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. Nir El is an author on ‘ Taurine efflux counters the hydrodynamic impact of anaerobic metabolism to protect cardiorespiratory function under acute thermal stress in brook char (Salvelinus fontinalis)’, published in JEB. Nir carried out this work while a PhD student in the lab of Tyson MacCormack at Mount Allison University, Canada.
Nir El
How did you become interested in biology?
My interest in biology/biochemistry stems from the activities that I participated in during school. As a kid, I was routinely involved in the afterschool program ‘Mad Science’, which sparked my curiosity of the world around me. This led me to take on a science-heavy courseload in high school with the hope of a future career in the medical field. I was, therefore, most interested in biology and biochemistry courses once I arrived at Mount Allison University, leading me to then get involved in research early on in my studies. I enjoyed my research in the MacCormack Lab for nearly 3 years, and then went on to pursue my dreams in the medical field by entering the Doctor of Dental Surgery program at Dalhousie University, Canada.
Describe your scientific journey and your current research focus
My scientific journey started when I arrived at Mount Allison University, where I quickly built life-long connections with my professors and peers in my community. My studies focused on biology and biochemistry courses, which offered countless engaging opportunities to travel, research, present, volunteer and learn from so many incredible individuals. My research journey began in the MacCormack Lab, where I did my honours projects with a focus on cardiovascular physiology. Specifically, this research aimed to examine and better understand the role of taurine in cardiovascular stress tolerance in brook char – stressors that become more threatening with climate change.
How would you explain the main findings of your paper to a member of the public?
Our changing climate brings forth many stressors to all organisms. With fish being extremely susceptible to thermal and osmotic stressors, my research looked at how these animals might adapt to a changing environment to survive. Taurine is an amino acid that has been suggested to possess cardioprotective properties; however, the way it does so is not well understood. This suggests that fish might be dependent on this amino acid for their survival. My research aims to address this gap in knowledge by determining the role of taurine in stress tolerance by using brook char as a model fish species.
What do you enjoy most about research, and why?
Apart from the fascinating discoveries that come with this research, I've enjoyed sharing experiences with the amazing people that I have met along the way. My research community has taught me just as much about myself as it has about my research, and the lifelong connections I have made along the way created countless positive memories. From my incredible lab family to speakers that I've learned from throughout my research, I've come to realize that it is the people in my community that have had the biggest impact on my research experience.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I love to participate in sports such as football, basketball, skiing and tennis. I also recently took up golf and have been playing frequently this past year. Other passions of mine include playing the piano (which I have been doing for the past 10 years) and spending time with family and friends. I also enjoy volunteering in my free time. Although most of my time is occupied by my academic studies, I still found a way to surround myself with science in my free time at Mount Allison University by volunteering with Let's Talk Science.
Nir El's contact details: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, Canada, E4L 1E4.
E-mail: [email protected]