What I’m Working On: Epigenetics & Leadership, From the Green Light “Go”

Posted by Tandy L. Dolin Petrov

Throughout my entire life, I have suffered from a series of health issues that have called for repeated surgeries at either Children’s Hospital or other medical centers at the University of Birmingham at Alabama (UAB) in Birmingham, Ala. I recollect countless moments staring out the window of either Children’s Hospital  or  Spain Rehabilitation

Tandy Dolin Petrov and Kartik Manne

(GSA President and Vice President @ NSO 2014)

Center.   In the sanctuary of my room I would gaze at the city’s hilltop iron statute of Vulcan -- with its green light for safe roads and red light when a traffic accident had occurred – and think of all the things I would do in life. For me, Vulcan’s persistent reaching to the stars symbolized victory and the green light represented a start, and literally, the word “go” in life.

 

Today, as a doctoral student at UAB, I sometimes find myself staring at the Vulcan and realizing how lucky I am to be doing everything I dreamed. Recently, for example, I graduated from UAB with my Masters of Science in Biology.  For three years, I was able to explore the salt marshes of Dauphin Island, an out-of-the-way barrier island that borders Alabama’s Gulf Coast, on the hunt for the elusive diamondback terrapin.  My thesis focused on this keystone species and I had the remarkable opportunity of managing the UAB Terrapin Head-start Project, a conservation effort that provided a unique opportunity to study the ecology and life history of the terrapin while rehabilitating their population. 

Now, I am a 1^st year PhD student, I have moved into to a challenging new field and a new lab, where I study epigenetics, using fruit flies.  Epigenetics is the study of changes in DNA structure without actually changing the genetic code.  My goal with this research is to understand how silencing genes inhibit protein production and if the underlying mechanism can be therapy for a variety of diseases.  This abstract, fast-paced molecular world is completely different than my laid-back, sun-loving ecology realm.  Everything is high-speed and expeditious until it comes to waiting for the results.  So, I took up another venture, becoming President of the Graduate Student Association (GSA). 

Presidency is a terrifying term, or at least I thought when I first won an election to lead more than 5,000 graduate and professional students. Yet, as I quickly learned, leadership is teamwork, and I am lucky to have great team, Kartik Manne, Vice President (show with me in the above photo), Jocelyn Hauser, Treasurer (who is also the BGSA President), and Mallory Cases, Secretary extraordinaire, that keeps the GSA resilient and moving forward.  It is important for everyone to learn how to juggle full plates and to be a team.   Not only do I have a plate full of research and administration, I also teach microbiology labs in my department.  Yes, I’m a very busy individual.  But it’s what I want.  After sitting, not being able to move or run or even wiggle a toe, for so long, I now find myself constantly maneuvering forward, with one eye on Vulcan, and one eye on the road to life, looking for the green lights.