By Yosef Scher, Senior Science and Technology Editor
Yosef Scher (YS): Hi Leora (LK). Thank you for taking the time to meet with me. Let’s start by getting to know you.
LK: Hi! Nice to meet you. My name is Leora Kronenberg, and I’m originally from Toronto, Canada. I came to Stern after a year in Israel, and now I’m a senior majoring in biochemistry.
YS: How did you get involved in this research?
LK: This summer, I had the privilege of participating in the Bar Ilan University-YU Summer Internship Program. I got introduced to the lab via the BIU-YU application process.
YS: Whose lab do you work in, and what do you study?
LK: I worked in Prof. Jordan Chill’s lab under the supervision of Dr. Inbal Sher. The Chill lab aims to understand the intricacies of biochemical interactions using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy. I worked to create a protocol to synthesize a modified version of the WASp Interaction Protein (WIP) with an amino acid containing 19F fluorines for in-vivo protein analysis using 19F-NMR.
YS: What did you hope to gain from this research experience?
LK: I wanted to gain hands-on wet lab experience and on-the-ground context for the process of starting a new research project. I hope to take the many techniques and lessons I learned from the Chill lab and use them to grow a lifelong career of medicine and research.
YS: What role do you play in this lab?
LK: Since I was a summer student, I assisted with Dr. Inbal Sher’s multiple projects, carrying out processes like transformations, DNA and protein extractions, and acquiring NMR spectra.
YS: Is there anything you encountered that was especially difficult during the research?
LK: It took a little while for me to gain my bearings and truly understand how the repetitive tasks I was doing fit into the bigger picture of the research. Furthermore, getting a relatively new project off the ground is a constant struggle, as most experiments at the beginning of the research process seem to fail. It is a challenge to remind oneself that project malfunction is all part of the process and will eventually lead to major successes, whether I get to see it personally or not.
YS: What did you find most interesting about your research?
LK: It was fascinating to alter protein translation, a biological process that is extremely well known. It was incredibly satisfying to get hard evidence revealing that my repetitive tasks were changing fundamental cell mechanisms on a microscopic level.
YS: Lastly, do you have any advice for students interested in lab positions?
LK: For summer research programs specifically, make sure to research the labs you are applying for and demonstrate genuine passion and interest in their project and research in general. When you are in the lab, don’t be afraid to ask questions – this really helped me develop a feel of the laboratory. Research is fascinating, especially if you understand your role in the grand scheme of your lab’s journey of scientific discovery.