(2/4) Navigating the world of science research, a four part interview series.

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

A conversation with Dr. Sumru Bayin, Senior Postdoctoral Fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York. See part one here.

PART 2: PhD LIFE
JS: You got into a PhD program on your second attempt. What did you do differently the second time around that you think influenced the outcome of your applications?
SB: A few things. First, I got better, more personal, recommendation letters the second time around. It is not enough to have a generic letter that says, “She was top of her class”. Second, I worked more on my personal statement. Your statement should show why you are interested in that specific institute, program, or lab. It is important to research the institute you are applying to and get as much information as you can through their website and by talking to people.
Not getting into a program does not mean you are not good. There are bureaucratic aspects that you may not be aware of that will influence the school’s decision, like quotas for international students, or budget restrictions for flying you in for an interview. Try to find out how many international students there are in the program or if the institute is familiar with students from your country. Overall, putting in the time to do research about the students and the faculty, and understanding the program and the University you are applying to can increase your chances of getting into your desired PhD program.
Also, when I applied I didn’t contact individual Principal Investigators (PIs) but in retrospect I should have. International students are often afraid of being too familiar with a PI and coming off as disturbing. But the worst that can happen is that you will not get a response. Get in touch with PIs to express your interest in their work, just make sure to do this in advance; a few months ahead of the application deadline would be best. 
Overall, at PhD level everybody is equally smart, so you need to find a way to differentiate yourself and show that you are adaptable and resilient. My summer research program in the UK definitely helped showcase my experience and get good recommendation letters.

JS: How did you pick your PhD institute and lab?
SB: It was partially luck for me. I had trouble establishing my first rotation because I was not aware that I had to start contacting PIs about rotations before I started the program. That is part of the challenge as an international student; you can be out of the loop. By the time I started reaching out to potential rotation labs all the rotation spots were taken. Luckily, the dean of our school told me about a new PI that just opened a lab the month before. I contacted the PI and it was a great fit. I ended up doing my first rotation there and eventually joined the lab full time.

JS: Did you continue your rotation project once you joined the lab?
SB: No. I loved both my rotation and thesis projects but they were not the same. That is one of the reasons I think that the project is not the most important part when picking a lab, as it often changes. It is important to talk to your PI about your interests and pick a lab where you will have a few projects to choose from. Most of the times things don’t work out like you thought and it is good to have back-up projects.

JS: What were the most memorable moments of your PhD experience?
SB: I had a great mentor that let me find my identity as a scientist and this led to an overall great PhD experience (although like most people, I had days where I hated everything and wanted to quit).
In terms of specific moments, I remember my qualification exam as the most challenging thing I did throughout my PhD; I left the exam thinking I knew nothing. On the flip side, I think my thesis defense was the highlight of my PhD. Towards the end of your PhD, you reach the top of your learning curve and you accumulate a lot of data. Then at your defense, no one knows your project better than you and that is your moment to shine and be proud of what you have accomplished. Another big moment is getting your first first-author publication; it is a great feeling of affirmation.
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JS: When did you know that you wanted to continue to a postdoc?
SB: I knew early on in my PhD that I wanted to do a postdoc because I want to stay in academia (for now, let’s see how it goes). Although, I think I would do a postdoc even if I didn’t want to stay in academia because it is an opportunity to understand what you want and it gives you time to consider your next steps.
I did consider skipping the postdoc entirely and going directly to a junior investigator program where you are supervised, but you have your own grants and freedom to direct your research. Eventually I decided against it because I didn’t feel ready to be that independent; I wanted time to learn and understand more about my own interests for my future lab.

Join us for Part 3, when Dr. Bayin will talk about how she went about landing her postdoc, how she chose the lab and her experiences so far.