Ashina Nagra

🧬🩸🔬🏀 | PhD student | #Immunology #Neurodegeneration #Research @UBCMicroImmuno @ubclifesciences @UBC | 🇨🇦

[Ashina Nagra @AshinaNagra]

Check out our new research on Patrolling Monocytes🩸🧫 It was a thrill co-leading this work with Jess✨ #Immunology #Immunotherapy #PhD

[Journal of Leukocyte Biology @jlb_journal]

Jessica Silva, Ashina Nagra and colleagues @UBC show that a 2-step OP9-DLL1 culture system generates functional patrolling #Monocytes in vitro that retain vascular immune surveillance functions and inhibit lung metastasis following adoptive transfer
📖 https://t.co/IoJ1lePQlO

[Andrew Akbashev @Andrew_Akbashev]

This shows that we - scientists - are perfectly fine with outsourcing our own thinking.

This shows that we - scientists - have no time to sit, think and write about actual science.

This also shows that PhD education is slowly getting into a serious decline.

This is not because we are bad scientists per se.

This is because wrong incentives drive us - maximization of funding, group size, number of awards and papers.

Such a fast adaption of AI shows that we need an equally RAPID change in incentive structure in academia.

I know many PhD students disagree… but - it’s better to write and publish ONE paper yourself than to write 5 papers with AI.

Believe me - you don’t want to work in an academia where those 5 papers are a sign of your greatness.

___

[ImmunoT @Immuno_T]

Why does the immune system love Simu Lui? 🙂 Because just like @SimuLui, immune cells have a lot of Ken-energy and @ShangChi moves🥋. Family-friendly activities with prizes at #DayofImmunology. Complimentary tickets to 🍁Science World 🍁 at https://t.co/3YB4o2zA9J

[Andrew Akbashev @Andrew_Akbashev]

As a professor, pursue the careers of your PhD students and postdocs instead of pursuing your own.

I know it may sound strange and even provocative. But in fact it is how it’s supposed to be.

Unfortunately, a personal gain is the biggest motivation for many professors. More publications, more awards, more invited talks…

Why? In addition to personal recognition, it can result in more funding and higher salaries (especially in the U.S.).

Many PIs say that their personal growth also helps their students get a better visibility. Plus, more funding brings in more students, which is (kind of) “great” for those students.

Others will say that their “tenure requirements are too demanding” and if they stop focusing on personal gain, they will be denied tenure.

In either case, I want you to think about the following:

1. When we focus on personal achievements, we lose track of the wellbeing and personal preferences of team members. Although it often feels like we still track it, in fact we become far less efficient at it. Students' progress and personal development are impeded. Their career opportunities become less diverse or even missed.

2. Concentrating too much funding in one big lab is NOT a good idea because it leads to PhD students receiving far less mentorship and research advising (than in smaller labs).

3. Tenure requirements often look intimidating to young professors. However, in reality, very few professors are denied tenure. Why? First, because any university invest big resources into TT professors and don’t want get rid of them without a big reason. Second, because departments often exaggerate the tenure challenges to ensure their young hires are “hard-working faculties”.

Many PIs think I am too idealistic and propose unrealistic ideas. And a lot of people will never agree with this post. Even myself, I can easily come up with bitter criticism over it.

However, idealism is among the biggest driving forces. It can drive you through challenging times and help improve.

In either case, I want you to think about the following:

1. When we focus on personal achievements, we lose track of the wellbeing and personal preferences of team members. Although it often feels like we still track it, in fact we become far less efficient at it. Students' progress and personal development are impeded. Their career opportunities become less diverse or even missed.

2. Concentrating too much funding in one big lab is NOT a good idea because it leads to PhD students receiving far less mentorship and research advising (than in smaller labs).

3. Tenure requirements often look intimidating to young professors. However, in reality, very few professors are denied tenure. Why? First, because any university invest big resources into TT professors and don’t want get rid of them without a big reason. Second, because departments often exaggerate the tenure challenges to ensure their young hires are “hard-working faculties”.

