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. Ivana Lezcano is an author on ‘ Using the axial skeleton as armor: mechanical behavior of sea turtle carapaces throughout ontogeny’, published in JEB. Ivana is a PhD candidate in the lab of Dr Jeanette Wyneken at Florida Atlantic University, USA, investigating the anatomy and morphology of marine turtles with an emphasis on biomechanics.
Ivana Lezcano
How did you become interested in biology?
It is fairly common for marine biologists to recall being passionate about biology for as long as they can remember. Many of my friends have adorable pictures of themselves hugging sea turtle toys or grinning on boats while out at sea. I, on the other hand, distinctly recall many trips to our local beach in Florida which were spent actively avoiding the ocean and anything residing there. In high school, my family suggested I join a club which involved camping and various STEM activities. This club got me curious about the flora and fauna in my state and turned a relatively indoor kid into a nature-loving teen! At the time, many of my teachers urged those with an interest in STEM to consider a career in medicine. I didn't have many academic mentors within my community, so I applied to undergrad with a medical career in mind, believing that this was my only opportunity to pursue science.
Describe your scientific journey and your current research focus
My scientific journey officially began as an undergraduate student at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), USA. As a freshman, I planned on pursuing a medical track until I enrolled in FGCU's Biology 2 course. Here, I found a true passion for the material which focused on organismal biology and was taught by sea turtle biologist, Dr Phil Allman. At the end of the semester, Phil announced a research opportunity he was leading which involved tracking gopher tortoises in coastal dune environments. I signed up, figuring I had nothing to lose except for maybe a little blood from the insane number of mosquitoes in Florida. I have never looked back since! I fell in love with field work and gained an appreciation for the diversity of reptiles and amphibians found in Florida. I joined Phil's herpetology lab at FGCU and was introduced to the field of sea turtle biology when I witnessed a nesting green sea turtle on Keewaydin Island. It was on that island that I decided I wanted to pursue sea turtle biology as my research focus within herpetology. Through the experiences and networking opportunities I made in my undergraduate research lab, I embarked on amazing sea turtle internships, led an undergraduate research study, which was later published, and was put in touch with the amazing advisors I now work with at Florida Atlantic University.
How would you explain the main findings of your paper to a member of the public?
Our research helps us better understand how sea turtle shells respond to forces that are applied to them. Put simply, we can now quantify how strong or flexible these shells are across species and across different body sizes. Why does this matter? There is a long-held bias when it comes to the function of the turtle shell. Most would consider the shell a predominantly protective structure because it contains and covers much of the turtle's important organs, muscles and nerves. Though this may be the case for many turtles, sea turtles live in aquatic environments that result in unique stressors on the shell. Our research shows that sea turtle shells likely balance their role as a protective structure with many other important biological roles. This results in a shell that is not made to be simply as strong as possible, but that must be able to deform under certain scenarios. A good example of this is the flexibility required to compress the body while diving deeply and then de-compress the body as the turtle surfaces. As such, the turtle shell offers much more than protection and the shell must be both strong and resilient to facilitate life in a fully aquatic environment.
Kemp's ridley juvenile shell used to extract samples. All work was conducted under Florida permit MTP-073.
Kemp's ridley juvenile shell used to extract samples. All work was conducted under Florida permit MTP-073.
Why did you choose JEB to publish your paper?
Reading any article published in JEB makes it clear that the journal has high standards for submission and that the aims of the journal are always considered. I chose JEB not only because its scope aligns well with my research but because I respect them highly as a journal and community of interdisciplinary scientists. I have been attending the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biologists annual meeting for many years, and I've always stopped by the JEB booth (who doesn't love a little free swag?). The editors at the booth are genuine and I appreciate that they are approachable and passionate about their work. It's clear that JEB believes in their mission, publishing articles that are interesting, of high-quality and that advance our scientific knowledge. It was truly an honor to have our manuscript accepted. As a plus, I can now wear my JEB/SICB T-shirt while reading my own research article in their journal!
What is the most important lesson that you have learned from your career so far?
The most important lesson I have learned from my career is that representation and mentorship within the scientific community matters. I was personally never exposed to many scientists during my early years in school, let alone any Hispanic scientists. I was brought up with the belief that a ‘good’ career for a first-generation immigrant student who excelled academically was either a medical doctor or a lawyer. As a result, I never fully grasped the wide range of career paths available to those interested in STEM until I became an undergraduate student. Thanks to the mentorship of many scientists who pushed me to think critically and believe in myself, I found a passion and purpose within biology. For this reason, I believe that outreach and mentorship is incredibly important at all stages of one's career. Without these two things, many students who are curious about science may never realize the diversity within our fields and consider science to be a true possibility for them.
Do you have a top tip for others just starting out at your career stage?
My top tip to an early career researcher is to be open to opportunities that you are presented with along the way. Within my own scientific journey, I was often offered opportunities that did not align with what I expected my path to be. Instead of turning them down, I simply said ‘sure, what's the worst that could happen?’. These opportunities led me down some incredibly interesting research paths, and I was able to grow as a scientist and communicator because of them. Not every opportunity will result in you finding a new passion, but they can all be viewed as learning moments, helping mold you into a better researcher and student of science. Keep an open and curious mind – don't put yourself into a box of a single species or topic you currently find interesting. You never know what unique project or people are waiting for you unless you are open to new experiences!
Ivana Lezcano’s contact details: Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA.
E-mail: [email protected]
