ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from a selection of papers published in Journal of Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity of early-career researchers (ECRs) working in experimental biology but also the huge variety of animals and physiological systems that are essential for the ‘comparative’ approach. Jai Tiarks is an author on ‘ Turbidity drives plasticity in the eyes and brains of an African cichlid’, published in JEB. Jai is a PhD candidate in the lab of Dr Suzanne M. Gray at the Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, investigating how human-induced changes to the environment affect sensory systems, specifically by looking at how vision responds to altered aquatic environments in an African cichlid fish.
Jai Tiarks
How did you become interested in biology?
I became interested in biology the first time I learned the word nocturnal. I was little and I wanted to be like all the critters that had the ability to see in the dark. That grew into wanting to understand different capabilities of different animals. I spent a lot of time outside as a kid (spoiler: I still spend a lot of time outside). There were woods and fields in my backyard and I'd always be out exploring with my bug jar in one hand and my magnifying glass in the other. I think a combination of those things is what initially sparked my interest in the natural world.
Describe your scientific journey and your current research focus
In many ways, I want to represent what I didn't see in science as a child – an openly queer, transgender person articulating scientific concepts to both public audiences and to respected professionals within the scientific community. It took me a long time to come to terms with my intersecting identities, largely because I didn't understand that there was space in science for people like me. Culturally, visibility and representation can expand our view of what is possible, and ultimately, seeing scientists within the LGBT+ community allowed me to expand my own view of what is possible for myself. Finding a lab that fit my research interests and was welcoming of who I am as a person was so important in shaping the scientist I am today. Because I was fully accepted, I had the space to explore my scientific interests within ecology.
How would you explain the main findings of your paper to a member of the public?
Sensory systems are how organisms interact with the world. As our world continues to change at an unprecedented rate, animals still need to be able to do what animals do: find food, locate shelter, attract mates. Their ability to do those things relies heavily on their sensory systems. Using this lens, we can start to think about how certain stressors affect these organisms/their sensory systems and subsequently how these organisms/their sensory systems might cope (or not). In a recent study, we used cichlid fish to learn about how the visual system responded to turbidity (or suspended sediments) over the course of development. We looked at the eyes and brains of fish reared in clear water and turbid water. We found that younger fish had the ability to respond to murky water by growing larger eyes, but older fish weren't able to respond that flexibly to changes in their visual environment.
What do you enjoy most about research, and why?
I am a naturally curious person, and I think research is fundamentally about asking questions. I also love how creativity plays a big role in research – from looking at a problem in a new way or figuring out how to troubleshoot an experiment. From that perspective, I really enjoy being able to combine my curiosity and my creativity to think about the complexities of the world around us. Another thing that I have loved about research is the people. From the international collaborations I've been a part of, to working with my lab mates, I've met so many incredible people through the research projects I've been a part of, and that has been a huge highlight.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I really enjoy being outside. I love hiking, backpacking, and I love being near the water, preferably in a boat, kayak, or waders. I also spend a lot of time with family, friends, and my pup, Minnow. As nerdy as it is, in my free time I do a lot of science communication. I've really enjoyed doing fun science talks at local breweries, for example, and I love thinking about all the different ways we can make science more accessible and engaging. I'm also an avid reader and will read anything that I can get my hands on.
What's next for you?
I'm definitely staying busy! I'm working on finishing my PhD at the Ohio State University, and I'm also currently a 2024 Knauss Fellow.
Jai Tiarks’s contact details: School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, 122 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210.
E-mail: [email protected]
