By Yechezkal Freundlich, Senior Science and Technology Editor
Avishye Moskowitz (YC ‘25), originally from Baltimore, M.D., developed a passion for science and English at his alma mater Beth Tfiloh. He spent his free time playing soccer, cooking, acting, shadowing doctors and lifeguarding. After graduating, he spent a year and a half studying abroad at Yeshivat Orayta in Israel, developing his love for Judaism and learning, as well as his character. While in Israel, he enjoyed volunteering at an underprivileged home for kids, helping teach them math and English as well as conducting after-school activities.
Moskowitz is now a pre-med senior at Yeshiva University, majoring in Biology and minoring in English. He hopes to pursue a career in medicine in the coming years.
YF: Whose lab do you work in and what do you study?
AM: I have had the privilege of working in Dr. Josefa Steinhauer’s genetics lab since the spring of 2023. Since I began working in Dr. Steinhauer’s lab, I have been involved in multiple research projects, all using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies). Along with my colleagues and under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Steinhauer, we are attempting to learn more about the effects of the iPLA-2G6A gene on neurodegeneration and how knockdown of the gene’s expression in specific neuronal subtypes can lead to neurodegenerative effects. We hope that our findings will be able to pave the way for new approaches to treating neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, which continue to affect more and more people every year.
Another research project I work on is part of a multi-institutional effort to examine how the RNAi pathway functions during spermatogenesis, for both Drosophila melanogaster and the closely related species Drosophila simulans. In this research project, our lab is tasked with maintaining a healthy population of flies carrying mutations in the RNAi pathway, selecting for the desired genotype and dissecting the flies’ testis for later detection of their RNA by in situ hybridization or by RNA sequencing. This project is a collaboration with researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering and the University of Toronto, and our preliminary results suggest that some mysterious long non-coding RNAs may be processed by the RNAi pathway.
YF: How did you get involved in this research?
AM: In my second semester at YU, I took Dr. Steinhauer’s genetics class which integrated a novel research project into our lab section of the course. This meant that we were contributing to groundbreaking research while also completing our course requirements. After demonstrating my competence in the lab, I emailed Dr. Steinhauer and asked if she might consider having me as another researcher in her lab once the course had ended and she graciously agreed for me to continue working on the research project we started in genetics. I worked on that project for the next year and throughout the summer, during which time I met some of her more seasoned research students who had been taught how to dissect flies for other research that Dr. Steinhaueer was working on. So, I asked her again if she could teach me how to dissect so I could be more helpful in her lab, to which she happily agreed to teach me and offered me a role in another research project she was about to start on. I have been doing this kind of research with her for over a year now.
YF: What did you hope to gain from this research experience?
AM: When I started the research with Dr. Steinhauer, I was looking to complete the pre-med research requirement for medical school, but as I continued with the research I became very invested in the project as I realized how important and relevant the work we were doing was. Even now, as I continue my research with Dr. Steinhauer, I hope to give more than I hope to gain as we work towards new scientific breakthroughs that can improve our quality of life and build a foundation for further understanding and discovery. Beyond this I hope to continue learning new lab techniques and develop my critical thinking and analytical skills, which will hopefully help in preparing me for medical school.
YF: What role do you play in this lab?
AM: In this lab, I am primarily a student researcher, which comes with many responsibilities such as fly husbandry, running climbing assays to assess levels of neurodegeneration in flies, identifying correct phenotype and corresponding genotype, and dissecting and fixing dissected specimens in preservatives for later analysis. I also play an auxiliary role as TA for genetics in which I assist with labs and teach lab techniques to new students, as well as replacing CO2 tanks, prepping the labs and guiding the students through their experimental process.
YF: Is there anything you encountered that was especially difficult during the research?
AM: Starting research is not always so easy. There is a lot to balance between learning about the prior research, relevant information, and new scientific terminology, and also learning and developing proper procedural skills as well. At first, this can seem overwhelming, but if you stick with it and clarify information as you go, you become more comfortable with both the topic and your skills.
YF: What did you find most interesting about your research?
AM: I love the idea that I am working on novel research that has real life implications. I think it is fascinating to see how neurodegeneration affects even the smallest of creatures and how studying these model organisms can one day lead to major scientific breakthroughs.
YF: Lastly, do you have any advice for students interested in lab positions?
AM: It is important to start with research as soon as possible. This will allow you to develop your analytical skills and forge important connections with your PI and instructors, which will be invaluable in the future. Beyond this it is important to always ask questions to better your understanding and your procedural skills and abilities. Throughout your research process, be patient with yourself and enjoy contributing to the world of science.
Photo Caption: Avishye Moskowitz
Photo Credit: Avishye Moskowitz