Advanced Bacterial Genetics Course

Visitor of the Week: Kate Nesbit

Meet Katherine “Kate” Nesbit of San Diego State University! Kate is a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Nicholas Shikuma’s lab and is taking part in the 2022 course of Advanced Bacterial Genetics. This is her first course at CSHL and the first in-person course since COVID-19 began in 2020. Here is what Kate has to say of her experience so far:

I would just like to commend the instructors and the course organizers from CSHL for all of the work they did to ensure the class ran as smoothly as possible. It was so refreshing to come together for an intensive science experience and I have really enjoyed the opportunity to be here and be inspired by everyone’s work.

Tell us about your research.
Bacteria in the ocean play essential roles in the lives of marine animals. I study how larvae (the babies) of marine animals can sense and respond to bacterial cues that drive major changes in development (like turning into an adult).

How did you decide to focus on this area/project?
Life evolved in the worlds’ oceans, the epicenter for microbial life. The microbes around us play major roles in our biology. Relationships with bacteria, often thought of as “good” or “bad”, in reality, exist on a spectrum. At the end of my PhD, I was curious to learn more about the context surrounding microbes and their relationships with marine invertebrates. So many marine larvae rely on bacteria during their life cycles and have diverse interactions with bacteria. The opportunity to work with the Shikuma Group and our model system, the tube worm Hydroides and its microbes, was an exciting opportunity. This humble worm is actually a powerful model for understanding symbioses. Bacteria are required for the larva of the worm to undergo metamorphosis which is a process where they transition to the adult body plan. My interests in marine invertebrates, developmental biology, and how animals interact with bacteria all led me to build my research questions around this area.

What and/or who is the inspiration behind your scientific journey?
I have been very fortunate to work with some fantastic mentors during my training, and of course my family has been immeasurably supportive. I also have been learning alongside some really amazing peers, and the summation of my interactions with all of these people have helped keep my excited and motivated to continue moving forward towards a career in science.

What impact do you hope to make through your work?
I hope that the work I do will encourage other minority women in science to embrace their curiosity and make new discoveries that help us understand fundamental processes of life. I also hope my work can impact others by encouraging them to protect our oceans and all of the amazing biology that happens within them. Finally, I hope to impact others by making some meaningful scientific discoveries, leaving behind a legacy of collaboration and of creating opportunities for others to be part of science.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I would love to be starting up my own lab. I hope to establish an independent research program that works on answering questions at the interface of marine cell-, developmental-, and micro- biology.

What do you love most about being a researcher?
The thing that I love the most about being a researcher is that my days are always different. I never get bored doing the same thing because some days I am reading, some days I am writing papers or working on a presentation for a conference, and still other days I get to be at the bench doing experiments or imaging on the microscope. It never gets dull because there is always something new to do and learn. Also, I have a soft spot in my heart for all the squishy, crunchy, gooey critters of the ocean. There’s so much interesting biology going on in these critters that is understudied.

What drew you to apply to this course?
When I started in research as an undergraduate, I immediately fell in love with developmental biology, but it wasn’t until much later that I started learning about the ways that microbes influence development. The course on Advanced Bacterial Genetics is the ideal way to learn modern tools and techniques for understanding the relationships between bacteria and the animals that they interact with. Without tools for manipulating microbes, we can’t fully grasp the contributions they make at the molecular and genetic level to the biology of their symbionts and hosts. The reputation of CSHL as being an immersive and inspiring place, as well as the fact that I know colleagues who spoke highly of the course, were all contributing factors in my desire to attend this course.

What is your key takeaway from the Course; and how do you plan to apply it to your work?
I think one of the most influential lessons that I have learned in the course is that bacterial genetics offers a multitude of approaches for answering big questions in biology, and these tools can be applied in various permutations to all sorts of different systems. This experience has helped me to brainstorm new ideas for experiments in my own work. For example, I would love to take the tools I’ve learned about here (like generating gDNA libraries, transposon libraries, CRISPRi, and RIVET) and apply them in marine bacteria – which currently lack a lot of the accessible tools that are available to more widely studied model microbes. This would help us to better understand what genes in diverse marine microbes contribute to their ability to induce developmental changes in the tube worm model (and maybe even other invertebrates too).

