In honor of National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2024, the NIAID Office of Research Training and Development is recognizing NIAID postdocs who enrich the NIAID training community through their outstanding mentorship. The following postdocs were nominated by their postbac mentees for their exemplary mentorship. Read about their research contributions and mentoring philosophies here.
Kyle O’Donnell, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Immunobiology and Molecular Virology Section, Laboratory of Virology
Kyle O’Donnell, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow in the Immunobiology and Molecular Virology Section of the Laboratory of Virology
My Research
My research focuses on emerging viruses, particularly filoviruses. I use flow cytometry and immunological assays to characterize immune responses to vaccination and filovirus challenge. My work involves cell culture studies as well as several animal models, ranging from mice to non-human primates, and has two primary areas of focus. The first is characterizing the complete functionality profile of the humoral immune response, including neutralization and Fc effector function analysis. The second is understanding the cellular immune response. I have a particular interest in analyzing early natural killer cell phenotypes and memory T-cell phenotypes.
What Good Mentorship Means to Me
Good mentorship is built on a two-way relationship of trust between the mentor and the mentee. I strive to give my mentees guidance and a framework to succeed, ensuring they have the proper training and skillsets needed to be successful in the lab. I have found that communicating expectations clearly, starting slow, and building up responsibilities sets the mentees up for success as they gain experience in their new research environment. Once the mentee has fully grasped the methodologies associated with their project, I give them the freedom to manage their work schedule and experimental timelines within set expectations. More importantly, I believe it is critical to give mentees the freedom to learn how to best manage expectations, drive their project, and view science from a bench-side perspective. I strongly believe allowing guided freedom cultivates a true passion for science because the mentee develops individual problem-solving strategies or realizes that perhaps another career path may be more suited for them. Regardless, either outcome is an absolutely wonderful achievement.
My Advice to Postdoctoral Mentors
For a successful mentor-mentee relationship, both parties must cultivate trust in one another from the start. Maintaining open communication and meeting often allows the mentor to set clear expectations and the mentee to advocate for what they need for their career development.
Emma Price, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Pathology Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics
Emma Price, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow in the Molecular Pathology Section of the Laboratory of Immunogenetics
My Research
My postdoctoral work focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of two key proteins, CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) and CCCTC binding factor-Like (CTCFL), across various biological contexts, including neurodevelopment, spermatogenesis, cancer, and aging. My research primarily involves the development and application of a novel humanized mouse model to investigate the role of Brother of Regulator of Imprinted Sites (BORIS), also known as CTCFL, in its normal cellular environment, specifically in spermatogonia, as well as in abnormal cellular contexts, such as tumorigenesis. The goal of this research is to provide tissue-specific insights that could lead to the development of biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for cancers associated with aberrant BORIS activation.
What Good Mentorship Means to Me
Mentorship has been crucial in my career. Reflecting on my journey, the guidance I received from good mentors profoundly impacted my development as a research scientist, helping me realize my potential and gain the confidence to take the next steps. Personally, I think it starts with truly listening to what your mentees aim to achieve, understanding their goals, and working together to tailor their experiences to meet those goals. Every mentee is unique—some may have well-defined plans, such as pursuing medical school or specializing in a specific research field, while others are still exploring their options and might need more guidance. As a mentor, it is essential to recognize these differences and adapt your approach to effectively support each individual's journey. By acknowledging their individual strengths and areas for growth, you can provide guidance, training opportunities, and tasks that best align with their aspirations.
Successful mentorship also means being approachable and maintaining open lines of communication. It involves being patient and understanding that mentees may sometimes need extra support, whether in relation to their lab work or personal challenges. Creating an environment where mentees feel comfortable discussing their concerns is vital. Being friendly and supportive goes a long way in building the trust necessary for effective mentorship. Furthermore, mentorship in science is not just about providing guidance—it is about fostering growth. This means helping mentees become more knowledgeable and skilled, setting clear expectations, and allowing them the opportunity to take the lead on their tasks. Encouraging independence builds their confidence and prepares them to stand on their own. Ultimately, mentorship is about creating an environment where mentees feel valued, supported, and empowered to grow into capable and confident scientists.
My Advice to Postdoctoral Mentors
Listen to your mentees’ goals, tailor their experiences to support their unique paths, and always be approachable. Good mentorship is about building trust, clear communication, and empowering the next generation of scientists to be skillful, knowledgeable, and confident.
Jordan Chang, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, DNA Tumor Virus Section, Laboratory of Viral Diseases
Jordan Chang, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow in the DNA Tumor Virus Section of the Laboratory of Viral Diseases
My Research
During a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the virus hijacks a wide array of host proteins to aid in its own replication. Within a replication focus, the virus must replicate its DNA genome and transcribe its viral transcripts all while keeping its own viral expression limited to evade the host immune response. However, it is unknown how these various processes are compartmentalized within given foci. My current work focuses on exploring the spatiotemporal organization of viral and host factors within HPV replication foci under the guidance of Alison McBride, Ph.D.
