Caroline Keroack
PhD candidate in organic and biomedical sciences, Duraisingh lab, Harvard T.H. Chan Faculty of Public Well being; therapeutics certificates program, HMS
Specialty: Molecular parasitology
What do your tattoos depict? What do they imply to you?
1) Parasites
2) A calf (child cow)
3) A seal that turns right into a double helix of DNA
What do they imply to you?
1) This can be a tattoo that features each parasite I’ve ever labored on, together with a tape worm, nematodes (worms), trypanosomes, Plasmodium (malaria), and Babesia (a number of species). There may be additionally a DNA double helix and a quote that’s usually attributed to Darwin: “We stopped in search of monsters below our mattress once we realized that they had been inside us.”
I’ve studied parasites for almost a decade. I began engaged on nematode infections in people, resembling lymphatic filariasis; moved to nematode infections in animals, resembling canine heartworm; and am now engaged on single-celled parasites known as Babesia, that are transmitted by ticks. I bought this tattoo throughout the second yr of my PhD at Harvard, once I was completely sure in my alternative of area. I need to be a parasitologist endlessly! I even left some room so as to add new parasites if I ever get the possibility to work on completely different ones.
2) The main focus of my PhD has been learning a parasite that causes important illness in cows and has a serious impression on agriculture. I bought this cow tattoo to recollect the “sufferers” I’m doing all my PhD analysis for. This tattoo is true subsequent to my parasite tattoo—a refined nod to the closeness of the host/parasite relationship.
3) Throughout my junior and senior yr of undergrad, and for 2 years of my grasp’s diploma, I studied parasitic infections of marine mammals resembling seals and whales. This undertaking was what cemented in my thoughts that I needed to check parasites endlessly and that pursuing a PhD within the area was the suitable alternative for me. Throughout my grasp’s research I additionally mentored a staff of 5 undergraduate college students, whom I cherish and am so pleased with. We known as ourselves the “marine mammal parasite folks” or MMPP. This tattoo is definitely a brand I designed for our staff that adorned all of the posters we offered. I additionally made staff T-shirts for us. I look again on this era of my scientific profession with nice fondness.
