ABSTRACT
First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Biology Open, helping researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Emily Bulger is first author on ‘ CDX2 dose-dependently influences the gene regulatory network underlying human extraembryonic mesoderm development’, published in BiO. Emily conducted the research described in this article while a PhD student in Benoit Bruneau's lab at Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, USA. She is now a postdoctoral scholar at Gladstone Institutes, investigating how genotype correlates with phenotype and the implications this has for organismal development and evolution more broadly.
Emily Bulger
Describe your scientific journey and your current research focus
After completing my bachelor's degree in molecular environmental biology from UC Berkeley and working as a research associate in Dr Ethan Bier's lab at UC San Diego, I began my PhD in the labs of Dr Todd McDevitt and Dr Benoit Bruneau at the Gladstone Institutes and UC San Francisco. As a student, I fused bioengineering principles with developmental biology to learn more about cell fate and behaviour. I am particularly interested in how gene dosage influences early development and the foundational lessons we can learn from stem cells about what signals are needed for development to progress properly.
Who or what inspired you to become a scientist?
As an undergraduate, I had some really incredible mentors that encouraged me to explore different types of biology and learn what a career in research could look like. They definitely helped me build my confidence as a scientist and helped me navigate how to develop my curiosities into a career.
How would you explain the main finding of your paper?
We found that the expression level of a gene called CDX2 directly influences downstream gene expression during the development of a tissue called the extraembryonic mesoderm, which goes on to form the umbilical cord and other support structures in the early embryo. This precise regulation of gene expression likely influences whether these structures are able to properly develop to provide nutrients and remove waste as the embryo grows, making it important for the embryo's survival.
What are the potential implications of this finding for your field of research?
This finding helps us deconstruct how extraembryonic structures develop and establishes the foundation for identifying key pathways that may be regulating these processes. By using in vitro models this study also offers some initial insights specifically into human extraembryonic tissue development, which has been historically inaccessible due to technical and ethical limitations.
2D gastruloid with ectoderm (SOX2, cyan), mesoderm (TBXT, blue), and extraembryonic mesoderm (CDX2, red) fluorescently labelled.
Which part of this research project was the most rewarding?
I had the opportunity to present an early version of this work at an international conference during my PhD and it was incredibly motivating to be able to have so many conversations with curious and passionate scientists. It really helped me see how my work fit into the bigger picture and it was exciting to brainstorm different directions we could take this project in the future.
What do you enjoy most about being an early-career researcher?
I really appreciate how every conversation or seminar leaves me thinking about my project or field in a new way, and it's gratifying to start to see pieces coming together to tell larger stories.
What piece of advice would you give to the next generation of researchers?
I would say that finding good mentors is crucial, but also to keep in mind that not every person will be the perfect mentor for every aspect of science (or life!). It is important to find several types of mentors to help with the variety of lessons that will pop up during grad school or beyond.
What's next for you?
I recently completed my PhD and am looking forward to pursuing a career generating and communicating science in the biotech industry. Exact plans TBD!
Emily Bulger's contact details: Gladstone Institutes, 1650 Owens St. San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
E-mail: [email protected]
