The Pipette Gazette recently had the opportunity to interview, Dr. Xin Bao, a doctoral student in the Molecular Medicine Program, working under the supervision of Dr. Hai Rao. The title of Dr. Bao’s thesis was “Ubiquitin Mediated Proteolysis in Yeast.”

[PG] How did you balance graduate school and life outside the lab? 

[Dr. Bao] Every Friday, I would arrange my research plan for all of the experiments [that needed] to be completed [the following] week. Then I would have a general idea of what  experiments I needed to do next and what kind of materials or reagents I needed to prepare earlier in the week. Therefore, I could perform the experiments more efficiently [during the week].

[PG] Who inspired you the most in your life and why?

[Dr. Bao] I learned a lot from my mentor Dr. Rao. He is an intelligent scientist and an excellent mentor to guide students in developing their own research in biological science. He suggests that we develop the habit of reading research articles every day, which helps us gain more knowledge and also improve our scientific writing skills. He also likes to share his experiences and tips from his research career, such as how to solve the problems you encounter while conducting research, how to write scientific articles and how to develop your career after graduation.

[PG] Any advice for your fellow graduate students?

[Dr. Bao] As a graduate student, it is better to read research articles constantly. Reading will provide a broader view of biological science and help us gain better understanding in our research. From reading, we can learn how other scientists develop their ideas and new techniques. Another important thing is communication. It is better for us to discuss our scientific thinking and issues with other researchers, including our mentor [as well as] faculty and lab members. We can share the scientific opinions and resolve technique issues with them. They may provide good advice to help us improve and solve problems in our research.