Ola Salama
Lab affiliation: Gerstein Microstats Lab
Degree(s) you hold: Biomedical Science (BSc. Hons)
Degree being sought (M.Sc./Ph.D.): M.Sc.
Hometown (City, Country—list multiple if you have them!): Alexandria, Egypt
Your research project in one sentence: Boric Acid and Fluconazole Drug Response in Candida spp.
Degree(s) you hold: Biomedical Science (BSc. Hons)
Degree being sought (M.Sc./Ph.D.): M.Sc.
Hometown (City, Country—list multiple if you have them!): Alexandria, Egypt
Your research project in one sentence: Boric Acid and Fluconazole Drug Response in Candida spp.
What do you do to relax when you have a lazy day at home?
It depends on my mood. Some days I only want to watch Netflix and game with my friends. Other days, I just want to read.
What are you most excited about for 2021? Goals?
Can graduating be my answer? I am excited about graduating and my goal is to graduate lol. Outside of academia, I am looking forward to visiting my family back home assuming the pandemic end (maybe I am stretching my goals for 2021 and that should be left for 2022?).
What techniques do you/will you most often use in your project?
Disk diffusion assay is the technique we use most in our lab. Basically, we spread culture on a plate then place a disk containing our drug of interest at the centre. We then take pictures of our plates and quantify resistance and tolerance.
What's one silly mistake you've made in the lab? I was doing a disk diffusion assay and I was done; I just needed to put my plates in the incubator. You guessed it right! I dropped a stack of plates and they got contaminated. I had to redo them of course.
What are any current problems you are having with your research?
Right now, it would be analyzing my data and writing. I thought that these parts should be the easiest, but the truth is it takes so much time to analyze and understand your data then write it down.
What did you hope to get out of grad school in the beginning compared to now?
I was looking for clarity on what I can do later in life. I was not sure if research is for me and whether the niche that I chose to study is what I would want to continue studying later in my career. I think now I have a clearer view on what I want to seek career wise, I have gained quite an extensive research experience, and I have also made great friends.
It depends on my mood. Some days I only want to watch Netflix and game with my friends. Other days, I just want to read.
What are you most excited about for 2021? Goals?
Can graduating be my answer? I am excited about graduating and my goal is to graduate lol. Outside of academia, I am looking forward to visiting my family back home assuming the pandemic end (maybe I am stretching my goals for 2021 and that should be left for 2022?).
What techniques do you/will you most often use in your project?
Disk diffusion assay is the technique we use most in our lab. Basically, we spread culture on a plate then place a disk containing our drug of interest at the centre. We then take pictures of our plates and quantify resistance and tolerance.
What's one silly mistake you've made in the lab? I was doing a disk diffusion assay and I was done; I just needed to put my plates in the incubator. You guessed it right! I dropped a stack of plates and they got contaminated. I had to redo them of course.
What are any current problems you are having with your research?
Right now, it would be analyzing my data and writing. I thought that these parts should be the easiest, but the truth is it takes so much time to analyze and understand your data then write it down.
What did you hope to get out of grad school in the beginning compared to now?
I was looking for clarity on what I can do later in life. I was not sure if research is for me and whether the niche that I chose to study is what I would want to continue studying later in my career. I think now I have a clearer view on what I want to seek career wise, I have gained quite an extensive research experience, and I have also made great friends.