ECR Spotlight – Linda Lumor Free

Linda Lumor

How did you become interested in biology?

My interest in biology began out of mere curiosity in understanding how the human body functions. However, due to limited mentorship, I assumed the only means of understanding is by venturing into the medical sciences. As someone with a phobia for blood and medication, I channeled my interest towards understanding the diversity in the looks and behaviors of other animals. As I observed the interaction and influence of various environmental factors on organisms' behavior, my interest grew quickly. This translated into biology becoming one of my favorite subjects in high school as it presented a great foundation for understanding physiological mechanisms of organisms. This fascination led me to ask many questions in class. A deeper dive into understanding the ‘why’ of nature's diversity and functioning further affirmed biology as the best lens to explore the mechanisms shaping ecosystem functioning and answer these questions.

Describe your scientific journey and your current research focus

My scientific journey started from my undergraduate degree, where I got the opportunity to investigate the effect of human activities like aquaculture on ecosystem health. This investigation launched my desire to explore the effect of various environmental stressors on aquatic organisms. My master's degree presented the platform to go a step further beyond ecosystem analysis to understand the organisms' response to diverse stressors. I investigated the innate immune system of marine pearl oysters to grafting operation and the science behind draft rejection after operations. During this period, my investigation skills blossomed as I dived into various aspects of molecular biology like analyzing molecular biomarkers related to the immune system, cloning gene transcripts and assessing their expression profile under various conditions, as well as publishing my scientific findings in top-tier journals. My passion for the field grew further, so when the opportunity came to enroll in a PhD program, I jumped at it. My PhD focused on investigating mitochondrial responses to hypoxia reoxygenation stress in both mammals and bivalves. Currently, I am incorporating all the skills I have acquired over the years to answer questions on how aquatic invertebrate species deal with pharmaceuticals in the environment. My current research focuses on a holistic approach of understanding pharmaceutical toxicity. My goal is to understand how these organisms respond to antidepressants in the environment by investigating molecular, mitochondrial and cellular changes.

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

Have you ever wondered what happens when you hold your breath underwater for a long time? Some organisms in the sea, like the scallop, encounter this situation – not self-imposed but as a characteristic of the environment they live in. The ecosystem of the scallop experiences sudden drops in oxygen (hypoxia) and later regains oxygen as a result of tidal patterns. This up and down in oxygen availability is stressful to the scallop. My study investigated how the scallop deals with this stress and focused on the mitochondria, the producers of ATP (energy) in the gill and digestive gland tissues. I tried to understand which fuel – sugars and fatty acids (main fuels) or a respiratory end product under low oxygen, succinate – helps the scallop to better respond to this stress. Interestingly, after being stressed by low oxygen, they did better using succinate than other fuels, more like switching to a backup fuel to meet energy needs during the stress. The gill tissue also responded better to low oxygen than the digestive gland, and its cells did not experience major damage. My findings suggest that scallops respond better to low oxygen when using the end product during respiration under low oxygen (anaerobic respiration).

What do you enjoy most about research, and why?

I love the thrill of discovery. Research is not all about entering the lab and assembling different assays. It's a lot of planning, contemplation, doubt and sometimes frustration. However, the excitement begins when thoughts begin to materialize. Every question asked, every experiment conducted feels like solving a piece of a puzzle where every step brings you closer to understanding something new about the intricate mechanisms of life. Even small findings open the door to groundbreaking insights, and the constant sense of curiosity and possibility drives me to explore more questions.

What is the hardest challenge you have faced in the course of your research and how did you overcome it?

My hardest challenge was navigating different aspects of biology throughout my research career. My undergraduate degree was more ecology dominated, my master's degree molecular biology, and my PhD had a lot of biochemistry. The transition was extremely difficult as my first encounter with lab work and molecular biology was during my master's degree. Having to combine multiple experiments as a novice while attending classes was also challenging. Getting myself acquainted with technical terms and mechanisms, especially those associated with mitochondrial bioenergetics, was another challenge. At the beginning of my PhD, I struggled to connect with my work as it felt quite theoretical. However, as time went on and I began working on mitochondria in the lab, it became easier to put visuals to the technical term and aid my understanding of the field.

What is the most important piece of equipment for your research, what does it do and what question did it help you address?

The Oxygraph 2k high-resolution respirometer from Oroboros, Innsbruck, Austria, was the main equipment I used during my PhD work. This equipment is used for high-resolution monitoring of the oxygen concentration of biological samples. The samples are transferred into the experimental chamber of the oxygraphy, and several titrations using the SUIT (substrate–uncoupler–inhibitor titration) protocol. I used the equipment to investigate mitochondrial responses of mammals and bivalves to hypoxia reoxygenation stress. I conducted in vitro mitochondrial measurements on brain and skeletal muscle cells in mammals, and bivalve tissues and explored mitochondrial functions, assessing various proxies of ATP production, mitochondrial activity and ROS efflux.

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

I believe that the major tip is to keep expanding your knowledge base, feeding your curiosity and staying persistent because the journey requires commitment, as it can sometimes be overwhelming. And while doing all these, don't forget to build a strong collaborative network. In as much as the technical expertise is essential, your long-term success in the field will be shaped by the relationships you build with peers, mentors and other researchers. Your colleague in class today might become the partner you need to make a research project complete tomorrow, so establish a good relationship today. Attend conferences, ask thoughtful questions, show genuine interest in what others are doing and don't hesitate to reach out for advice, feedback and opportunities. Remember that collaboration opens doors to new projects and adds some extra interesting twists to them, especially interdisciplinary ones. It also increases the visibility and reach of your work.

What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time, I love to immerse myself in creative and entertaining activities. My go-to is to watch movies, and I love intellectually stimulating movies like crime fiction movies and series. These movies open me up to new ways of looking at problems and solving them, as well as understanding why people act the way they do. Beyond movies, I immerse myself in Christian entertainment – music and audio messages to keep me inspired and connected to my spirit self. My final one is cooking as it's both therapeutic and rewarding. Cooking brings out my creative self as I experiment with different flavors and create meals for loved ones.