Ruiyue (Tanya) Tan

Graduate Student, The Ghaemmaghami Lab

You work in a laboratory.  What are you currently researching?

I am currently working in Sina Ghaemmaghami’s lab. I am using a mass spectrometry-based approach to assess the effect of the ribosome on the folding stability of nascent polypeptides during the course of translation.

What do you enjoy most about working here at the U of R?

I enjoy the research atmosphere. There are chalk talks and seminars held frequently in the biology department and U of R. Collaboration with other labs is also encouraged. Also, I really appreciate my advisor Dr. Sina Ghaemmaghami. He is a thoughtful and knowledgeable PI, a patient and kind advisor to all his students. He is the best!

What advice would you give to prospective students looking to study in our department?

This is a cool department with nice people doing conscientious research! As a PhD student, I spend most of my time with my PI and lab members.  Joining a lab that interests you the most and with people who are willing to communicate would be the most important aspects. Different labs have different styles; your rotations are a good way to learn multiple labs in a short time.

What’s the most important thing that you’ve learned working here and/or studying biology?

Keep your curiosity, keep learning.

How do you unwind when you’re not in the lab?

There can be so many things to do around Rochester, such as skiing and skating in winter, kayaking in summer, photographing birds in spring and wine tasting in fall! We also found crystal and fossil mining near Rochester which is a lot of fun.