Women in Science: I am a woman, a wife, a mother, and a scientist!
Dr. Manveen K Sethi serves as Instructor of Biochemistry at the Boston University School of Medicine, USA. She did her Ph.D. at Macquarie University (MQ), Australia, under the primary supervision of Dr. Morten Thaysen-Andersen, where she utilized mass spectrometry proteomics and glycomics analysis to understand underlying molecular mechanisms in colorectal cancer. After her Ph.D., she joined Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), USA, as a postdoctoral associate under Prof. Joseph Zaia, where she is currently employed in a research faculty-track position of Instructor. Her research work involves identifying and characterizing biomolecules such as proteins and glycans using mass spectrometry techniques and utilizing this information to understand biomolecular deregulation in human diseases, such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Recently, she received a Bright Focus Foundation fellowship award to investigate extracellular matrix changes in Alzheimer’s disease.
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Career Story
I was born and raised in India, a highly diverse and multicultural country, yet one where patriarchy holds power and women are presumed weaker. I grew up in a middle-class family and was the middle child with an elder sister and a younger brother. Even though we were raised with equal opportunities with respect to education and well-being, I have seen the disparity in other households where a male was allowed opportunities not open to a female. Thus, growing up, I always wanted to prove that females are no less than males; they can go beyond the household, achieve and fulfill their dreams, and excel professionally. I believe my unique personal circumstances and surroundings made me a hard worker who overcomes challenging problems with creativity and perseverance.
Unfortunately, even science is not immune to such disparities and inequalities, with only one-third of women researchers globally. Thus, I realized at the very beginning that being a female in the world of science is not easy. I have to work hard to fit in with the challenging science world. On one side, I have to tackle my job. On another side, I have to tackle my personal life as a wife and a mother. But creating a balance in scientific and personal life is essential to embrace life both as a scientist and a woman with dedication and diligence.
“Education goes beyond the formal delivery setting”
I have lived a cosmopolitan life, traveling and living in different countries and attending conferences worldwide. I have studied in India and Australia and worked in India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Thus, I have been exposed to diverse peoples, cultures, and traditions. I believe the cross-culture experience helped my personality development and played a significant role in my personal and professional life.
I have always been inquisitive. When I was a child, I questioned the smallest day-to-day things from “why a firefly lights” to “why onions make us cry.” With a childhood science interest, I eventually pursued a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Chemistry, followed by a Master of Science in Chemistry from Delhi University, India.
After completing my master’s degree with an academic excellence award, I attained a UKIERI (UK-India Education Research Initiative) fellowship to work as a trainee research chemist at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), United Kingdom. This was an exceptional opportunity that enhanced my professional and personal skills. I also received a GSK reward and recognition for my work. After this, I briefly worked as a research chemist in India before attaining an International Macquarie Research Scholarship (IMQRES) to pursue a Ph.D. degree at Macquarie University, Australia, with Dr. Morten Thaysen-Andersen, an internationally recognized researcher in the field of glycomics and glycoproteomics.
Early in my career, I had a desire to study human health and disease. During my Ph.D., I became devoted to making an impact in the field of cancer, evident from my scientific contributions, including my frequently cited CRC papers:
- Sethi MK et al., J Proteome Res, 2014 (IF 4.3, 85 citations)
- Sethi MK et al., J Proteomics, 2015 (IF 3.5, 53 citations)
- Sethi et al., Glycobiology, 2015, 25(10):1064 (IF 4.0, 54 citations)—this article was selected as the front cover on all 12 journal issues throughout 2016 due to its innovation and novelty.
After my Ph.D., I was offered a postdoctoral research fellowship at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), USA, under Prof. Joseph Zaia, an internationally acclaimed leader in mass spectrometry (MS) and glycoscience. Currently, I work at Boston University as the Instructor of Biochemistry in a research faculty track. My next position will be Assistant Research Professor.
At BU, I have learned and further developed MS-based techniques for analyzing proteoglycans (PGs) and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), as seen in:
- Sethi MK et al., Mol Omics, 2020
- Raghunathan R, Sethi MK, et al., Methods X, 2019
These techniques have been applied to disease models in neurodegeneration, including schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease:
- Muraoka S*, DeLeo AM, Sethi MK* (*co-first author), Alzheimer’s Dement, 2020
- Chen J, Kawamura T, Sethi MK, et al., Sci Rep, 2017
I have been fortunate to serve the scientific community in various ways:
- Instrument Manager for Thermo QExactive HF Mass Spectrometer at the Center for Biomedical Mass Spectrometry, BU
- President of the Boston Glycobiology Discussion Group (BGDG)
- Reviewer for many renowned scientific journals
I have presented my work at many prestigious national and international conferences, supported by several travel awards and independent research fundings, which have enhanced my communication and collaboration skills. I strongly believe in the philosophy that education extends beyond formal settings, and with limited teaching opportunities, I have taken the initiative to mentor and teach students in both lab research and remote learning environments.
My graduate and postdoctoral research has laid a solid foundation for pursuing an independent research career focusing on complex bioanalytical chemistry and neurobiology. I have recently received my first independent PI fellowship grant from the Bright Focus Foundation to study the role of extracellular matrix components in Alzheimer’s disease. I aim to expand upon this project through future successful grant applications to advance translational research, explore therapeutic avenues, and build a deeper scientific understanding.
Long-term Vision
My ultimate goal is to establish a dedicated research group in analytical glycobiology, focused on unraveling biomolecular deregulation in neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer’s. With a strong multidisciplinary background in biochemistry and analytical chemistry, I hope to contribute to the improvement of human health and quality of life through research and discovery.
Edited by: Govinda Raju Yedida
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