Meet recently graduated student Dr. Alexandra Margets, aka "Allie," from Prof. Roger Innes' lab at Indiana University Bloomington. Her research focuses on Identifying and understanding the intricate components of the plant-pathogen interface, which motivates her research questions. Allie was awarded the prestigious Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Predoctoral Fellowship by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to investigate the molecular mechanisms of soybean cyst nematode effector proteins. Her research work led to the identification of a key protease effector of soybean cyst nematode (SCN), and this work translated into her first-author paper recently published in the November issue of MPMI, which was selected as an Editor's Pick. With her current and future research, she hopes to gain information that expands our knowledge of plant immunity and use that information to address problems that impact agriculture. We congratulate Allie on her recent achievements and wish her a stroke of good luck in her future endeavors.
1.What do you think is the most important or exciting finding from your paper?
The most exciting finding from my paper was identifying a soybean target of the SCN effector protease, CPR1. It was an important finding to not only to provide a snapshot as to where/how CPR1 functions in plant cells, but now we can use this target to identify CPR1's preferred cleavage sequence to generate PBS1 decoys that elicit immune responses upon cleavage.
2.Was there a piece of data that was particularly challenging to obtain or a part of the project that was particularly difficult?
Identifying the soybean target of CPR1 was the most challenging piece of data to obtain. Before pursuing biotin-based proximity labeling (miniTurbo) in composite soybean roots, I tried several different approaches to identify soybean targets of CPR1 and other SCN proteases. I tried to optimize several different approaches to perform these experiments in soybean. The techniques I pursued before using the composite plant system included soybean protoplasts, transient expression in soybean, and hairy root cultures. At first, I was using GFP fluorescence to identify transgenic roots, which was challenging, but incorporating the screenable marker, RUBY, into these experiments was a game changer that saved me a lot of time! However, miniTurbo yielded a list of interesting targets to test, which meant there was a lot of cloning and negative results along the way. Once I confirmed GmBCAT1 as a target of CPR1, the challenge made the result that much more exciting.
3. What research project are you most excited about right now?
I have now defended my thesis work but am happy to see that my projects are continuing in the lab. I am most excited to see the Innes-Baum labs work together to generate and test PBS1 decoys for SCN resistance. Stay tuned, as we hope to publish our findings on this system in roots in the near future. I also left the lab with an idea for using the composite plant system to identify the R gene in soybean that recognizes PBS1 cleavage.
4. What drew you to your current lab?
Despite rotating through two other great labs where I learned a lot, I was fascinated by the complexity between plant-pathogen interactions. I had very little exposure to this field at the time but loved molecular plant biology and the idea of learning about not only plants, but the pathogens that infect them in agriculture. I also was drawn to the idea of doing research, with the goal of developing resistance strategies as I was interested in a future career in industry/biotechnology. During my rotation in the Innes lab, I had a great mentor who routinely took the time to discuss his projects and the field of molecular plant-pathogen interactions, while challenging me to think about potential future directions of the lab's research. I felt like there was a great support system among the Innes lab members and thoroughly enjoyed showing up each day. Dr. Innes and I established good communication early on, and I felt that it was a place where I would be able to grow into an independent scientist.
5. How did you choose to join your current graduate program?
I was looking for a broad graduate program that would allow me to explore different areas of biology research before choosing a thesis lab. The Genome, Cell, Developmental Biology Ph.D. program at IU was exactly that. This program also allowed me to explore labs under microbiology, biochemistry, and evolution/ecology through rotations. Since I was coming from undergraduate studies, I didn't want to "think" I knew what I wanted/needed but rather wanted to explore different labs and mentors through hands-on experiences. Before joining, there were several labs I was interested in, so I knew that I would be able to make an educated decision on where I would thrive. Upon visiting IU, I immediately got a sense of diversity at the university and within the community that reminded me of where I grew up in New York. The graduate students during my visit were extremely friendly and honest, which allowed me to truly envision what it would be like to be a student there. Additionally, Bloomington, IN, is a beautiful small town that had everything I needed to focus on my thesis work but enjoy where I was living.
