM
A weekly meeting with all USC Chlamydians – a group meeting that’s kept its tradition since my undergrad days, where we are keen to share our research, somewhat ludicrous hypotheses and provoking thoughts whilst receiving very realistic feedback. I really think that the Walt Disney quote shared by our mentor Prof. Peter Timms applies very well here: “Around here we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”
And the usual continues: emails, lab work, desk work.
Get ready for field sampling.
Keeping up with Chlamydians. A: Face to face: From left: Dr. Olasola Olagoke, David Lizarraga (PhD student), Dr Bonnie Quigley, Vasilli Kasimov (PhD student), Susan Anstey (PhD student), Amy Robins (PhD student), Dr. Martina Jelocnik; B: Camera to camera: From top left: Dr Bonnie Quigley, Dr Martina Jelocnik, Vasilli Kasimov (PhD student), the middle left: David Lizarraga (PhD student), Eline Seim (SRP student); Dr Sharon Nyari, and bottom left: Amy Robins (PhD student), Dr. Olasola Olagoke.
PM
Field sampling from midday to after 5pm, which we love doing but sometimes “have to complain about” to keep up appearances.
And in my take on “How to successfully field sample with colleagues”:
1. Have a great code name for your project and a made-up song based on a popular tune if possible (e.g. Project “Chlice” (chlamydia and lice in wildlife birds) goes: “Chlamydia, lice, lice, birdie; Chlamydia, lice, lice, birdie; All right stop! Collaborate and sample.”)
2. Always pack a bag with double the sampling gear as someone will forget something.
3. Whilst sampling always ask for expert advice, and learn an interesting fact about the host/pathogen/method.
4. Stay safe and ethical, and have a snack ready for after sampling.
Field sampling.
Wednesday
AM
The usual hustle and bustle in the lab, with me always very loudly and rather passive aggressively asking who took my pipettes and my pink racks (because my experiment will not work if I use other pipettes and any other coloured racks, obviously!). But this is the crux of our beloved trade: the comradery when one sets the PCR, another runs the gel, third sends off amplicons for sequencing; the laughs, high fives or quick celebratory dance of successful experiments; the tears and lots of $#&*! type words when experiments fail; the “Superhero” rising after the falls … …
PM
Quick Ebay bidding – as I always say the auction must be won for great pair of new sneakers at fantastic price (Also applicable to cosmetics and clothes. Hands up if you do occasional online shopping at work).
Knock, knock
Who’s there?
Your colleague
Colleague who?
Colleague working on something totally different (e.g. seaweed) but the microbiology link is found, and we should totally work on this together!
Voilà! Impromptu chat just turned into a new project, let me quickly add the new project to the list as it is too exciting (and it totally does not matter that I already have 10 ongoing…).
More lab work.
We all know the perils of the different time zones but collaboration is the key to our success, so 6.30pm Skype meeting with lovely EU Chlamydians cannot be postponed. Do wish it was in person, but no funds for lab visit (Note to self: do find and apply for some travel grants ASAP).
Rest of the list: just shuffle it for Thursday.
Thursday
AM
Procrastinate a bit (for me, this often involves literature search and reading some cool, as well as not so cool papers) and then inspired I tackle my own papers, abstracts, and applications.
Lunch time: our Research Centre’s research seminar series – I could even say I am a bit of seminar busybody. I am always curious to hear about the other projects so I can learn something and perhaps identify new collaboration opportunities, but also to check out the presenter to improve my own communication skills (read: steal something cool they do and use it in my presentations).
PM
More emails, that sometimes turn into impromptu phone calls with collaborators, followed by a flurry of emails with further ideas and plans.
Get back to “writing” with occasional mini-procrastination breaks, fuelled with gummy snakes/bears/fruits.
Friday
AM
Check in with, and check up on my team with some beverages and snacks. We share the worries and stress, celebrate all good things, reassure we will all be OK (they reassure me as much as I reassure them) and impart that they will become “rich and famous science rockstars” so they can take me out to exclusive gourmet places.
Lab work with our Undergrad student – amazed by this bright student, but also a little bit proud of myself that I have sparked her interest in Microbiology and that I get to impart my knowledge and experience onto the next generation.
PM
Ok, still half of the things on my list not ticked off and new items added. But more clarity and priority on how to finalise them. Maybe little bit winning in life?
FriYAY! Oh, just remembered deadline for XYZ on Sunday so must do XYZ on Saturday, so, more like SunYAY.
An irregular week under isolation at the home office
#staysafe, #stayhealthy, #workfromhome, #socialandphysicaldistancing, #busy
First, for every day of the week, a good breakfast, a double shot espresso with a dash of cold milk, and a bright lipstick to start the day. This week though, I can wear my loungewear and fashionable slippers (oh, have I already shamelessly planned my tweets for the week).
Monday
AM
9 am-ish: Hm, less emails. Mainly notifications.
As always, make a list with all things I want to tick off by Friday.
Email my ever-inspiring students so we can:
make a plan for what we can do for the week, catch up via Zoom and check that they are OK;
redesign parts of the project so it can be done from home; and
sign off with inspirational wisdom, encouragements that the projects will go on this way or another, and wishes to stay healthy and safe! This is more integral now than ever!
