Researcher of the Month
July 2010
Qiao Lu
Biology major, Class of 2011, Nanjing University/Stony Brook University's "two plus
two" program
Mentor: Dr. Neta Dean, Dept of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
2 + 2 can really add up. Just ask any of the select students in the pilot collaborative
program between Nanjing University and Stony Brook University. So far, there's a group
of 8 who have had the unique opportunity to do two years of coursework in China and
two years in the U.S., leading to a Bachelor’s degree in Biology or Engineering. It
would be hard to find a more enthusiastic ambassador for the program than Qiao (Joe)
Lu, URECA’s Researcher of the Month; or a more enthuasiastic mentor than Prof. Neta
Dean of Biochemistry & Cell Biology!
Born in Linshui, Sichuan Province, P.R. China, Qiao Lu has shown a curiosity and love
of science from an early age. (He also loves badminton, ping-pong, snooker, hiking,
and swimming, almost any sport—as well as drawing!) Through the "two plus two" program,
Qiao came to SBU in fall 2009 and, in his first semester here, attended Undergraduate
Biology’s Fall Open House — a great place to check out research opportunities in biology
or biomedicine. After some follow-up emails and interviews, Qiao found a home in the
laboratory of Prof. Neta Dean in the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology. "The lab atmosphere is really good. It’s like a family. It’s warm and a good atmosphere
for me to focus better on my research. And Prof. Dean is a good mentor! She’s patient,
kind … " Now, most days and evenings— weekends included! — you are sure to find Qiao at the
bench, learning genetics and cell biology techniques first-hand, and making progress
on his research project, “The role of Myo2 myosin during actin-dependent hyphal formation
in C. albicans.” 
This summer, Qiao is participating in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholars 2010
summer program offered through CESAME, where Qiao appreciates the opportunity to interact
with student researchers from all over the US. Characteristically, he was among the
first of the group to volunteer to give a research presentation! Qiao Lu has also
presented a poster at the recent URECA Celebration of Undergraduate Research, the
annual campus-wide research poster symposium (April 2010). Following graduation in
May 2011, Qiao plans to pursue graduate studies leading to a PhD in immunology, most
likely in the U.S. Below are excerpts from his interview with Karen Kernan, URECA Director.
Karen: Tell me about your current research, what kind of work you do.
Qiao: I’m working in the lab of Prof. Neta Dean. I chose to study the role of MYO2 myocin
during actin-dependent hyphal formation in Candida albicans. I’m now focusing on: how does this hyphal formation occur; and how is it regulated
in Candida albicans. So far, I have worked in Neta's lab for about 6 months. I constructed the plasmid
constructs for making mutants. I have gotten the heterozygote and the hemizygote strains
that will allow us to analyze the effect of those MYO2 mutations on different phenotypes
during hyphal formation in different strains. Now I’m doing the southern blot which is really not so easy. I have to admit that Southern blot maybe the most difficult
experiment in my life I have ever made!
Had you had any hands-on lab experience prior to joining the Dean lab?
I learned many things with my lab courses in China and I knew some very basic techniques
before I joined her lab. . (We have lab courses similar to Bio 204, Bio 205 and Bio
311 …) But, Neta Dean is my first professor who offered me this great chance to do
self-dependent research. And I have learned a lot from doing this research in Neta’s
lab [e.g. molecular cloning, PCR, Southern blot, protein analysis (by Western blot); microbiological
techniques including preparation of different media required for selection of different
prototrophic yeast; phenotypic analysis of fungal mutants defective in hyphal formation
using fluorescence microscopy and live imaging analyses; etc.]
How do you think doing research enhances your education?
Actually, it helps a lot! By doing this research, it helps me to put to use the knowledge
I have learned in class into practice. As my professor told me, you need to put your
knowledge from your head to your hands. And by doing research, it helps me to get
better prepared for graduate school. It’s important to get experience doing hands-on
work. Last semester, I took the general genetics class, Bio 320. Because I am working
on genetics in the lab (making mutants, doing transformation, molecular cloning, PCR,
western blot)…all these techniques had something to do with the content of the class
in general genetics. So by doing this research, it helped me understand the course
better. And in turn, by taking the course, it helped me understand the techniques
that I was using in the lab better.
It’s a two-way process then . . . But is it difficult being a beginner, learning new
techniques in the lab?
There’s a saying in China. Everything is difficult at the start. But, in my view,
if you get used to it and stick it out, it will be okay. And this process [doing independent
research] really has helped me learn a lot. It’s really worth it to do. For example,
the first thing I did in the lab was cloning MYO2 into a plasmid. I did that experiment
during the whole winter break. It took 3 weeks to make this first cloning. And later,
last semester, just in two weeks I did two molecular clonings successfully. So you
see the difference: it’s always hard and slow to start. And then after you get familiar
with it, everything goes more smoothly.