My message is:

If we all pursue the careers of your students/postdocs in the first place, this shift in priorities will make academia a much better world to live in.

I see an increasing number of faculties trying to genuinely care for their team members, in all countries and academic environments. It is all possible. Just do it. Make science better.

Oh, and don’t forget: 
Growth of your team members = Growth of yourself.

#AcademicTwitter #research #phdlife

[ImmunoT @Immuno_T]

Happy #DayofImmunology 🥳🙌

Our #ThankYouImmunology event is just a few hours away🤩🥼👏

Let's celebrate, learn and connect @scienceworldca @iuis_online @EFIS_Immunology @CityNewsVAN @EFIS_Immunology @CityNewsVAN @GlobalBC @UBC @UBCMicroImmuno @SBME_UBC @CdnImmunol

[ImmunoT @Immuno_T]

Shout-out to our sponsors!! @STEMCELLTech @SBME_UBC @ubclifesciences @UBCMicroImmuno @BioLegend @miltenyibiotec @CytekBio @adMare_Bio 🙌🤩 Thank you for celebrating, supporting and amplifying #Immunology #Immunotherapy in our community🥳👏🥼 @iuis_online @CdnImmunol @GlobalBC 👇

[Ashina Nagra @AshinaNagra]

@Luke_G_Johnson @sasha_mcdow Congrats @sasha_mcdow !

[Ashina Nagra @AshinaNagra]

@PhDVoice @PostdocVoice Waiting for the centrifuge to finish

[Ashina Nagra @AshinaNagra]

@AbishekWadhwa @PhDVoice @PostdocVoice Haha because ❤️ is my most used. Now actually 😀 is my second most.

[Ashina Nagra @AshinaNagra]

@AbishekWadhwa @PhDVoice @PostdocVoice Mine 😀

[Ashina Nagra @AshinaNagra]

@MidnightCobalt @GlobalBC Who’s saying some didn’t? Blame is to also be put on Govt, Translink, Mainroad, trucking companies not permitting their inexperienced drivers to stay off roads, and the selfish employers not encouraging WFH where possible.

[Ashina Nagra @AshinaNagra]

Thank you I had a lot of fun! @ubcmsl

[Michael Smith Labs @ubcmsl]

We're looking forward to hearing from Ashina Nagra of the Harder lab and Cynthia Shaheen of the Leslie lab at the @ZymeworksInc-MSL-M&I Fellowship Recipients seminar!

Join us in person (MSL room 102) or online
Weds Oct. 19th, 3-4pm, PST
Event details: https://t.co/4IxjleyEyz

[Ashina Nagra @AshinaNagra]

@melese_mi @ninan_abraham1 Congrats Dr. Etienne Melese!

[Ashina Nagra @AshinaNagra]

@ubclifesciences @PaulineJ_Immi @NSERC_CRSNG @UBCMicroImmuno @ubcscience @JimJohnsonSci @ScienceVancity @PaulineJ_Immi congrats Pauline!

[David K Smith @professor_dave]

This dress code - from a Physics conference - is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen:
No trousers for women!!
No patterned shirts (that's me gone!)
Dark leather shoes (nope)
Neutral colours (nope)
Clothes pressed (nope, I'm a single dad)
No tattoos/piercings
Long hair tied.

[Academic Chatter™ @AcademicChatter]

Academic: adults that wear backpacks.

[Jen Heemstra @jenheemstra]

A key to good mentoring is the realization that the people you are mentoring are not you. They likely have different strengths, goals, preferences, and life experiences from yours and what works for you may not work for them.

[Al Blanchard, PhD @AlBlanchardPhD]

We'd have sooo many medals.
@Dr_Meming @PhDVoice

[Dr Marissa Edwards @DrMarissaKate]

Reminder: 1 in 5 people experience mental illness each year. Rates are even higher in academia.

Some of the most brilliant, productive, “happy” people you know live with an invisible illness.

Listen. Reach out. Be kind.

@OpenAcademics
@AcademicChatter
#AcademicMentalHealth