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. Theodora Po is an author on ‘ The directional control of phototaxis in sea stars (Protoreaster nodosus)’, published in JEB. Theodora conducted the research described in this article while a PhD candidate in Matthew McHenry's lab at the University of California, Irvine. Theodora is now a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Valentina Di Santo at the University of California, San Diego, investigating the neuromechanics of animals and collective systems.
Theodora Po
How did you become interested in biology?
I first became interested in biology as an undergraduate. Biology was not like other subjects, such as math and physics, which came naturally to me. It was a bit more elusive, and at first, I struggled with how abstract the concepts felt. I spent countless hours delving into textbooks and tutoring sessions, trying to wrap my mind around complex ideas that did not click right away. I found that the more I dove in, the more fascinating it all became. Especially how small changes can take unpredictable paths that can have huge impacts. It was something I thought about even when I fell asleep. It was not long before I realized that biology was not only a subject I was studying in class; it is a lifelong pursuit I am eager to continue.
Describe your scientific journey and your current research focus
My scientific journey started in a clinical setting when I interned at my university's sports medicine clinic for student athletes. It was during this time that I realized my true interest was not in the therapy side of things, but in understanding the mechanisms behind injuries. This realization pushed me to look for a research lab where I could focus on locomotion.
Currently, my research centers on the control of terrestrial locomotion and collective behavior in aquatic environments. I have gained experience in studying how echinoderms, specifically their tube feet, move. Now I am expanding that work to investigate how fish move and behave in different evolutionary contexts and physiological conditions. Ultimately, I aim to develop a more comprehensive perspective of how fundamental principles of locomotion present across different organisms and physical environments, and throughout history.
The sea star has hundreds of appendages called tube feet that they use for locomotion. There is evidence that these tube feet can be controlled centrally or respond to the environment collectively.
The sea star has hundreds of appendages called tube feet that they use for locomotion. There is evidence that these tube feet can be controlled centrally or respond to the environment collectively.
How would you explain the main findings of your paper to a member of the public?
Sea stars use hundreds of small ‘feet’ called tube feet to move. The fascinating thing about these animals is that they don't have a brain. We were interested in how these tube feet can coordinate with each other when the sea star moves. Like metronomes synchronizing with each other when placed on the same rigid surface, these autonomous tube feet can also collectively coordinate with each other simply because they are connected to the same body and rigid surface.
We wanted to find out whether the tube feet's ability to coordinate in direction is controlled by the nervous system or whether the tube feet point in the same direction on their own. To test this, we observed how sea stars move under different lighting and surface conditions. When we provided a directional light stimulus, the sea stars moved in straight lines. In the dark, however, they moved in random directions.
We also flipped the sea stars upside down to see how the tube feet moved when they could not touch a rigid surface. In this position, the coordination likely relies on the nervous system. When the sea stars were upside down and exposed to light, the tube feet coordinated with each other in the same direction, which suggested that the nervous system was guiding their movement. In the dark, however, the tube feet moved in different directions, acting independently.
These findings show that sea stars have a unique control architecture. The tube feet can work collectively on their own, but the nervous system can guide them when there is a directed signal. These findings demonstrate how a collective system can be effectively guided by central control for directional coordination.
What do you enjoy most about research, and why?
What I enjoy most about research is the sense of discovery and unpredictability. Being a researcher keeps me on my toes. Sometimes, I think I am heading in one direction, but the data can take me somewhere different. For me, research is not just about finding answers; it is also about constantly asking questions even after the paper is published. I find that it is the curiosity and the challenge of not knowing what's coming next that keeps me hooked.
What is the most important lesson that you have learned from your career so far?
The most important lesson that I have learned is to not fear uncertainty. What I mean by that is when you run into something that you cannot solve right away, try not to get bogged down by why the answer is not coming to you. Instead, get curious. Actively turning that fear into curiosity will guide your work in a more interesting and enjoyable light. I found that embracing uncertainty has opened me to new solutions that I would not have considered before.
Theodora Po’s contact details: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, 321 Steinhaus Hall, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
E-mail: [email protected]
