Dear Green Place: A Thank-You to Glasgow

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This past summer, I am grateful to have worked in Dr. Lilach Sheiner’s lab at the University of Glasgow, conducting research on the mitochondrion of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite has infected approximately one-third of the world’s population, and even though in most people infection presents as asymptomatic, toxoplasmosis can cause severe consequences and even fatalities in immunocompetent people. My lab at the University of Arizona, run by Dr. Anita Koshy, studies chronic toxoplasmosis, which is characterized by parasitic cysts in the mammalian brain, while the Sheiner lab is more interested in the parasite’s mitochondrion and metabolic pathways. Even though the specialties of these two labs are different, the ultimate goal is to identify molecular targets in the parasite that can be used for pharmaceutical intervention.

My specific project focused on an uncharacterized subunit of the T. gondii ATP synthase. I used CRSIPR/Cas9 technology to generate a knockout strain of our subunit– in which this strain lacks our subunit entirely– which will be used by the Sheiner lab in the future to conduct functional assays and thus understand the role of this subunit in further detail. I also managed to visualize where this protein ends up in the mitochondrion using techniques I had never done before, which was quite exciting! I also assisted a PhD student with her project, which looks at a different subunit in T. gondii ATP synthase and might require Koshy lab collaboration in the future.

My labmates were incredibly welcoming and integral to my summer experience– I have so many fond memories of my time spent in the Sheiner lab. We worked hard in the lab, but also made time to socialize and have fun: whether it was having an hours-long BBQ to enjoy a rare sunny summer day in Glasgow, blasting French rap in the tissue culture room, or simply having lunch together. Because of my labmates, I was able to adjust to and enjoy my time in Glasgow as much as I did.

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The name “Glasgow” comes from the Gaelic word “Glaschu”, literally translating to “dear green place.” True to its name, Glasgow is bursting with nature. Nothing beats a warm sunny day in Glasgow, and I would try my best to spend the entire day outside, especially since the sun sets so late here during the summer! The true test of friendship is whether you are willing to sit in a crammed city bus (no AC) on a hot summer day to commute an hour to the other side of the city to see them. I’m grateful that I met people this summer to whom I would do that in a heartbeat. On days like those, the sprawling parks are perfect for picnicking; perhaps my favorite is Pollok Park, where you can see Scotland’s famous Highland cows roaming around! Once you’ve had your fill of the parks (which I never quite managed to accomplish), there’s still so much more to explore, such as wandering through the Barras Market, a 100+ years old street market, or catching a movie at the Glasgow’s independent cinema, Glasgow Film Theatre.

I tried to make the most of Scotland’s public transportation system, which felt like a novelty to me, having lived in Arizona my whole life. I managed several day trips during my time here. I went to the Isle of Arran, a beautiful island just a 45 minute ferry ride off of Scotland’s west coast and spent the day hiking (or rather, attempting to hike) its highest peak, visiting Brodick Castle, then enjoying the evening by the beach with some delicious Isle of Arran strawberry ice cream. In a frenzied attempt to explore as much of Edinburgh, Scotland’s old, fairytale-like capitol, I totalled 60,000 steps over two days. My favorite activities in this city were visiting Surgeons’ Hall Museums, which house a huge pathology sample collection; getting lost in Blackwell’s, the city’s oldest bookstore; exploring Old Town and Edinburgh Castle; and strolling through the colorful houses and cobbled streets that make up Dean Village. I visited St. Andrews, a small coastal town with a delightful small town charm to it. Even though I do believe the University of Glasgow has the most stunning campus ever, I do think St. Andrews University is a close second, with a campus that is within walking distance to the beach and located conveniently close to the ancient castle ruins. My last trip in Scotland was to the city of Stirling to visit their castle and enjoy the more rural scenery there. Because this was my first time in Europe, I wanted to visit a few more places before the end of summer, so I managed to squeeze in a trip to explore London, Amsterdam, Prague, and Copenhagen!

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My BRAVO! experience has been nothing short of transformative. I feel more confident in myself– in my decision to pursue research as a career and apply for PhD programs, in navigating new cities and countries by myself, in my ability to find community wherever I go. Without a doubt, my summer abroad has been the best experience of university so far, and I would like to thank the Koshy lab, the Sheiner lab, the BRAVO! donors, and all my friends in Glasgow for making my summer as wonderful as it was. Glasgow has truly become my home over the summer, and I hope to visit again soon.