Filipino PhD students talk about pursuing graduate studies in a foreign university, and what it means for them.

“It is necessary to not only have the interest and curiosity but also to have ‘higher’ reasons for doing things – i.e., to do it for the common good, for someone other than oneself.”

Angelo “Gelo” Porciuncula graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from the University of the Philippines – Diliman in 2006. In the same year, he worked as a Forensics research assistant at UP DNA Analysis Laboratory. Immediately after graduation, he went to pursue his Master’s Degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the Center of Investigation in Applied Medical Research (CIMA) of the University of Navarra in Spain. His Master thesis is entitled “Inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication and inhibition by RNA interference and snRNA-mediated gene silencing”. He is currently pursuing his doctorate degree.

LSEC: What is your research interest or field?
Gelo: My research focuses on the molecular characterization of microRNAs. During the last five years, these tiny RNA molecules have been described to have a big role in the regulation of some of the cell’s most important metabolic processes and whose malfunction is characteristic of common diseases like cancer and diabetes. I am more interested in how they are expressed and how they function in cells which secrete insulin, not only in regular insulin-secreting beta-islet cells but also in some cells which can be prompted to secrete insulin like liver cells and stem cell-derived beta-islet-like cells. This holds promise in the treatment of diabetes by cell therapy.


LSEC: Why go for a graduate degree and how to best prepare for it?
Gelo: Before embarking on an investigative career, it is crucial to be clear from the start of what one will be doing (for years) in a graduate program.

It is helpful to ask oneself two things before selecting a specific topic or field of research:

1)Am I genuinely interested in the topic?
2)Will my research later translate into something useful in society?

The first is obvious: the sheer interest in the subject matter (also called intellectual curiosity) which later converts into passion to do one’s work (diligence). The second is just as important – it is necessary to not only have the interest and curiosity but also to have “higher” reasons for doing things – i.e., to do it for the common good, for someone other than oneself. One also has to know the technical side of graduate studies. I will focus on those of the sciences. It is important to know (aside from the WHAT and the WHY) the WHEN, the WHERE, the HOW, and the WHICH…

1)When do I do the graduate program? (right after the BS degree?, or work first before graduate studies?, etc.)
2)Which university or institution of learning do I choose for the graduate program? (international or national?, private or public?, choice depends on which institution is good, if not best, in the field, etc.)
3)Where do I intend to work afterwards? (hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, universities, centers of investigation?)
4)How do I get access to scholarships (or are there any available at all)? (scholarship deadlines and requirements like standardized tests, etc.)
5)Which department/ group do I join? (objective data: publication record – quantity and quality (i.e., how many and how prestigious the journals are); “subjective” data: the primary investigator, the group and the working environment; and personal data: one’s family and preferences)

Lastly and most importantly, one has to prepare oneself. The life of a graduate student or scientist in general can be tough at times, not to mention demanding. The following traits are “key” to being a good scientist:

1)To have the interest and curiosity (passion) – again, do research on a topic that appeals to you
2)To work hard (industriousness)
3)To have a minimum level of orderliness (also, pay attention to details)
4)To have as much multi-disciplinary formation: informatics, drawing, statistics, imaging, etc.
5)To take responsibility for what one’s doing (be self-propelled)
6)To have good command of the English language

LSEC: What are your future plans?
Gelo: This year, I would have finished the Masters degree. The coming semester (October), I am going to start the doctoral thesis on the characterization of microRNAs in beta-islet-like cells in the Area of Cell Therapy under the diabetes group in the University Clinic and CIMA (University of Navarra).