An interview with a cancer biology Ph.D. student
From the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung research, Selma Dizdarević.
Today I bring you Selma Dizdarević, a Ph.D. student at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research.
I had 9 questions for her about her experience with a cancer biology Ph.D. at MPI.
I asked her to answer with the no-bullshit policy because I want everyone reading to get the not-so-polished-but-100%-true experience.
Before you go through the interview, Selma describes her research in her short video HERE.
Give her a like on YouTube, the video is actually competing and likes matter, so please do that first.
On we go.
The Interview:
Hi Selma, great to talk to you. Tell us a bit about your focus of research, I understand you study the role of these cells called fibrocytes in the context of cancer. Why is this important?
Hi Kenan, thank you for this great opportunity to share something about me and my research. I work in the lung cancer field, and hopefully, by the end of my Ph.D., I’ll be able to fully answer the question of why are fibrocytes important in the context of cancer.
Fibrocytes are spindle-shaped cells that originate from the bone marrow. Their most important roles are wound healing and tissue repair in many organs. They are also critical players in many diseases, such as fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension.
However, the research group that I’m a part of recently published a paper showing a completely new role of fibrocytes – a tumor-promoting one. First, we showed that fibrocytes are increased in the blood of lung cancer patients, this is happening due to their recruitment from the bone marrow to the lung. After their recruitment, fibrocytes interact with different cell types in the tumor microenvironment to promote tumor growth and metastases. Mouse models showed that if you deplete the mice of fibrocytes, tumor growth will be significantly suppressed.
Now, my role in all of this is to understand the molecular mechanisms behind the crosstalk of fibrocytes and cancer cells. Considering that lung cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, and with therapies that have a low success rate, understanding the basics of lung cancer complexity and the interactions of the cells in the TME is crucial to find the best therapies for patients suffering from this deadly disease.
What's a typical day like for you as a Ph.D. student at the Max Planck Institute? Give us a glimpse into your everyday highs and lows.
Scientists’ day-to-day life can look very different, days might vary depending on what you must do that day.
Every good day starts with a good breakfast, good coffee, and good planning, so I always like to come to the lab a little bit earlier, check my to-do list, and decide what experiments will be my priority that day. I prefer to focus on the most challenging things and do them first while I’m still focused and full of energy.
It is very important to plan your day, so you have enough time left for reading, as it is the most fundamental thing we do. Lots and lots of reading! The day usually ends with data analysis, more planning, and some sweets as a reward for a productive day!
How would you describe the life of a Ph.D. student in Germany in general? Are there some things that are specific to Germany when it comes to doing graduate work?
As a Ph.D. student in Germany, you are typically employed by the university or the research institution, hence you get paid decent money, which takes a lot of burden off your shoulders.
Ph.D. itself is extremely stressful, so at least you don’t have to worry about finances.
Another thing I like is that they stick to a healthy work-life balance. Of course, as a scientist, you can be quite flexible with your time, and some days you’ll work more than others, but what I have noticed, especially here in Germany, is that you will always have a friendly lab mate who will remind you to take a break from time to time and take care of yourself.
Social life is great here too! Germans are a friendly bunch, they are always up to take you to some nice hiking or for a beer. What is also important to mention is that Germany is a very multicultural country, so you can experience a lot of different cultures, and meet people from all around the world.
What’s something that you’ve found particularly difficult in doing a Ph.D. that people maybe don’t talk about often?
This question got me thinking a lot, but I would say presenting unfinished or bad data to your supervisors or lab mates. It can be very frustrating when something that you have spent months on is simply not working. It took me a long time to accept and be okay with the fact that failure is an everyday part of science. That is why it’s very important to have a very supportive supervisor and the whole group, and I’m very lucky to be a part of one. Without them, I think I would be completely lost.
How does the selection process for Ph.D. candidates at the Max Planck Institute work? Any insider advice for aspiring applicants?
