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Nick Zorko is a senior majoring in biology with an emphasis in microbiology, and has held two research positions as an undergraduate at Ohio State. He began working in the Davis Heart Lung Research Institute, and, currently, Nick conducts infectious disease research with Dr. Abhay Satoskar.
What specifically do you research?
We’re studying a particular gene that is involved in the immune response to a parasite called Leishmania mexicana. There are three forms of the disease that affect different organs, and we study the form that attacks the skin. This disease is endemic in tropical and desert areas and is not found in the U.S. However, American soldiers in Iraq have been returning to the U.S. with the infection. While this skin infection is not lethal, it causes extensive scarring that has social implications in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. In our research, we use mice that have had a particular gene knocked-out or deleted. This gene is important in the function of a type of white blood cell called macrophages, which are the cells that this parasite specifically uses to reproduce. We found that the infections in these mice are less severe. Understanding how this gene improves the cell response could eventually lead to breakthroughs in treatment and prevention of this disease.
How did you get involved in undergraduate research?
My first research position I obtained through an opening in the OSU Medical Center college volunteer program. After volunteering for a quarter, I was offered a paid position and worked in that lab for a year. I learned about Dr. Satoskar’s lab in an article in the Lantern. I thought the research was really interesting; I had wanted to do infectious disease research, but hadn’t really been able to find any labs. I also was fortunate to talk to one of the students working in his lab at the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum that May. I found out that two undergraduates were graduating so there were two openings in the lab. I emailed Dr. Satoskar right away, asking him if I would be able to work in the lab. We met and went over what kind of research I would be doing, and I started in the fall.
How have you benefited from your undergraduate research experience?
Definitely, the best experience I have had with undergraduate research was participating in the Brazil Research Exchange Program. Last year, I was one of seven students who participated in the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum and were chosen to go to Sao Paulo and present our research there. Traveling to Brazil was an experience that I had never expected to have as an undergraduate, and I got to do it through undergraduate research.
Also, researching in Dr. Satoskar’s lab has helped me develop a higher level of thinking. In addition to being able to carry out the experiment, I have learned how to take the data to the next step and develop a new experiment. This experience has also taught me skills, such as writing a proposal and tailoring it for certain audiences, that will be valuable no matter what field I pursue in the future.
What advice would you give to current undergraduates who want to get involved in research?
Look all around for potential labs related to what you want to do. Read the Lantern and the Science section of the New York Times, and keep in contact with your professors. Additionally, it is much easier to move forward in your research if you genuinely enjoy the area. When contacting professors, make sure to read about the research they do. Showing that you know a little about their research demonstrates that you are interested in the lab’s research even when you are not yet working there. Lastly, when choosing a research position, it is helpful to see if you are compatible with the chemistry of the research group. It really makes it easier to be productive and successful.
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