Mentorship and Mastery: How Rutgers-Camden Shaped Somya Patro’s Career

Posted October 19, 2023November 17, 2024 in Uncategorized

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Transforming her passion for research into groundbreaking achievements, Somya Patro, a Rutgers University-Camden Biology MS alumna, earned the prestigious Graduate School Academic Achievement Award from the Rutgers University-Camden Alumni Association. Her journey, marked by resilience and discovery, took her from navigating lab restrictions in Singapore to conducting hands-on research at Rutgers-Camden. After a well-deserved celebration in Miami with her family, she’s now beginning an exciting chapter as a lab manager at the University of Southern California. Discover how her transformative experiences at Rutgers-Camden and the mentorship she received shaped her remarkable path.

A California Start and a Singapore Spark

During my time in Dr. Kwangwon Lee’s laboratory, I conducted research titled “Characterizing the Genetic and Molecular Mechanisms of GlcAT-P in Circadian and Photoperiodic Regulation in Drosophila melanogaster.” My focus was on the role of a single gene in the circadian rhythm.

My experience at Rutgers-Camden was invaluable. I learned so much because, when I was working at the lab in Singapore, there were numerous restrictions due to the onset of COVID-19, particularly with handling blood samples as a student. Over here, it was a hands-on journey, demanding a great deal of self-initiative. I believe I’ve achieved the pinnacle of independence in my life thus far, thanks to Rutgers-Camden.

Looking back at my time at Rutgers-Camden…I wouldn’t trade these past two and a half years for anything. It was a period I hold dear.
Somya Patro

A Surprising Love for Flies

I’ll be honest—I didn’t even know which direction in research I could pursue. However, upon my arrival, I was able to chalk out a definitive plan. Currently, I relish working with Drosophila melanogaster; prior to this program, I wouldn’t have even contemplated working with flies.

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What Made Being a Teaching Assistant Special

Beyond my research, I had the wonderful opportunity to be a teaching assistant. This experience enriched my learning journey profoundly. It was a weekly highlight for me, facilitating personal growth while interacting with new students. Introducing them to experiments reminiscent of my undergraduate days was immensely gratifying.

Memories and Gratitude That Last

Looking back at my time at Rutgers-Camden, the deeper my immersion, the clearer the understanding, and the heightened the exhilaration. As the quality of the data improved, my enthusiasm to gather even better data grew. My journey was progressively enriching, and I wouldn’t trade these past two and a half years for anything. It was a period I hold dear. I’m deeply grateful for the mentorship of Dr. Kwangwon Lee and Dr. Nir Yakoby.