Nick Mukhitov

Currently, I am a doctoral candidate in the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry working in the lab of Mike Roper. I have been here for three years and it has been a fulfilling and very stimulating experience so far. My research primarily focuses on using microfluidic engineering and technologies to study cellular metabolism and signaling. Specifically we are currently looking into the intricacies and dynamics of pancreatic insulin secretion, and its implications on the maintenance of physiological glucose levels. En route to investigating these questions I have been required to immerse myself in a collection of interdisciplinary fields. It is this pre-requisite to be open-minded and translate concepts across disciplines has been very advantageous. While my research focuses on glucose metabolism, I identified potential causations that can have implications on cholesterol production, a prominent cardiovascular risk factor. Under the encouragement of my advisor we are currently pursuing this investigation, and for this work I have been funded by a two-year American Heart Association predoctoral fellowship.

Fellowship Process 

The fellowship application process has been a very eye-opening and stimulating experience. In the process of the application, I was encouraged to thoroughly think through all the components of my work; critically identifying caveats, pitfalls and flawed assumptions. Even if my application was rejected, this thorough planning was a valuable lesson for persistent evaluation of my own work that in the long run is going to make me a better and more well-rounded scientist.

Words of advice 

When applying for the fellowship what was particularly helpful is the guidance of my advisor during the process. Going into the application I was clueless on the intricacies of grant writing and the politics that accompany grantsmanship. In the process, the scientific question is the catalyst and the exciting aspect but all the auxiliary components of the application are perhaps equally important. Besides helping with the evaluation of the scientific component, my advisor was always there to help me see the big picture and write a well-rounded application. I couldn’t have done this without him and my biggest advice is to encourage other future applicants to seek out help from our mentors. Their advice is invaluable and with their experience, they can see nuances that we miss. When writing and designing your own project, external criticism can be hard to receive but it is equally important to learn to accept it well and not be discouraged by it. In the end, the advice and critique that you receive are because your mentor and peers care enough to take the time to provide it, and are not using it to undermine you. Finally, my last piece of advice is to try convey your enthusiasm and personality through your application. Do not take components of the application for granted and give all of them your best effort. The way you approach your application will be intangibly reflective of how you will conduct your work in the span of the fellowship. Good luck and hope you enjoy the process!