Science Lab Interview with Caroline Page

Name? Caroline Page 
Degree level/Year? 2nd year Ph.D. Student 
Lab?  Dr. S. Mark Tompkins 
 

What are your plans for post graduate defense?  After graduation I would like to get a job working for the NIH or CDC doing respiratory virus research across the world. Ideally, I would be able to continue doing select agent research in BSL3 facilities working on surveillance of emerging infectious diseases in foreign countries.  

What was your favorite conference to attend? My favorite conference to attend is the Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR) annual meeting. It is always a good time to be around cutting-edge influenza research from centers all across the world. 

What do you research?  My research centers around influenza B evolution and host immune response. I look at contemporary isolates from the two distinct influenza B lineages and assess the humoral and cellular immune response in both mice and ferrets. Additionally, I am exploring the evolution of the receptor specificity of the lineages and the impact that has on infection. 

What has been your favorite research project? My favorite research project so far has been determining the receptor specificity of influenza B viruses. This is something that has been studied extensively in influenza A so it has been exciting to apply this to my studies.  

What are you hoping to achieve in science? My ultimate goal would be to eliminate influenza B from human circulation considering it does not have a natural host animal reservoir like influenza A. Furthermore, I would like to continue working on the global response and vaccine development for emerging infectious diseases. 

What is your favorite lab activity? My lab will do farm days at our lab managers house and it is so much fun. We usually have a BBQ, hang out by the fire, and tell funny lab stories. It is definitely my favorite group lab activity!

What is your favorite thing about the lab?
My favorite thing about the lab are the people I get to work with and the connections we make. Science is so much more collaborative than it is given credit for. I love being able to bounce ideas off my lab mates and get into technical discussions about why we think something may or may not work. 

What is your favorite thing to do outside of lab? Some of my favorite things to do outside the lab include running and hiking. It has been nice living in a place that is so close to beautiful hikes and nature walks. I also love to spend time with my friends and of course, watch football! Go Dawgs! 

What has been your favorite class? My favorite class so far has been the advanced studies of infectious diseases. I got to learn about all different kinds of infectious diseases outside of the world of viruses. It was new and exciting to dive into different fungal and bacterial pathogens as well. 

What do you find exciting in science? I find science exciting because every day I have the opportunity to learn something new and potentially discover something that is unknown and could help humanity. There are very few other things that I think could give me the same sense of purpose and accomplishment.