Henry Ugo and the Bio-Rad ChemiDoc imaging systemWhat I enjoy most about the PhD program in Nutrition Sciences at UAB is the opportunity to explore nutrition at the molecular level and understand how nutrients influence metabolism, health, and disease. I came to UAB because of my strong passion for nutrition science research, and being part of Dr. Eric P. Plaisance’s laboratory has allowed me to pursue that passion through meaningful research on ketone metabolism.
Our current research examines how ketogenic diets and ketone esters influence body weight, liver fat accumulation, glucose metabolism, and insulin sensitivity. As part of this work, we became interested in measuring the expression and protein abundance of HMGCS2, a key enzyme involved in ketone production in the liver. However, the Bio-Rad ChemiDoc imaging system required for our Western blot experiments was having some issues.
Rather than allowing this challenge to stop our progress, I saw it as an opportunity to learn. With guidance from Dr. Taeyoun Kim and Denise Vecchiè (from Dr. Maria De Luca's Lab), I worked through the problem and was eventually able to help restore the instrument. Seeing the system function again was an exciting and rewarding moment for me. It reminded me that research is not only about generating results; it is also about perseverance, problem-solving, collaboration, and being willing to learn beyond your immediate area of expertise.
I am especially grateful for the mentorship I receive from Dr. Plaisance. He has been very supportive in training me, strengthening my scientific thinking, and helping me move closer to my dream of becoming an accomplished research scientist and long-term goal of becoming an educator. His mentorship has encouraged me to approach challenges with curiosity, patience, and confidence.
My experience in the Department of Nutrition Sciences has taught me that the doctoral journey is far more than earning a degree. It is a transformative process of becoming a better scientist, growing through collaboration, contributing to a supportive research community, and developing knowledge and skills that can improve lives. I am thankful to the Department of Nutrition Sciences and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) for giving me the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to research that may ultimately promote better nutrition and health outcomes in society.
