Naiyareen Mayeen
Graduate Student, Ghaemmaghami Lab
You work in a laboratory. What are you currently researching?
I’m a second-year graduate student in the Ghaemmaghami lab, and I’m interested in how cells regulate protein clearance. Currently, I’m studying how this process differs across species, with a particular focus on ubiquitination, where cells tag proteins with a small protein called ubiquitin to mark them for degradation.
What was it that originally sparked your interest in biology?
I initially wanted to be a medical doctor because I was really drawn to the biomedical side of things and understanding how the body works in health and disease. but as I took more biology classes, I realized I was especially drawn to the molecular details, such as how proteins interact within pathways to control cellular processes. I also really enjoyed the hands-on lab work in my practical courses, and that’s what ultimately pulled me toward research.
What advice would you give to prospective students looking to study in our department?
Make use of the diversity offered in this department and explore different areas of biology, even ones you have never thought of trying before or seem a bit daunting. You might be surprised by what you end up enjoying.
What’s the most important thing that you’ve learned working here and/or studying biology?
Studying biology has taught me to be comfortable with the idea that there is a lot I don’t know and don’t have the answer to. I’m learning not to get overwhelmed by that, but to accept it and use it as a reason to stay curious.
How do you unwind when you’re not in the lab?
I like spending my downtime reading, cooking with friends, and going on long walks.