Claudia Carrera Bravo
Nationality: Peru
Faculty & Year of Study: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Year 2
Undergraduate: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru
Why Did You Choose To Pursue A PhD?
I did my master’s degree in Applied Biomolecular Technology for Biopharmaceutical Industries in the UK because I wanted to work for Big Pharma, not necessarily doing research. However, during my time in the UK I realized that I missed working in the lab and planning experiments that can allow me to find answers or discover something impactful specifically in the area of Infectious Diseases. This was a crucial time in my life because I decided to take the challenge to apply for a PhD. I knew that this personal goal will give me many tools and knowledge to train myself as a scientist with analytical and critical thinking and experience willing to put my work at the service of the society.
Can you tell us briefly about your research topic?
My project aims to determine if chloroquine (CQ) causes the programmed cell death of infected erythrocytes due to calcium distribution. One of the consequences of this process is the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) that carry proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and other metabolites from the parasite and erythrocyte. To follow-up the story, I want to examine the role of EVs from CQ-treated infected erythrocytes in the invasion efficiency and host immune response.
What challenges have you faced during your stint as a PhD student?
Every time I have to start a new experiment or work with a different sample or condition is a new challenge because I have to learn and understand what I am doing in order to analyze the results and troubleshoot finding the best solution.
Any highlights you'd like to share with us about your PhD life?
This year, I had the opportunity to write a research grant of my PhD project and I got it. I was very grateful with my PI for all his support and proud of myself for taking the challenge and achieve the goal.
Any advice for someone who's considering a PhD in NUS?
Set your goal before applying to a PhD program. Ask yourself these questions: Do I feel passion for science? Why do I want to pursue a PhD? What is my next professional goal? This degree will help me to reach that goal? What am I expecting from a PhD program? At the end, this goal will become in your main motivation during the times when you are facing obstacles and help you to believe in the professional pathway that you are tracing for your future.