Name: Michelle Chan YeeTeng
Faculty: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Year of Study: 4th
Supervisor: Dr. Sharon Gorski

How did you get involved in research?

It all started in my second year when I approached Dr. Plettner casually to ask for a volunteer position in her lab without the intention of actually getting it. She was really nice and supportive as a PI and always encouraged us to attend seminars and get around knowing more people. I guess that probably is the stepping stone of my life-long career as a researcher.

What will you be working on this summer?

I did a thesis honours with Dr. Gorski in the Spring on compensatory autophagy induced by proteasome inhibitors in breast cancer cell lines. As part of the project of VPR-USRA that I applied for the summer, I will be working mostly on the follow-up study of my research aim and potentially on characterizing autophagy regulators in Drosophila.

What is a typical “day in the life” in the lab for you?

Cells passaging and drug treatment. I have had weeks of Western blot and CV which are not really fun.

Favourite science joke or meme from your field?

What do you call an acid with an attitude? A-mean-oh acid.

What scares you the most in the lab or the field?

When my cells get contaminated because that would literally mean another futile week with no results.