Sarah ReillyMICRO Junior Last Summer, I got matched into Dr. Kevin Kohl’s lab for the HHMI Mentor-Mentee Fellowship Program and I have continued doing research in his lab since then. Dr. Kohl obtained his Bachelor of Science in Biology and Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his Doctor of Philosophy in Biology from the University of Utah and continued his post-doctoral research at Vanderbilt University and at Universidad Nacional de San Luis, which is located in Argentina! He came to Pittsburgh in 2017, where he became PI of a lab and an assistant professor in the Biological Sciences Department. Dr. Kohl’s lab focuses on research pertaining to physiological ecology and microbial ecology of the digestive system. As well as how a hosts' ecology and evolutionary history shape their digestive physiology and interactions with their gut microbial communities. Working with Dr. Kohl is and always has been a wonderful experience because of the flexibility in research he offers with the undergraduates and the kindness and support everyone in the lab has shown and continues to show. I chose to interview Dr. Kohl because of the positive influence he has had on me this past year and for students to learn more about the life of a PI and professor at Pitt. Host-microbe interactions are becoming increasingly important in today’s research and if this sounds interesting to you, read some of Dr. Kohl’s, and the graduate student’s papers! (especially since we’re all stuck inside right now- http://www.kevindkohl.com/). How was your spring break and what fun activities did you do?
My spring break was largely spent being able to do lab work. However, I was able to take some relaxing mornings hanging out with my pets (dog Dexter and cat Stella). And then the pandemic hit ;) What classes do you teach and what is your favorite class to teach at Pitt? I teach Environmental Animal Physiology. I love this class because they are such interesting stories to teach. For example, how do birds fly over Mount Everest? How do rodents survive in the desert with no water? I took this class when I was a junior in my undergrad, and I remember then thinking that this would be the class I wanted to teach in the future. What made you interested in the gut microbiome? I started my PhD at the University of Utah just as the microbiome field was growing. It was largely being studied in the human field, with just a few folks applying microbiome science to ecology/evolution. It’s such a fascinating field because there are just so so many unanswered questions. It’s really fun to be working at the forefront of this new research area. When not teaching or being involved in the biology department, what are your other hobbies? I enjoy hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. Within the last few years, after watching too much Great British Baking Show, I’ve also taken up baking desserts as a hobby. I also really enjoy hosting things (dinner parties, game nights, etc). How did you make your decision to go to graduate school and to pursue a PhD? I entered a research lab when I was a sophomore in college. There I was studying how the digestive physiology of nestling birds is able to respond to the types of food that their parents might bring them (carb-rich seeds vs protein-rich insects). I really enjoyed the entire research process of working on a problem that we didn’t know the answer to. I also tend to be a very curious person, and so I’m constantly thinking of new questions and new connections between different things I’ve learned. Graduate school and a PhD was the perfect way to feed this curiosity and to continue to learn about areas of biology that interested me. What research are you interested in and currently involved in? I am extremely interested in how gut microbes might be driving physiological adaptations in animals. For example, one of my graduate students is looking at how gut microbes help amphibians deal with warm temperatures. We are also studying how different gut microbes help rodents with different feeding strategies (herbivores or insectivores) process their food differently. If you were to give advice to incoming students interested in pursuing a degree in the biology department what would it be? Engage in or take ownership of your classes and other opportunities/experiences. It’s important to not passively move through your degree doing the minimum to get by. Think critically about the content of your classes and ask your professors questions of things you are curious about. Get involved in independent research, outreach, or other opportunities that the department has to offer. What would your advice be for students who are graduating and are unsure of what steps to take next when it comes to going to grad school, med school or the workforce? It is more than appropriate to take time off before jumping in to any of these opportunities! However, do your best to continue building your resume and gaining experiences. These could be internships, joining as seasonal field techs, or jobs at medical institutions. These experiences will help to clarify what you like and don’t like and where you want to go in the future. What made you want to become a PI and run your own lab? I really enjoy research, and I also really enjoy mentoring people. It’s fun to see people’s research projects develop, and to see them grasp the concepts. It’s also nice to be able to work on so many questions that I’m interested in by mentoring other folks through there projects. Essentially, my team of people increases the amount of science I’m able to learn about! What is your favorite part about having undergraduates in your lab? My own undergraduate research experience was extremely formative in where I ended up today. That was shaped by the PI of my lab, who took time to meet and discuss research progress with the undergrads. So, I want to do my part to return that favor. It’s also fun to have undergrads in the lab, especially in the summer. They help to make it a dynamic and fun place to work!
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January 2022
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