ECR Spotlight – Abel Mebrahtu Free

Abel Mebrahtu

How did you become interested in biology?

Biology has always fascinated me from a young age. It was not until grade 12, when I took Biology 30, that my teacher (shoutout to Mr Marshall) sparked a turning point in my passion for the subject, as the subject became more than just a class. The topics in the grade 12 curriculum, from the mechanism of action potentials in neurons, to molecular biology in DNA replication, to the intricate connections in the endocrine system, deepened my fascination. All these topics were further stimulated by my other interests in sports, where my coaches taught us methods for improving our running and shooting performance with some biomechanical concepts. While playing sports, I would throughout the season land up in the doctor's office, where the physician would expose me to the physiology behind healing. These experiences in life cultivated my love for biology, motivating me to pursue an undergraduate degree in kinesiology and a master's degree in biomedical engineering, both at the University of Calgary.

Describe your scientific journey and your current research focus

I started out doing research during my undergrad at the University of Calgary. In the summer of 2023, I did a summer studentship with a CIHR summer research scholarship under Dr Patrick Whelan, as the principal investigator and working alongside Dr Jonathan Milla Cruz, where we conducted a series of behaviour tests to look at motor control in adult Fragile X mice. The research was enriching, as it fuelled my knowledge of neuroscience and allowed me to present my research at two local school symposiums: Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, where I won 1st in my poster presentation.

Building from my summer studentship, I conducted an honours thesis project under Dr Walter Herzog. Given my background in kinesiology and my own experiences, I wanted to be a part of a team that investigated the fundamental nature of muscle physiology and biomechanics. The work we did together and with the rest of our team, which is the reason for this ECR spotlight, was enlightening as I was able to take my research to the next level to have a publication in a highly respectable journal, JEB, right out of undergrad! I examined the muscle structure and properties, specifically the cross-sectional area and the assumptions made in isolated fibre experiments. I have always wanted to obtain a master's degree that combined the relationship of various disciplines of engineering and biology, leading me to biomedical engineering. The research I did with Dr Herzog sparked my interest in further doing work in the muscular physiology realm with my current master's project in osteoarthritis, where my work is centred on analysing the shoulder joint in a diet obesity model.

How would you explain the main findings of your paper to a member of the public?

Historically, muscle force measurements have relied on certain assumptions that approximate the shape of isolated fibres. Typically, researchers will assume that the shape of a fibre's cross-sectional area is either circular or elliptical owing to the limitations in the experimental set-up worldwide. However, if you were to look at a cross-sectional view of a fibre, you would see they come in diverse shapes, far from the simplified conditions used in these assumptions. Such assumptions might lead to inaccuracies that affect the measurement of biomechanical properties, like specific force that tells us how much force a muscle fibre generates relative to its size. Our present study examined the accuracy in estimating the muscle fibre cross-sectional area considering the circular and elliptical assumptions. Our results emphasized that adopting a circular assumption introduces errors in estimating the cross-sectional area. Further, they outlined that the elliptical assumption reduces variability compared with the circular model and thus better estimates the cross-sectional area in skinned fibres. This research has implications for improving the accuracy of muscle force measurements in studies of skeletal and cardiac muscle. It potentially has effects when comparing fibres across different conditions or interventions.

Why did you choose JEB to publish your paper?

This was my first time publishing, and I was lost on who I should publish my work with. My supervisor, Dr Walter Herzog, advised me to look into JEB, as he has had previous success with them. He told me that JEB would allow increased interaction compared with most other scientific journals because of its high reputation. The review process was excellent as the editor and reviewers saw potential in our work, allowing us to publish. This milestone in my research career really gave me the confidence to continue in the field of research, but importantly, deepened my understanding of the peer-review process and the value of selecting the right journal for your work.

What do you enjoy most about research, and why?

It would have to be going to research conferences and symposia. It truly put me, as a presenter at such events, into an environment where the scope of research was pretty amazing. The amount of research conducted by undergrads, masters and PhD students, post-doctoral fellows and even professors themselves shows how deeply one can work on areas of science. I especially appreciated being challenged by experts in the field and the questions that they asked; this forced me to reflect deeply on my research. The passion I saw in the researchers I met gave me the drive to be resilient and explore my research interests, not just as a student but as someone genuinely excited by the potential impact these cutting-edge works can have on understanding human movement and health.

Do you have a top tip for others just starting out at your career stage?

I have learnt that research is a process of trial and error; and that not all the experiments you are conducting will go right the first time. I always was never fond of trial and error, as I have more of an analytical mind. It is hard since I put great expectations in my academics and my natural drive to finish tasks perfectly. It felt strange to find myself constantly experiencing failed experiments, but I could understand that setbacks were a part of research. In any research undertaking, one has to embrace a mindset of flexibility and intellectual curiosity to achieve the full research experience. By doing so, you will allow your research to achieve results that contribute meaningfully to your project.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Besides binge-watching TV shows and movies, I have a passion for playing sports, like basketball and soccer, with soccer as my primary sport. Growing up, I spent countless hours watching the Premier League and the World Cup with my father. I recently started to play rec league soccer after years of playing in competitive youth soccer. I am also an avid runner, aiming to log about 20 km a week to stay active. I successfully completed a 21.1 km half-marathon back in May!

What's next for you?

After completing an honours project, I will be continuing to work with Dr Walter Herzog to do an MSc in biomedical engineering with a focus on osteoarthritis on a diet obesity model for the next 2 years as a foundation for pre-clinical work. I am really excited about the work, as I will be learning new techniques and working with new equipment, widening my research knowledge. I hope my academic journey leads me to medical school (hopefully a school in Alberta!), where I can further add scientific innovation to the medical field.