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Isra Sati
PhD Student
Monash University
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Don't listen to the voices that don't believe in you.
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WHAT DO YOU DO?
My phD is about understanding why high-grade brain cancer can be resistance to treatment due to the influence of another neuropeptide receptor in the brain.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS FIELD?
I knew for a long time that I have a great passion for biology, at the same time, I knew that being a medical doctor is not for me. So I decided to find a field that gives me access to medical knowledge without being a doctor. I decided to take biomedical science at undergrad. After that time I had the chance to work as an intern in a medical research institute. This experience gave me the insight into vitro and in vivo cancer research and I chose to continue my post-grad in cancer treatment research.
HOW DO/DID YOU TACKLE OBSTACLES?
I always believe that every obstacle is an ability for me to pause and relook on my approach to a certain experiment or a piece of work. Taking some time off or having a talk with my lab mates gives me the chance to come up with a solution to any obstacle.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK AT & THINK, "I WISH YOUNGER ME WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS POSSIBLE?"
During my undergrad, I was told I am not fit to do research. After my undergrad, I had the chance to try both wet and dry labs & working with different research groups gave me the chance to expand my horizon and my interest. The chance to work with many supportive and great humans made me realise that one person comments won’t stop me from being who I can be. I had to learn my strength and weakness to use them all to reach my goal. Believing in my self and with the encouragement of great role models around me, I managed to secure a PhD from a world-class university with a scholarship. I knew that I just needed faith in my self and my abilities to reach my dream.
WHY DO YOU LOVE WORKING IN STEM?
I enjoy the ability to design and run experiments and the day I get the results of a certain experiment.
BEST ADVICE FOR NEXT GENERATION?
Don't listen to the voices that don't believe in you. Learn your strength and weakness as well. If your learning skills are different than the rest of your class, find your best learning method and redesign your lessons depends on it. Even if it takes you longer to reach your goal, don't give up and never compare your self to anyone but your past self.
INSPIRATION
“When there is no turning back, then we should concern ourselves only with the best way of going forward.”- Paulo Coelho
This quote has been my motto in life since undergrad