What feedback or advice would you share with someone considering to participate in this course?
My biggest piece of advice would be to come with an open mind. You will meet so many people with diverse scientific backgrounds and with diverse identities. You can learn so much from your peers and the instructors if you approach the experience with the goal of learning from everyone.

What’s the most memorable thing that happened during the Course?
The most memorable moment of the course for me so far has been the unbridled enthusiasm of one of our instructors over their model microbe – it’s not uncommon to hear her shout “Staphylococcus!” and I think it’s so awesome that people can build their careers and still maintain that level of excitement for their work!

What do you like most about your time at CSHL?
My favorite thing about my time at CSHL so far has been the campus. It’s just beautiful and it has been a real treat to see this part of the state, especially since I have never been to New York before!

Kate received a scholarship from the Regeneron to cover a portion of her course tuition. On behalf of Kate, thank you to Regeneron for supporting and enabling our young scientists to attend a CSHL course where they expand their skills, knowledge, and network.

Thank you to Kate for being this week's featured visitor. To meet other featured scientists - and discover the wide range of science that takes part in a CSHL meeting or course - go here.

Images provided by Kate Nesbit

Visitor of the Week: Landon Getz

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Meet Landon Getz of Dalhousie University (Canada). A PhD Student in Dr. Nikhil Thomas’ lab, Landon crossed the Canada-United States border to take part at this year’s Advanced Bacterial Genetics course. And barely halfway through the three-week course, Landon has already picked up new techniques to supplement his work and his home lab’s projects, as well as include into the bacterial genetics workshop he plans to develop for his fellow grad students.

What are your research interests? What are you working on?
We study the metabolism and survival mechanisms of a specific group of marine bacteria called Vibrio, of which some cause disease in humans. Studying their environmental survival helps us better understand how they cause disease and help prevent future outbreaks and infections.

How did you decide to make this the focus of your research?
I have a keen interest in marine environments and the tremendous diversity of life found in the ocean. In fact, I went to Dalhousie University (moving across Canada to do it) in order to study marine biology. However, my first microbiology lecture pulled me in, and I switched majors. I did manage to stick with the marine theme.

How did your scientific journey begin?
I’ve been interested in doing science since before I can remember, but also always worried that being an LGBTQ+ identifying person meant that I couldn’t pursue it as an actual career. I was (and am) inspired by people like Dr. Alan Turing, who suffered tremendously for being a gay man doing science but did it nonetheless. I want to be like these folks: do great science, and be a role model for other young LGBTQ+ folks interested in science.

Was there something specific about the Advanced Bacterial Genetics course that drew you to apply?
Our lab studies bacterial-caused diseases through the lens of bacterial genetics. So, applying to this course was a no-brainer. I also wanted to attend because Dr. Andrew Camilli’s technique, called transposon sequencing, is something that we are trying to use for our project.

What and/or how will you apply what you've learned from the course to your work? 
I have already started to plan out how I can use the CRISPR/Cas gene editing techniques we are learning in the course into my own work. Ideally, I will be able to create genetic changes much easier and faster using these techniques at home.

I’m also planning on building a “bacterial genetics workshop” that will allow me to teach some of the techniques I’ve learned here to other graduate students in my department.

What is your key takeaway from the course?
This course has really given me perspective on the field of bacterial genetics and has helped me realize how my own work fits into the field at large. I will be taking many new techniques home with me in two weeks!

If someone curious in attending this course asked you for feedback or advice on it, what would you tell him/her?
The course is intense, but completely worth it! You get lots of one-on-one time with the instructors, we do lots of classic and cutting-edge experiments, and you make valuable connections. And, you get to learn about some of the great research that is happening in Bacterial Genetics right from the source.

What do you like most about your time at CSHL?
Being able to get up, make an espresso, and relax next to the ocean is amazing. I really enjoyed my slow, quiet, early mornings at CSHL.

Landon received a scholarship from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to cover a portion of his course tuition. On behalf of Landon, thank you to HHMI for supporting and enabling our young scientists to attend a CSHL course where they expand their skills, knowledge, and network.

Thank you to Landon for being this week's featured visitor. To meet other featured scientists - and discover the wide range of science that takes part in a CSHL meeting or course - go here.