6. What advice would you give to starting graduate students?
- Find a thesis lab that is going to give you the support that you need to reach your scientific goals and communicate those goals with your PI as early as possible. If you are doing rotations, have this conversation during the rotation and before joining. It is reasonable for graduate students to have high expectations for their research mentor. However, it is easy to forget we are just one of their responsibilities among many others. Establishing healthy, clear, and direct communication early on will help you both get what you need out of the professional relationship.
- Build your scientific community early on in your career. It is always intimidating to put yourself out there in those early years, as many of us of get self-conscious about the amount of data we have in year one or two (especially if we are working on a newer project)—but do it! Whether that is attending a meeting with a "future directions" poster or attending a mixer where you may not know anyone. Once you make connections, remember to maintain them. The relationships in your network should be a give and take. Don't only reach out when you need something.
- Try and leave the "self-doubt" at the door. Grad school is a marathon, not a race. There are going to be rough times and that's okay. Find constructive ways to handle the lows and don't resort to thinking you aren't good enough. It's normal to feel these things from time to time, but don't let them consume you. Having a healthy perspective and trying to find the positive in these instances will keep you motivated and happier in the long run.
7. Who has inspired you scientifically? Why?
I have always been inspired by my undergraduate PI, Dr. Michelle Barthet, at Coastal Carolina University. She was the first to show me the great world of research during my first year as an undergrad. Being at a primarily undergraduate institution, there were the obvious restraints when it came to funding, resources, and time in the lab. However, this never stopped Dr. Barthet. She was so passionate about her research and the productivity of her lab, she always came up with a way to accomplish her research questions while mentoring several undergrads. Not only was she creative, but the passion she had for her students in her lab and in her classrooms was unmatched. She genuinely cared about our long-term goals and tailored our experiences around them. I am truly inspired by the scientist she is and the dedication she has to her role in academia. My time working with Dr. Barthet shaped how I approach my science today and interact with mentees and colleagues.
8. Are you or have you been involved in other scientific/professional development activities? And how have they contributed to your training?
At IU, I served as the vice president of my graduate student organization that we started during COVID. It allowed me to build upon my leadership skills and adapt to new ways to communicate with our graduate student community during a challenging time. The organization is thriving today, and I love seeing how the new leaders have used the organization to promote a supportive community. I also worked closely with Dr. Innes on outreach initiatives in the Bloomington community. Each fall, we would visit third-grade classrooms and teach students what plants needed to grow through a hands-on experiment. This experience helped me immensely with my communication skills, and it was rewarding to watch the students get excited about plant science. Since I loved outreach, I wanted to branch out beyond IU, which led me to getting involved in The American Phytopathological Society Office of Public Relations and Outreach (APS OPRO). For two years, I served as the graduate student representative, where I had the pleasure of communicating plant science with different target audiences. Since my program at IU was not plant-specific, APS gave me a great community that I had the pleasure of meeting with regularly.
9. What is the greatest challenge you have encountered in your career? What did you do to overcome this challenge?
My greatest challenge during my academic career occurred during my undergrad studies. To pay for college, I was working full-time as a waitress at the Hard Rock Café. Luckily, I had a great support system there, and my managers fully supported my education. However, balancing work, school, and research was a real challenge both physically and mentally. Registering for the upcoming semesters was always a stressful time as I was working hard to pay off the current semester on time to be sure I could register for the classes I needed. To overcome this challenge, I had to become really (really) good with time management and sticking to a routine. Sometimes that meant having flash cards for an upcoming test in my apron at work or waking up before an 8 a.m. class to go to the library. I used my future goals as my source of motivation. At Coastal Carolina University, I got my first taste of research and really fell in love with it. Luckily, I was able to stay work in the same lab for the three years I was at Coastal, which helped me develop a routine. While I wouldn't necessarily want go through this period again, it really shaped how I approached grad school, and I had such appreciation for being able to immerse 100% of myself in my research and education during my Ph.D. studies.
10. How can people find you on social media?
X: @_acmargets
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-margets
11. Is there anything else you would like to share? If so, what is it?
To students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. degree or those navigating grad school, always feel free to reach out to me if you need someone to talk to or have questions. I was lucky enough to have several more senior scientists to go to with my questions and concerns throughout my graduate experience, and I genuinely love helping others.
12. What's your favorite pathogen or disease?
Soybean cyst nematode (but any sedentary plant parasitic nematode sparks my interest).
