(1/4) Navigating the world of science research, a four part interview series.

Interview and Words by Jenny Schneider.
​Edited by Jessica Sharrock.

INet NYC sat down with Dr. Sumru Bayin, Senior Postdoctoral Fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York. In this four-part interview, Dr. Bayin offers great insight and advice to early career scientists by talking about her personal scientific journey through Turkey, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US). 
Dr. Bayin completed her Bachelors and Masters degrees at Bilkent University, one of Turkey’s leading institutes. She went on to get her PhD at New York University (NYU) and is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at MSKCC.

PART 1: INTRODUCTION
JS: How did you decide to become a scientist?
SB: As a kid, I was one of those “freaks” who played with earth worms, dissected flies, and knew at the age of 12 what they wanted to do. I come from a family of STEM scientists, and although I was never forcibly pushed into that professional direction, it probably influenced my inclination towards science. In middle school, we had to interview someone who was pursuing our “dream job” and I picked a PhD student studying molecular biology and got to visit their lab. That experience was a crucial point in my decision to become a scientist and helped set my mind in that direction.

 JS: How did you pick your scientific field?
SB: I always found stem cells and their adaptability fascinating. Up until now I worked with liver stem cells, brain tumor stem cells, and now stem cells in the context of brain development. Honestly, I never thought I would work on the brain but I found it very attractive because there is so little known about it; it was the challenge that drew me to the field.
In general, when picking a field, I would say follow your gut and be aware that your interests may change over time. Follow a general interest and do not be too consumed with picking a specific subfield. At the start of my career, I was interested in Cancer Biology because of family history, but after finishing my PhD in the cancer field I realized I didn’t know anything about the function of healthy cells, so I moved into developmental biology research. Projects change all the time, so make sure you like the general theme and techniques. In a nutshell, listen to the science and see where it takes you. Try to see the big picture and don’t be too consumed with the little details although it is easier said than done.

JS: Can you tell me more about the time you spent doing research in the UK as an undergraduate student?
SB: The internship program I joined in the UK was similar to the Summer Undergraduate Research Programs (SURP) here in the US. While I was an undergrad in Turkey, I sent bulk applications to try and get into a program abroad. My application was eventually picked up by a lab that was familiar with the reputation of Bilkent University (they had a PhD student from my University in the lab, which I was not aware of when I sent the application).
It can be challenging to prove your academic merit when coming from countries like Turkey. Despite having world-class institutes with outstanding academic programs, the perception in the world can be skewed due to lack of familiarity. It helps to have someone to vouch for you and your home institution. That said, the challenge is mostly getting noticed during the application process. Once you are in the program no one will question your abilities and professionalism.

JS: Why did you decide to apply for a PhD program in the US?
SB: I was debating the US vs. Europe (EU) but I felt that the US had better-structured PhD training programs. Unlike most programs outside the US, here you get to do rotations and try different labs before you commit to one, giving you time to explore your options and interests more. Also, the education programs in Turkey are more similar to the American system than the EU system and this familiarity influenced my decision.

JS: Why not in Turkey?
SB: Despite the top-notch research going on in Turkey, it’s hard to compete with international level science simply because of logistics and geographic location, like the amount of time it takes to get an antibody shipped. I felt that if I decide to go back to Turkey one day, going back with a proven scientific record would make it easier to navigate the scientific community and have more of an influence than if I would try to build my career there from the ground up.

Join us next week for Part 2, when Dr. Bayin will talk about her PhD application process and life as a PhD student.