Hello From the Other Side:

Reflections on a PhD Completed

Devika P. Bagchi, PhD Molecular & Intgrative Physiology

When we collectively look back on the year 2020, it will undoubtedly be with an overarching sense of personal and communal loss: so many lives and livelihoods lost, careers and personal goals indefinitely put on hold, and the feeling that time passed both interminably slowly and in the blink of an eye. Amidst it all, I hope we also remember the brief moments of lightness, human kindnesses, and personal successes, however that looked for each of us.

For me, 2020 was the year that I successfully earned my PhD - three letters soon to follow my name that will forever represent a years-long quest for knowledge and purpose. As I reflect on my journey, it is not lost on me that my experiences, lessons learned, and successes have been shaped largely by the individuals and larger communities that have supported and nurtured me along the way. By sharing some of the key experiences that helped me to thrive during my time in MIP, I hope to pay forward the investments made in me to the next generation of departmental graduate students.

As an aspiring physician-scientist, I initially chose to pursue my PhD in the Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology because I hoped to gain an interdisciplinary understanding of the molecular and systemic underpinnings of human disease. Given my neuroscience background, I originally intended to study neurodegenerative disease, which had touched my family. However, I ultimately found myself drawn to the lab of Dr. Ormond MacDougald, both for the important public and global health implications of studying obesity and because the lab environment and mentorship style was the right fit for me. Ultimately, my thesis work focused on the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in adipocyte function and its implications for obesity and metabolic disease – not remotely related to neurodegenerative disease research. In making this first big decision in graduate school, I learned an important lesson: if you are flexible in following your passions, new and previously unknown avenues will reveal themselves.

During my time in MIP, I have experienced firsthand the rigorous training graduate students receive, not only in scientific research, but also in presentation, teaching, and leadership skills, all of which are critical for future success no matter your career trajectory, from academic science and medicine to industry to medical writing and beyond. As students, we are integrated seamlessly into a community of faculty members, staff, and fellow trainees who treat us as colleagues on an equal footing. Beyond the impact on scientific advancement, this emphasis on collaboration and interdisciplinary research fosters a uniquely creative and collegial environment, perfect for the development of budding scientists.

As I dove headfirst into the trenches of my graduate work, I was also delighted to find myself surrounded by a community that was not only scientifically rich, but one that was endlessly supportive and ready at a moment’s notice to help me pursue all my goals, scientific and otherwise. Community engagement and outreach had long been a passion of mine, and I watched firsthand as the department supported efforts to establish and grow Science Education & Engagement for Kids (SEEK), a student-led organization that aims to bridge local gaps in access to science education by providing hands-on lessons and close mentorship to kids in local low-resource, high-needs schools. Doing my small part to give back to the local community has been one of the most fulfilling parts of graduate school, and I feel so fortunate to be part of a department that actively encourages students to chase their various passions. This brings me to another lesson I learned firsthand: in MIP, “if you can dream it, you can do it” is not just an ideal, it is a reality.

Graduate school is a transformative experience in so many ways. Personally, I still have much to discover about becoming a physician-scientist, but my thesis work has given me a new lens through which to view human disease and a unique framework with which to think about the underlying pathophysiology and appropriate therapeutic interventions for my patients. And as this chapter of my training closed, so many of the people I had the opportunity to learn from and grow alongside over the last few years sat alongside me on Zoom and cheered me on as I, dressy on top and sweatpants below, shared all of the scientific and personal discoveries I’ve made along the way. So, my parting words to all the students coming after me: if you let it, MIP will become like a home to you, nurturing and supporting you through this grand adventure that you’re embarking on. And to all the faculty, staff, and friends who truly became like family to me, thank you. •