What is your lab environment like for you?
The lab atmosphere is really good! It’s like a family. It’s warm and a good atmosphere
for me to focus better on my research. Prof. Dean is a good mentor! She’s patient,
kind … she helped me a lot both in theory and techniques. My English at the time I
entered the lab still needed work. But Prof. Neta Dean has had great patience with
me. She explains carefully and clearly to let me understand …
Have you had chances to present your work?
Last week, in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute program, I did a presentation, a
PowerPoint presentation, about my work in the lab. It’s another good experience for
me to learn and grow. And before that I did a poster for URECA's celebration of undergraduate
research. That was the first time I did a poster presentation. I was very nervous
that day…. I remember three professors went to my poster and asked me questions. I
had the chance to tell them about the process I'm studying, my research, my goals,
what hypothesis/what model I used, what expected results I should get in the future…what
I’m going to do next. And they all gave me some ideas! They also gave encouragement!
It was a great experience!
Have you always been interested in science?
When I was young, about 7 or 8, my teacher asked every student a question: what are
you going to do in the future? And I said: “I want to be a scientist.” And I would
still give the same answer. Science continues to interest me more and more, and I
have discovered that I like doing research better than any other work....
What do you like about research?
You can get knowledge from the process. It’s interesting– the work. And when you have
a little bit of success, you feel GREAT satisfaction! I like being in the lab, doing
the work. I’m curious about this processes happening. When I watch the cells grow,
I ask myself how it's regulated. I want to know more about this….to figure things
out. Doing the research is even more interesting than lecture courses alone. You learn
better by doing research.
What are your long-term plans?
I want to apply for a PhD degree in biology for graduate school. I’m most interested
in the field of immunology and pathogenesis. These are very new fields, with potential
to have more success, more achievement. …..a lot of things in these fields haven’t
been well understood or explained yet.
Do you have opportunities to talk about science with other students?
Every month, we have a yeast lab meeting for all the yeast labs. You can meet a lot
of other students and professors. It’s a good time to meet others, to get to know
others’ work, to get new ideas.
Typically how much time do you spend in the lab?
A lot. I spend at least 4 to 8 hours, sometimes more, every day in the lab either
to study the theory, read papers, or to do my research. It’s better for you to do
something continuously, not to be interrupted. I want to move forward. I want to know
the mechanics of this thing (hyphal formation). I am curious about science.
What was the best research day?
Every time I do something that works (i.e. get a mutant, do the molecular cloning
successfully), I am very happy!
What is the most frustrating thing in your research?
Southern blot!
Do you have any other plans for current year?
I’m applying for a TA position for Biology 325, Animal Development. Also, I will do
my best to publish a paper together with my professor and technician. I remember what
my mother always told me: just try your best. If you didn’t achieve your goal, its’
ok but at least you tried. If you got it, “Congratulations!” Just set up your mind
to do it. Put yourself into those tasks. Try your best. That’s it.
Do you like talking to other people, teaching and explaining science?
I like to share my studying method, my knowledge, to help others to get a higher score.
This is one reason I am applying for the TA position in BIO 325. It’s a way to share
knowledge and exchange ideas; at the same time, it can help you to get a deeper understanding.
When you talk to others, you know the subject better; and you can get more and more
familiar with questions.
What quality, in your opinion, makes for a successful scientist?
There are many qualities you need to have in order to be a good scientist. Honesty,
patience. ...you need to be patient because you will make a lot of mistakes. You will
have a lot of failure while doing research. You need to be optimistic when faced with
these failures. And you need to be hardworking and not give up halfway. My mentor,
Prof. Dean, always encourages me. She tells me: “Doing research is like life. Sometimes
you are at apex, sometimes at the low part, the trough.” She also told me, “research
means re-search. You need to do it again and again.”
Is it difficult to balance your time while studying and doing research as an undergraduate?
It was hard at the beginning.... Now I’m better at managing these things. I'm working
the lab for HHMI summer program, working on studying for the GRE test…also trying
to get a driver’s license!
Did your parents encourage you in scientific pursuits?
My parents encouraged me to pursue scientific study. And I always showed plenty of
curiosity in science. I got a very good education when I was young –from my mother
and father. Not just about science, but I mean life education: how to be a good person…
how to face problems in life. Parents are the best teachers in one’s life. They are
the first teachers and the best teachers.
And you’re here on an exchange program with a university in China?
Yes, I’m in a special program named the two + two program, between Nanjing University
in China, and Stony Brook University. This 2+2 means two years of studying in China
at Nanjing University, and two years here at Stony Brook University. Nanjing University
is among the top 5 universities in China, it’s a very good school. Stony Brook Universityis
really good too! I feel very lucky!