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Ricardo López is a third-year graduate student at Harvard's program in Neuroscience (PiN). Currently, he is working towards his PhD in the discipline, focusing on molecular neurobiology - specifically, molecular mechanisms that govern the release of different chemicals in the brain.
Learn more about Ricardo Lopez here.
<Education>
University/ College
Bachelor of Biology
Undergraduate researcher in the Heifets Lab and Malenka Lab
Harvard University
PiN Post Doctorate
Mr. Lopez shares his journey from high school to earning a PhD in neuroscience, emphasizing the importance of taking chances and following one's passion in STEM.
<Key Questions>
What is a typical day at the lab?
What skills are helpful in a lab environment such as yours?
What steps did you take to pursue this career path?
How did you land internships when you didn't have a strong academic platform to start with?
What is a typical day at the lab?
The days are entirely defined by the experiments conducted. A good deal of it is used on experimental design for the best conditions to perform or ask whatever question it is that I'm currently curious about and performing these experiments. Any given day, there is usually 2-3 experiments I try to check off.
The experiments vary in size - it can be as small as making sure that the lab mice have the right genetics, or as big as collecting and preserving brain samples from the mice for experiments, which is the largest routine experiment that I conduct.
What steps did you take to pursue this career path?
<<High School>>
" I really avoided Science in high school. So much that beyond my sophomore year, I didn't take a major science class! Instead, I was really involved with the school newspaper, writing and photography. "
<<College>>
The transition really came in my freshman year of college where I took a psychology course. I remember in chapter 3 of our introductory textbook - there was a section about what an action potential is. I became interested in that phenomenon and wanted to know more about it. That's when I decided to jump headfirst into neurobiology. After a period of time of not taking science seriously in high school, going immediately into neurobiology required me to take courses such as genetics, biochemistry, psychology, and general chemistry.
The numerous courses were very challenging, especially at the start. It was my interest in neuroscience that carried me throughout the classes. My interest solidified when I first joined a lab. That was when I could see the distinction between the conceptual things we learn and the academics in the classroom versus the hands-on skills you can acquire when working in a laboratory setting. I got to meet fantastic mentors as an undergraduate student who taught me fundamental skills for experiments. The lab was where I gained the confidence to speak more fluidly on the science also helped me perform better in an academic setting.
What skills do you utilize in the lab?
"We need various skills for experiments such as:
Imaging fixed tissue:
Observing the architecture of the different type of cells to study.
Studying functions of different transmitters we study
ex) Retrieving live brain slices from mice and using different florescent probes along with electrical stimuli to monitor live release.
What skills are helpful in a lab environment such as yours?
You need to be excited about the experimental practice:
The experiments people hear about often can sound technically demanding (some cases they are). However, the experiments require more of an engineering mind, the ability to adapt quickly and troubleshooting - especially when things don't turn out the way you predicted.
Having interest in doing the experiments and willingness to engage & work may hold more weight than hard skills such as mathematics or chemistry.
When you start to practice science and perform experiments, a lot comes down to engineering/"hand skills":
How you handle the various equipment you work with.
Having the sound judgement for troubleshooting if there are abnormalities in the experiments.
How did you land internships when you didn't have a strong academic platform to start with?
I cold emailed a lot of people! It seems too simple to be true but reaching out to professors, expressing interest in what they do, and authentically telling them that you want to be a part of their work can go a long way. Sophomore fall was when I started reaching out to professors as a part of a summer internship program called the Wu Tsai program.
Reaching out to professors might be difficult and intimidating given how young high schoolers are, but this can be a strength since it means you have a lot of time to hone the skills needed for what you are interested in!
What advice do you have for high schoolers looking to pursue this career?
If you have any doubt that you're out of your depth, that means you're doing something right. It doesn't mean that you are unqualified or you're not ready to pursue your interest. I think it means that you have the self awareness and humility to recognize that you have gaps in your knowledge. We call ourselves scientists but we don't have answers for everything. Ultimately the key philosophy in what we [scientists] do is recognizing that we know so little, which could be a strength too. It might seem that things are moving incredibly fast but you are in a good place right now just by thing about it and by cultivating that interest. You might pursue your interests in the future or it might change, but that is what makes a good scientist: adapting to change.
What are some general life advice you have for high schoolers?
"High school can be difficult, but try to enjoy the moments. Trusting yourself is very important. High school is the time of your life to try new things! There are no significant consequences, and you have time in your life to explore. Don’t get too insecure about the future and other people. Just be you."
"Trust yourself. Do not compare yourself with others too much. Just be you."
Editor: Heather Kim
A huge thanks to Mr. Lopez for his time and effort put into supporting SciSapience. We look forward to his experiences, helpful advice and knowledge continuing to inspire and strengthen other high school students.
Learn more about Ricardo Lopez here.
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