lauren.o-connell@ucdconnect.ie
My research focused on mucosal defense in the gastrointestinal tract. Specifically I investigated the effect of adenosine on secretion of mucin proteins which contribute to gastrointestinal barrier function and are depleted in multiple disease conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease. I found that stimulation of adenosine receptors increases production of mucin proteins, thus potentially augmenting barrier function in the intestine.
I had the opportunity to work with cutting-edge three-dimensional cell models (organoids) and acquire the complex skills required to generate and maintain these. As part of this process I participated in an exchange in a US-based lab for two months, where I received expert training in a dedicated facility. I had the opportunity to teach and train incoming PhD candidates, which was highly rewarding and aided my own ongoing development and research skills.
Be prepared! Identify potential topics of interest to you and supervisors/units whose background intersects with these. Have a broad sense of what you would like to study. Be flexible and resourceful – it is natural for the research topic to evolve over time depending on your results. Be open to new directions and paths of inquiry. Enjoy it – at postgraduate level you are highly autonomous and self-directed which is very rewarding. Doing an MD is incredibly worthwhile, both from the perspective of developing formal research skills and with respect to future career opportunities.
I was fortunate to enjoy excellent and supportive supervision from both my clinical and laboratory-based doctoral supervisors. I was also fortunate to work in the Conway Institute, which is a state-of-the-art modern facility within close proximity to SVUH, the paired clinical research site. I benefited from close collaboration between colleagues in the laboratory setting, including both supervisors and fellow MD and PhD scholars. Finally, there was a wealth of resources available from the university for graduate students, including both online webinars and in-person workshops on, for example, thesis writing and statistics.