GW-SOBS Student of the Month

SEPTEMBER

Why did you decide to pursue a PhD?

[TS] I’m fascinated by nature’s biological processes, recognizing their patterns and how they are manipulated in disease pathology. Once I started research full-time I realized there was so much that seemed familiar but wanted to understand in greater detail. I’ve always been curious and love the learning environment of research but wanted to further develop an investigative mindset and hone my experimental design and critical thinking skills.

Tell us about your project!

[TS] My project investigates the oncogenic alterations that advance small intestinal adenocarcinogenesis. Specifically, we are focusing on the synergistic effects of oncogenic KRAS expression and p16 tumor suppressor loss in early adenocarcinogenesis and how they influence histologic alterations in the murine small intestine and progression towards features of invasive adenocarcinoma. Using intestinal organoids derived from our transgenic mouse models, we can assess the molecular mechanisms driving tumorigenesis between different intestinal epithelial cell populations and hopefully identify pathways targetable for therapeutic intervention. 

What are some skills (scientific or non-scientific) you have gained while in the program?

[TS] Going into my fourth year, I am definitely starting to see my growth as a scientist since entering the program. I’ve learned how to think more critically and analytically about my research questions, the best approaches to address them, and which to prioritize based on available resources. I’m gaining confidence in my experimental design and am learning how to anticipate certain pitfalls in my workflow and critically assess how I review my work for troubleshooting and optimization. Flexibility, patience and gratitude have been big skills I’ve leaned on since qualifying. I’ve realized that not everything will work out or go to plan, to have loose hopes and expectations, but the attempt and the process is where I learn and grow the most as a scientist. That has been a big part of overcoming the imposter syndrome and indecision anxiety that I think has been critical for me in growing as a scientist.

What are your plans after receiving your PhD?

[TS] Throughout the PhD experience I’ve fallen back in love with being a student and learning really cool, fascinating topics in hyper-detail. I’ve been growing more and more interested in the intersection of nutrition, the microbiome and disease pathology. Although I am still figuring out what skills I want to continue to learn and refine, and which roles will bring me the most fulfillment within my career – for now I really enjoy being part of the hands-on learning environment of bench research while also getting to channel a creative and investigative mindset.

What do you like to do outside of lab?

[TS] I love being outdoors mainly. I frequently go for runs / walks along the National Mall and hike the trails around Great Falls Park with my family. In the last year I’ve been really enjoying meeting up with District CleanUps to channel my OCD and give back to DC / and the planet. I love a boxing workout at Bash in Arlington and have been slowly getting more hand-eye-coordinated. On the weekends in DC, I love to visit the museums or explore different neighborhoods, and maybe hit the farmer’s market in Dupont. I’ve been picking up more books for fun learning, I loved ‘Think Like A Monk’ by Jay Shetty and have been really enjoying learning more about spiritual psychology and how it relates to neuroscience and human health. 

Any pets?

[TS] My organoids are my pets, they can be a bit demanding. I’m also a mom to a handful of plants, all of which are in their teenage years and are ganging up on me. 

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Thank you, Tyler, for sharing!

You can find Tyler on LinkedIn at the link below and via email: tyseckar@gwu.edu