…And do not tell them how you spent almost all-night thinking about the “new normal” research during the pandemic; impacts on us and the projects, solutions and mitigation plans so we all come out with best possible outcomes and achievements.
More emails, quick redesign of the home setup for better productivity and ergonomics.
PM
Home setup requires further redesign so I brave the shops for standing desk and a better office chair.
Yes, this is better, now I can readily tackle the data analyses, papers, applications, but also need to post a photo of the furry co-worker, and my fashionable slippers and get coronavirus updates.
Reality sets in again: this is a once-in-a-lifetime global event affecting all humankind. I cannot stop thinking of ways that I can contribute to the national and global coronavirus pandemic response; and moreover, about the wellbeing of my team, colleagues and family.
Tuesday
AM
A weekly meeting with all USC Chlamydians continues due to the wonders of technology. We are rebranding it with: Weekly Zooming with Chlamydians, where we admire our virtual backgrounds, share advice on work from home setup, plan lab timeshare to assure safety of us all, and of course, continue to share our research, ludicrous hypotheses and provoking thoughts whilst receiving very realistic feedback. It is comforting that things will adapt rather than drastically change.
Contributed, in a rather small way, to coronavirus control efforts and flattening the curve, but we can all do more.
PM
Field sampling postponed indefinitely but the project “Chlice” enters the new phase: “Project Chlice – The rise of metadata”. With sampling comes metadata and preliminary results, so no better time than now to analyse and classify metadata per X, Y and Z, each in pretty colour palette, and perhaps even tackle some stats. Aren’t we happy now that we sampled for a whole year before the coronavirus outbreak? Also, very proud that the PhD students share my enthusiasm for colourful data visualisation and are patient with me to answer millions of emails of how to do this or that.
Wednesday
AM
My slot in the Chlamydians Lab timeshare so we achieve safety for all and help in controlling the spread of coronavirus spread #flattenthecurve. The quiet and calm of the lab during restricted access; where: I did not have to ask where is my pipette or special pink racks as no one was there; could not tag team anyone to make me a gel, nor share the joy of the bright amplicon with me. It is interesting how a small thing such as a text message to put samples in the freezer and a hope I will get a glimpse of them in the lab can make our social hearts flutter during #lablife in isolation.
MJ Lab life. A: The hustle and bustle: From left “Sharp” Sharon Nyari, “Electric” Eline Seim, “Superb” Susan Anstey, “Valiant” Vasilli Kasimov, “Marvellous” Martina Jelocnik; B: The restricted access.
PM
Another Ebay bidding – as I always say whether you are home or not, the auction must be won for a great XYZ brand sneakers at fantastic price. But new considerations: then, if I do proceed with the order, am I putting the seller’s (and other people’s) health at risk and not contributing to flattening the curve by making them go to the post office? Most certainly I do, hence Ebay-ing (and many other non-essential activities) are put on hold indefinitely.
Instead, I made another small contribution to the national and global effort to coronavirus pandemic response by posting an update and/or advice on Twitter.
Even in times of the coronavirus pandemic isolations, collaborations crave contact and connectedness. And so, we adapt: Zooming for Science. This time with XXX. Wishing more now than ever it was in person, but recognising and accepting that this is just not possible, and resolving to find funds for a lab visit when this is all over.
Thursday
AM
Hello papers, abstracts, applications, data! Oh actually, scrape that: abstract, travel award and application X – all cancelled. Focus on papers. Still procrastinate a bit. During working from home this now also involves #petsofXYZ or #wfh shenanigans beside the regular literature search and reading.
Lunch time seminar series is now digital! – still important to share our research widely and I can remain a seminar busybody!
PM
More emails that now can turn into impromptu Zoom meetings, as ideas and plans are best discussed face-to-face, or these days, camera-to-camera.
Get back to “writing”, fuelled with whatever snacks are available at home. Note to self: learn how to make gummy candies at home.
Friday
AM
Check in with, and check up on my team virtually. We continue to share the worries and stress, celebrate all good things, show each other pets on camera, reassure that we will all be OK (most important is that we remain safe and healthy and look after one another, our families and communities) and agree that as soon situation permits, we will go for a gourmet brunch together on the beach!
We all need to work together and continue to make these contributions for months to come.
PM
Ok, still half of the things on my list not ticked off and new items added. Headache building, sciatica flaring, could I maybe finish earlier? Yes, I have achieved as I would during my regular week. These were “adapted” achievements, for sure, but I will take them.
FriYAY! (Note to self: still need to review a paper on the weekend, but that is a morning coffee read.)
All in all, even though it has taken time to adjust to the “new normal”, the training I’ve received over the years prior to becoming a PI, coupled with my zest for microbiology and love of being part of a research community, have given me the tools to rise to the challenge of conducting research during #coronavirus pandemic. I have been reminded of how resilient, creative, flexible, and strong we all need to be in these challenging times, whilst wholeheartedly supporting and lifting each other. I am hopeful that we will come out as even better researchers and colleagues, mentors and mentees, and in general better humans.