What Good Mentorship Means to Me
To be honest, I never saw myself as a mentor to any of my lab mates or students. I merely offered help when someone approached me with a question or a problem that I have experience with. Perhaps that is my approach to mentorship. A good mentor is different than being a good teacher. While teaching is regimented and deliberate in relaying as much information as possible, effective mentorship is giving the pertinent information needed to address a particular problem. It is not about having all the right answers or showing how much detail you know about a particular topic. Instead, it is about conversing with your mentee as a peer to work through the problem together. The relationship a mentor has with their mentee and how we as mentors interact with them is what defines good mentorship. Successful mentorship uplifts the mentee’s confidence in their own skills and inspires them to want to pursue the topic further. Through my many years of studies, I have had many mentors in my life. I find that I was more motivated and inspired when my mentor and I were speaking like colleagues rather than a teacher talking to a student or trainee. Collegial discussions helped build my confidence as a scientist to ask questions and critically assess data. These interactions truly fostered my critical thinking and research skills; they created a space that allowed me to make mistakes and entertain my ideas without fear.
My Advice to Postdoctoral Mentors
Treat your mentees as peers. Our job as mentors is not to make them feel as though we are a second boss for them to report to, but rather a colleague who they can trust to bring up problems and guide them through the problem-solving process.
Maya Sangesland, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Immunoengineering Section, Immunology Laboratory, Vaccine Research Center
Maya Sangesland, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow in the Molecular Immunoengineering Section of the Immunology Laboratory at the Vaccine Research Center
My Research
My research centers on using vaccines to interrogate basic principles of immunology. For example, we are curious about understanding public B cell immunity, which is an adaptive immune response that is recurrent, highly similar, and shared across many genetically unrelated individuals. Critically, public B cells and antibodies tend to be highly protective against pathogens or groups of pathogens. Thus, understanding their origin and development as well as how to best elicit B cell responses through vaccination is key for not only generating protective immunity but also for developing effective vaccines.
What Good Mentorship Means to Me
I have been very fortunate to have had great mentors throughout my scientific training, from which I have come to understand the importance of mentorship to the overall trainee experience. In graduate school, I was given the advice to “pick the mentor over the scientific research.” As a postdoctoral fellow, there are certain key elements from my previous experiences that I try to incorporate day-to-day while mentoring my trainees. First, I aim to create an overall positive environment where mentees feel comfortable asking questions, exchanging ideas, and are supported no matter their goals. With this in mind, I prioritize being available to answer quick questions or to have longer discussions if needed. Even now, I find my previous mentors are still readily available, even if it is via a quick email. Second, I believe that the mentor-mentee relationship should be one of equals, where junior trainees are respected and treated as future peers and not just a pair of hands. They are active contributors that help drive the project forward. From my experience, having the respect of my mentors allowed me to develop a sense of ownership and excitement for science, which is something I hope to instill now in my trainees. At the end of the day, I hope to show that it is possible to have fun while doing good science.
My Advice to Postdoctoral Mentors
Every trainee has different needs, and as a postdoc, it is important to start where they are and understand what they need to succeed.
Morgan Brisse, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Viral Immunity and Pathogenesis Unit, Laboratory of Viral Diseases
Morgan Brisse, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow in the Viral Immunity and Pathogenesis Unit of the Laboratory of Viral Diseases
My Research
My research in the Viral Immunity and Pathogenesis Unit led by Heather Hickman, Ph.D., focuses on how several aspects of the host immune system uniquely contribute to antiviral responses. Key areas include the contribution of the lymphatic system towards regulating antibody circulation, the behavior of monocytes recruited to sites of skin infection, and the interplay between viral infection and vascular permeability. We aim to guide our research using the increasing specificity against cellular, viral, and anatomical targets that has become available for modern medical treatment.
What Good Mentorship Means to Me
Like any other mentor, I seek to emulate mentors that have made a positive difference in my scientific career. Many of my most memorable and positive mentorship experiences are of the people who shared their own struggles from their times as early scientists. Laboratory research requires a lot of time, knowledge, and skill development to start generating any interpretable results, and there are many points during one’s start in science where a person can get derailed if not properly supported and encouraged. We all pass down scientific knowledge and our troubleshooting techniques, but we also gain something from sharing more generalized experiences of becoming a scientist. Sharing generalized scientific experiences helps equalize us as a team of people who have faced similar challenges and allows us to share celebrations in our successes. We also can see how much we all grow as scientists when we are on the same team, which I think is perhaps the most satisfying part of mentorship.
My Advice to Postdoctoral Mentors
Mentorship is an investment of your current efforts into your future performance. While it requires time and patience up front, you will be rewarded with a cohesive team that learns from each other and delivers quality science.
Meaghan Flagg, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Virology
Meaghan Flagg, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow in the Molecular Pathogenesis Section of the Laboratory of Virology
My Research
My research focuses on lung alveolar epithelial damage and repair following infection with respiratory viruses that cause severe disease. We have established human lung organoid models to study the comparative pathogenesis of multiple respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, Nipah virus, and H5N1 influenza A virus in human alveolar epithelium. Going forward, we are developing novel human lung organoid-based models to include additional relevant cell types and to facilitate studies of alveolar differentiation and tissue repair. This work will help us identify new host-targeted therapeutic strategies to treat severe lower respiratory tract infections.
