In the past few weeks, I’ve heard from distinguished faculty, ranging from those specializing in microbiome research to those studying evolutionary genetics. While their research may be drastically different, I observed that each seminar had a common theme: the idea that science starts with observation. More particularly, I was fascinated by Dr. Lefkowitz’s talk, specifically how his observations led to his discovery of g-protein-coupled receptors. Even though he is now a Nobel-prize winner, it was interesting learning that he was never interested in research during his undergrad years. It wasn’t until his exposure to research through the NIH that he discovered his love of the lab.
While his research is fascinating, I was intrigued by his mellow demeanor. He has lived a fascinating life, and I enjoyed hearing his stories and wisdom. In his words, one of the keys to success is learning to tell a good story. This advice emphasized a soft skill necessary in science, specifically the ability to be creative. After undergoing an experiment and collecting data, the results alone do not tell a story. It is the researcher, who simultaneously is also the author, that imposes a story on the data. Another key to success that was profound to me was the idea that humor is creativity, and creativity is the basis of science. I enjoyed how Dr. Lefkowitz explained that the process of understanding the punchline of a joke is the equivalent of making a discovery–which is a crucial part of science.
His seminar can be summed up in the following statement: be ambitious, stay focused, and eat lots of dark chocolate.