I applied for Max Planck Institute via International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS), so I can only talk from this perspective. I think they currently have 68 of them, and mine was called IMPRS for Molecular Organ Biology. I had a very positive experience with their graduate school, and I would highly suggest anyone who is thinking to apply, to go through IMPRS. Now again, I’m not sure does every IMPRS graduate school have the same application process, but from what I heard from my colleagues, I think they are more-less the same.
The first step is to prepare and send all the documents, that includes the application form, your CV, motivation letter, and recommendation letters.
The most important things here are your application form and motivation letter. Application forms sometimes can be very detailed and lengthy, so it is very important to take some time and fill them correctly. A motivation letter is a thing that can separate you from other candidates, so it is very important to have one that stands out.
The second step is an interview with the group leaders of the labs you’ve chosen to be a part of. Here you will prepare a presentation of your previous research and have a discussion with them.
It is very important to know what you want and to show how motivated and enthusiastic you are about research. And this is something you really can’t fake, so you should always choose a field you are very passionate about.
The third step is the panel interview, where most of the scienfitic staff will be present, including directors, professors, and maybe some students. The principle is the same, you present your research, get some questions, and hopefully you do good!
And last, and most important, ask yourself why you are doing a Ph.D. If your answers are something along the lines of “I can stay in school longer and figure out my next steps” or “I want to have a cool title” don’t do it.
It is a big commitment, so make sure you are ready to commit a few years of your life to breathing, eating, and living this stuff.
What qualities and experiences do you think made a big difference in your successful application to the Max Planck Institute?
To be honest, I’m still not quite sure, but I would say curiosity, enthusiasm, persistence, and a positive attitude. Ph.D. is an amazing, but very difficult journey, and you need to be very motivated and stubborn to overcome the failures that you might encounter. It is always easier to deal with problems when you’re an extremely curious individual. Then you see your problems as little challenges or puzzles. I love the mystery of how/why things work, so every day is fun when you’re experimenting.
When it comes to getting accepted into renowned institutions like Max Planck, how important is prior research experience, many students wonder if they MUST have a publication already under their name…
A lot of people think that you need to have a publication or amazing grades to get in, but I would say it is not so important. I know many students that had zero publications, and they still got accepted. As I have already mentioned, it is important to know what you want, have a good plan for how to get it, and be very enthusiastic about science!
You can train a lot of skills, but you can’t train to care.
What makes Max Planck Institute stand out from other research institutions? How does that impact your everyday experience as a PhD student?
As a student at an MPI, you have many opportunities to develop yourself as a great scientist whether you want to stay in academia or go to industry. You will have a chance to be a part of a lot of seminars and workshops to get the best possible information to help you plan the next steps in your future career.
Another thing I must emphasize is that, as an international student, I feel very safe and protected at MPI.
Besides having great working conditions, the staff is always ready to help with any issues that you might encounter, such as dealing with bureaucracy, getting your visa, or really anything else. I’m quite impressed with their efforts to make your life easier, so you can focus on your research.
How do you manage to balance your research work with your personal life and other commitments as a Ph.D. student at Max Planck? Do you have a way of organizing your day efficiently?
It is very important to have good planning skills and to be very organized.
You should know your peak working hours and do your toughest tasks then. Plan your experiments so you work a certain number of hours each day.
This can be a bit difficult sometimes, depending on your experiments, but try to do it as often as possible. Have one or two days in a week when you don’t have any work.
Exercise helps a lot when it comes to having and maintaining your energy levels, so make sure you do some sports at least twice a week.
Everyone has those days when motivation is low, and procrastination is high. How do you manage them?
In these situations, it is important to take a break and get some rest.
In moments like these, I just like to go out in nature or hang out with my friends to clear my head. Then I go back to the lab and remind myself why am I doing this.
Having a family history of different cancers and knowing that my research might help to find a cure for one of the deadliest diseases nowadays always helps.
Thank you for this interview. As a Ph.D. aspirant, it's always an excellent opportunity to learn from someone on this path and do well. In the past, what Selma said about having a curious, enthusiastic nature toward research is more critical than having publications and high grades. Thanks again, and all the best for your Ph.D., Selma!
I enjoyed reading and learning from this, especially the motivation part.