What Good Mentorship Means to Me
Mentoring trainees is one of the most rewarding parts of science and has really contributed to my scientific development over the years. Supportive and engaged mentors opened the door for my scientific career, and I aim to provide the same level of support for my mentees to help them accomplish their goals. I have had the opportunity to mentor three postbaccalaureate fellows while at NIH. I have learned a lot from each of them and I am very proud of their scientific and professional development. To me, good mentorship involves understanding your mentee’s individual goals and learning styles as well as tailoring your mentorship to meet their needs. Leading by example and honestly discussing mistakes when you make them helps to create an open and constructive environment where mentees can learn and ask questions without judgement. Making yourself approachable, and encouraging other lab members to do the same, helps new and junior trainees feel comfortable participating in group discussions. This first step can be something simple, like connecting with them over a shared hobby or interest. Lastly, the most important (and most rewarding) aspect of mentorship from my perspective is helping trainees develop into independent scientists. Promoting scientific curiosity through discussion and helping them follow up experimentally on their ideas is important. Trainees bring fresh perspectives and ideas that can challenge the status quo, and it is exciting to see them take research in unexpected directions.
My Advice to Postdoctoral Mentors
Great mentors lead by example. Discovering your mentee’s learning style and fostering a supportive environment with open and honest communication will help you and your mentee become a successful team.
Samantha Crane, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Bacterial Physiology and Metabolism Unit, Laboratory of Bacteriology
Samantha Crane, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow in the Bacterial Physiology and Metabolism Unit of the Laboratory of Bacteriology
My Research
My research in the Bacterial Physiology and Metabolism Unit is focused on understanding the significance of peptide acquisition systems in the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, and the relapsing fever spirochete, Borrelia hermsii, during their enzootic cycle. As these pathogens are transmitted via hard or soft tick vectors, my research uses tick and murine models as well as in vitro approaches. My research background has focused on host-pathogen interactions and host responses, so I try to integrate these topics into my current work, which is primarily focused on bacteriology and molecular biology techniques.
What Good Mentorship Means to Me
Good mentorship exists inside and outside of the laboratory. In the beginning of a mentor-mentee relationship in the lab, I aim to assist without being overbearing to develop a mentee’s confidence and independence. I typically ask a mentee how comfortable they are with a technique and decide from there how involved I need to be in instructing. I usually start by modeling how a technique or experiment is done and then check in with the trainee throughout these processes. Over time, comfort and independence develop. Good mentorship also includes helping mentees understand why they are doing the work they do. I try to explain the big picture of a project frequently to contextualize smaller experiments that fit into the big picture and the main research question. I also strive to take a mentoring approach that emphasizes a growth mindset. It is particularly important for early career mentees who are developing resilience strategies to understand that failures and unexpected outcomes are important for growth and development. Failures and unexpected outcomes happen to everyone, and each opportunity is a chance to learn and grow.
Outside of the lab, effective mentorship means helping mentees achieve their goals. While it is easier for me if a trainee wants to follow my direct career path, it is unrealistic to expect or prepare for only this. I check in with my mentees to see what they are interested in and offer them advice or resources that align with their interests to nurture them. At conferences, I point out sessions and talks that would interest them and introduce them to people I know in order to help with networking. I aim to pay forward good mentorship shown to me in my career by helping mentees get farther than I have gotten in my career.
My Advice to Postdoctoral Mentors
The list of things to do is never-ending and there’s limited time to finish them. However, patience, empathy, and communication with mentees is critical. Self-care is also crucial for good mentorship. Mentors need to take care of themselves to effectively guide their mentees.
Rahul Rawat, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases
Rahul Rawat, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow in the Molecular Parasitology Section of the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases
My Research
My research work focuses on the role of host E3 ubiquitin ligases in the defense against disease-causing pathogens, with a special interest in Toxoplasma gondii and SARS-CoV-2 infection. During infection, pathogens alter cellular pathways in their host cell to maintain their biological niche. Identification of such pathways and the mechanisms involved during these processes are another aspect of my postdoctoral research. In general, our study will provide deeper insight into how the pathogen uses the host’s cellular network for their development and how the host counters and restricts the pathogen’s growth.
What Good Mentorship Means to Me
Successful mentorship is more than just giving advice; it entails developing a supportive, trust-based relationship in which the mentor actively listens, offers constructive feedback, and assists the mentee in setting and achieving meaningful goals. It requires empathy, patience, and a genuine interest in the mentee's development, as well as a commitment to providing knowledge and sharing experiences that can assist with problem solving. Finally, it is about encouraging the mentee to build their own talents and confidence while nurturing a pleasant, progressive atmosphere.
My Advice to Postdoctoral Mentors
I believe that good mentoring begins with attentively listening to your mentee to understand their objectives and obstacles. Collaborate to establish specific, attainable goals, and give constructive and supportive feedback. Sharing your experiences and lessons learnt might provide helpful insights. Encourage your mentee to take the initiative and make individual decisions while staying accessible for advice. Be patient and adaptive, knowing that progress takes time, and that each mentee is unique.
Learn more about postdoctoral training opportunities at NIAID.