Q&A with Elisa D'Arcangelo
SSRA 2012 Gold Medal Winner
What were the key points of your research?
I was fortunate to join Prof Des Higgins’ Bioinformatics Laboratory in the UCD Conway Institute in the summer of 2012, where I worked on the analysis of MYC-N binding sites in Neuroblastoma, using Chip-seq datasets generated by collaborators.
What were some of the highlights of your experience as an SSRA student?
I found the exposure to new topics in biology, as well as learning how to analyse data in ways I had not done before, extremely enriching. Colleagues were extremely supportive and receptive to both questions and ideas. Presenting my work at the SSRA competition was also exciting and participation in this programme definitely opened doors for me in my future academic training.
Did participating in SSRA improve your research skills?
Immensely. It was the first time that I had a research task at hand for which there was no predetermined approach on how to solve it in detail. It showed me that creativity and perseverance are a major part of research and that these skills can be honed.
How did your SSRA experience help to shape your career?
My experience in the SSRA programme gave me confidence in my own understanding of what types of research I enjoy most, and informed my appreciation of what the day-to-day life of a researcher in biology can look like. It further contributed in setting me apart from other applicants in subsequent steps in my science education journey.
Where are you now/What is your position now?
I am a Senior Scientist at the Institute of Human Biology at Roche in Switzerland.
Why would you recommend the SSRA programme to current students?
The SSRA programme is an excellent way to understand whether you enjoy the reality of research and to start practicing essential skills for a career in research (academia or pharma), including data analysis, presentation, writing and deep thinking and problem-solving.