The 25 most memorable minutes when Molecular Biology brought my Mom back to life...

Twenty-five minutes of exposing two years of intense #research conducted with #passion, #courage and #devotion. My mom died when I was only three years old. I grew up not knowing the exact cause of her death. I believe that my attraction to the field of #MolecularBiology is related to my personal story with my mom's death. Molecular Biology is the place where I feel at peace.  

This Wednesday, I officially presented my master’s thesis in Molecular Biology at #SmithCollege. As I stand in the room in front of mentors, advisors, readers, and students, I experienced a mixture of stress, joy, pride, and resilience. My thesis is on the development of a sensitive molecular diagnostic test to detect the #NeglectedTropicalDisease called #schistosomiasis in humans. Combatting schistosomiasis is of utmost importance as it accounts for more than 200 million #infections globally, with a high mortality rate of 200,000 deaths/year. It also costs endemic areas a substantial loss of US $600 million/year. 

After the presentation, someone approached me, with a smiling face, congratulated me, and asked me one question, which inspires me to reflect and consequently write about it. The question was: “Is there something personal that motivated you to go to the field of molecular biology?”

This is a simple question. For me, this is the hardest one at this stage of my life. This question made me think about how my personal story relates to my career choice. 

Regarding my Mom’ s death, all I know is that she was carrying her third child, my stillborn little brother. One day, she went to the hospital for a discomfort and did not come back home. I doubted that there was a diagnostics that explained the cause of her death. Since then, I felt like there was a chapter of my life that I needed to have peace with. 

Working on this research project on #diagnostics is quite satisfactory to me and give me the sensation to be working on something greater than me. Diagnostics always matters because truth matters. That research made me realize that I am exactly where I wanted to be; That I am doing what I love. And, I believe that not only I find my field, but also molecular biology finds me as well. 

Molecular biology is my science home. It allows me to go deeper to understand why things are the way they are. And going back to the #DNA level makes me feel that I am part of deeper and effective solutions to #diseases. Molecular biology also provides me #comfort, #wisdom, and #humility. 

I stood there at the stage, watching all the eyes in the room, and I have never felt so #confident and #happy. 

It was one of the most 25 memorable minutes of my life.

A million thanks to my advisor Steven Williams, to Smith College for placing women at the heart of science, and also to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for sponsoring my research.

Kareen Seignon

07/20/2019