This section profiles former MORE participants who have excelled in their fields. We hope that the profiles will give students an idea of the types of careers available with science degrees and the paths others have taken to achieve those careers.

NIGMS Training Develops a Future Scientist
By Susan Athey, NIGMS

In a quiet lab on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Tanya Porras-Yakushi studies how proteins are synthesized by the cell's protein-making machinery, the ribosome. Since proteins are an intrinsic part of all life processes, these studies are of fundamental importance to understanding health and disease.

Porras-Yakushi has been supported by NIGMS at various points during her education, first as an undergraduate student participant in two NIGMS minority programs and now as a predoctoral trainee.

Porras-Yakushi has come a far way since high school, where she says her interest in science was first sparked. She found she excelled in classes like chemistry and physics and because of this, she enrolled in a special summer program at California State University, Los Angeles, after graduating from high school. The program was geared toward students interested in pursuing science careers.

"One of the instructors also happened to be a senior participant in the university's Minority Biomedical Research Support [MBRS] program," Porras-Yakushi explained, crediting the instructor with introducing her to the MBRS program and the opportunities it provided. Intrigued, Porras-Yakushi applied and was admitted to the program. Later in her undergraduate years, she became a MARC program trainee. The programs helped Porras-Yakushi with tuition, provided her with a stipend, and gave her the opportunity to conduct research under the supervision of a mentor.

Porras-Yakushi went on to earn a bachelor's degree in biochemistry in 2001 and is now pursuing a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology at UCLA. As part of her training, Porras-Yakushi is doing thesis research in the lab of Steven Clarke, Ph.D. The cellular and molecular biology predoctoral training grant that supports her is one of over 250 training grants that NIGMS awards, supporting thousands of trainees across the country.

"The training grant enables me to work in a lab, travel to scientific meetings, attend special seminars that promote interdisciplinary research, and take other courses such as a required one on ethics in research," Porras-Yakushi said, adding that as a third-year predoctoral student, she'll present her research to her fellow trainees and some faculty members later this year.

Upon receiving her Ph.D., Porras-Yakushi hopes to return to California State University, Los Angeles, to teach undergraduate biochemistry and run her own research group.

"My ideal job would also involve doing research with under graduates," she added.

If you know an outstanding former MARC, MBRS, or Bridges participant who has excelled professionally and you would like to nominate that person as a future Update profile subject, please let us know. Your suggestions are always welcome.