First person – Mallika Bhattacharya

Mallika Bhattacharya

How would you explain the main findings of your paper in lay terms?

The process of cell migration can be likened to that of a road trip – cells need to decide who they will travel with, how to get to their destination, what time to leave, how long to stay on the road, etc. These mechanisms can also be hijacked and used aberrantly by diseased cells, such as by metastatic cancerous cells. My work focuses on the last two aspects of the cellular ‘road trip’ that together make up the timing of cell migration. Steroid hormone signaling often regulates timing of different physiological processes (think timed onset of puberty, for example) and this is true in fruit flies as well. In this work, we studied a subset of cells in the fruit fly ovary that are migratory to investigate the timing of cell migration. We found that steroid hormone signaling coordinates multiple mechanical aspects of cell movement to promote timely cell migration.

Were there any specific challenges associated with this project? If so, how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge to overcome was developing enough resilience to scientific failures to remain motivated and continue researching this topic. As steroid hormone signaling is essential for development and ovarian health in fruit flies, many common genetic manipulations to answer scientific questions lead to lethality; others do not have any effect because cells can often outsmart us and overcome the manipulations we perform. It can be extremely frustrating when months or even years of work does not amount to something meaningful. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic was a challenging time for research. My biggest learning curve during my PhD was allowing myself to ‘mourn’ failures for a few hours but then to move on and think of new, out-of-the-box methods to answer the same or sometimes new questions.

When doing the research, did you have a particular result or ‘eureka’ moment that has stuck with you?

When I restarted work after the pandemic, I suddenly obtained three different results in quick succession (relatively speaking). Together, these results helped me to explain, at least in part, the aberrant phenotype that I had been working on for years! I finally saw the story coming together and it felt like puzzle pieces beginning to fit. That feeling will always stay with me.

Why did you choose Journal of Cell Science for your paper?

In the field of cell biology, Journal of Cell Science always stuck out to me as a journal that encouraged the pursuit of hypothesis-driven basic biology questions. This work was along the lines of a ‘how things work’ study, providing novel understanding of a fundamental biological process. My PI and I felt that JCS was a great fit for this work and that the broad readership of the journal would understand and appreciate such science. Additionally, we both value the efforts JCS takes to support and promote early-career researchers, which makes JCS stand out amongst other journals.

Have you had any significant mentors who have helped you beyond supervision in the lab? How was their guidance special?

My PhD supervisor, Dr Michelle Starz-Gaiano, is an excellent mentor inside and outside of the lab. She gambled on a confused and inexperienced student and trained me into an independent scientist. Her mentorship style adapted to my changing needs over the years – she was instrumental in providing me with emotional support outside the lab when we were all isolated during the pandemic. She was always available to offer advice from general ‘life lessons’ to learning to drive! I have a better understanding of science and the scientific world thanks to her, and I will always be deeply appreciative of that!

What motivated you to pursue a career in science, and what have been the most interesting moments on the path that led you to where you are now?

My interest in biology can be traced back to two of my close family members – one having suffered from stroke, and the other battling Alzheimer's disease. Although I did not understand the implications of their illnesses as a child, it most certainly triggered a deep desire in me to help those going through the same suffering. Eventually, I began to appreciate the complexities and mysteries of biology; the science excited me and the unknown aspects aroused my curiosity. In my undergraduate studies at National University of Singapore and at Leiden University Medical Centre on a semester exchange program, I was exposed to a clinical environment and the impact of its research. From both of these experiences, I learnt how biological processes work and how they are indispensable to curating therapeutics to diseases and/or individuals. This ignited my interest to answer basic biology questions. I fell into the field of developmental biology by chance but thoroughly enjoy the breadth of the field and the general curiosity of all its members!

What's next for you?

I recently started as a postdoc in Dr Elissa Lei's lab at The National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), which is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), studying 3D chromatin organization. I would like to continue in academia by merging my expertise in cell migration with my current training. My aim is to start my own research lab and to provide an empathetic research environment for future scientists.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that wouldn't be on your CV

I love traveling and have had the privilege to travel to over 11 countries and counting!