Visitor of the Week: Ashton Creasy

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Meet Ashton Creasy of the University of Florida. Ashton began her career in the pharmaceutical industry before a desire to play a more direct role in the global population led her to change gears. A MPH/PhD student in Eric Nelson’s lab, Ashton is on campus participating in Advanced Bacterial Genetics – her first CSHL course. 

What are your research interests? What are you working on?
I am interested in previously-undescribed antibiotic resistance mechanisms and antibiotic drug targets of Vibrio cholerae, the pathogen that causes cholera.

How did you decide to make this the focus of your research? 
Cholera affects the most vulnerable of the global population: impoverished children and their families. The global perturbation of increasing antibiotic resistance only worsens and extends cholera outbreaks.

How did your scientific journey begin? 
Prior to starting graduate school, I worked in the pharmaceutical industry for six years as a quality control analyst. I felt unfulfilled there and wanted my work to have more of an impact on the global population. 

Was there something specific about the Advanced Bacterial Genetics course that drew you to apply?
I knew I had great research questions, but I didn’t know the best way to carry them out. The course instructors and my fellow course mates have been really great to bounce ideas off of and help optimize research methods.

What and/or how will you apply what you've learned from the course to your work? 
Several of the methods we have learned can be easily applied to my work, specifically transposon insertion sequencing and CRISPR-cas editing. I am looking forward to sharing what I have learned here with my home institution to help others develop and apply these research methods.

What is your key takeaway from the course?
I have learned many methods of bacterial genetic transformation that would benefit future research and has fostered new ideas -- we’re only halfway through the course and I have already written up five new possible research questions!    

How many CSHL courses have you attended?
This is my first one and I would love to come back for another one!

If someone curious in attending this course asked you for feedback or advice on it, what would you tell him/her?
Be ready to work really hard, but also have a lot of fun. The days are long, but the company and the connections you make will last throughout your career.

What do you like most about your time at CSHL? 
I like the time spent with my classmates discussing our projects and possible collaborations in the future. 

Ashton received a fellowship from the Helmsley Charitable Trust to cover a portion of her course tuition. On behalf of Ashton, thank you to the Helmsley Charitable Trust for supporting and enabling our young scientists to attend a CSHL course where they expand their skills, knowledge, and network.

Thank you to Ashton for being this week's featured visitor. To meet other featured scientists - and discover the wide range of science that takes part in a CSHL meeting or course - go here.

Visitor of the Week: Luke Blakeway

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Meet Luke Blakeway of the Institute for Glycomics in Griffith University (Australia). The PhD student is a member of Kate Seib’s lab and is on campus to attend our Advanced Bacterial Genetics course. Read on for what the CSHL first-timer has to say about the annual course and his experience so far.

What are your research interests? What are you working on?
I work on bacteria that causes ear infections in young children called Moraxella catarrhalis, and how epigenetic regulation affects its ability to cause disease.

Was there something specific about the Advanced Bacterial Genetics course that drew you to apply?
There are a number of overlaps between my PhD project and the work of the course’s guest lecturers so having the opportunity to sit down and talk science with them really excited me! The course also provides next generation genome sequencing training, and where better to learn that than the home of molecular genetics?

What is your key takeaway from the Course?
Laboratories around the world do things very differently and I’ve had the opportunity to learn a range of techniques that I would never have been exposed to if I didn’t come to CSHL.

How many CSHL courses have you attended?
I’ve only attended my current course; Advanced Bacterial Genetics. I don’t have any plans yet to attend a future CSHL course or meeting, but I’d come back to CSHL in a heartbeat!

If someone curious in attending your course asked you for feedback or advice on it, what would you tell him/her?
I’d tell them to apply straight away. The course is a lot of fun, the techniques you learn are at the forefront of the field and have wide applications, and the instructors and attendees are some of the most amazing, insightful people you’ll ever met.

What do you like most about your time at CSHL?
I’ve truly made some lifelong friends from all over the world at CSHL. Everyone is so diverse but everyone is also on the same wavelength and we’re all here for the same learning experience, which makes for a great social atmosphere.

Luke received a stipend from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to cover a portion of his course tuition. On behalf of Luke, thank you to HHMI for supporting and enabling our young scientists to attend a CSHL course where they expand their skills, knowledge, and network.

Thank you to Luke for being this week's featured visitor. To meet other featured scientists - and discover the wide range of science that takes part in a CSHL meeting or course – go here.