Careers in plant-microbe interactions span more than research. Suma Chakravarthy is a senior science advisor at the USDA-APHIS-Biotechnology Regulatory Service. She earned her Ph.D. degree in genetics at Delhi University, working in plant biology, and was a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Greg Martin's lab at the Boyce Thompson Institute. Read how she made her way to her current position and her role at APHIS.
1. What drew you to your current job?
The availability of new techniques for genome engineering allows developers to introduce desirable traits into plants and other organisms, with the promise of enhancing sustainability and food security. This is an exciting period for countries trying to enable innovation and revise or adapt their regulatory processes for the oversight of products of agricultural biotechnology. In my current job, I work with federal partners and coordinate international communication to support science- and risk-based regulatory decision-making, while also providing support for APHIS BRS regulatory processes.
The chance to learn constantly, provide technical advice and influence policy, and work on international cooperation with many countries and organizations is exciting and motivating for me and drew me to my current job.
2. How did you choose molecular plant-microbe interactions as your focus of research?
My Ph.D. degree was in the field of plant biotechnology and focused on modification of the CaMV 35S promoter for transgene expression. The "clever" 35S promoter is a perfect example of plant-pathogen coevolution, as this viral promoter has cis-elements found in plant promoters and is responsive to the defense hormone salicylic acid, among other stimuli. My interest in plant transcription serendipitously led me to the lab of Prof. Greg Martin, where I started my postdoc studying the role of transcription factors in plant defense responses. During my years in academia, I was fortunate to be able to study plant defense responses, as well as bacterial virulence strategies.
3. What advice would you give to starting graduate students?
Remember that graduate school is only the start of your career, which could take different turns in your life. During grad school, it is important to focus on your project, work hard, and not get disappointed by failures. Have a backup project (or two) in case your main project is not successful. This is a good time to develop writing skills. Most important, do not box yourself in a niche field: read broadly, network, be interested in what other graduate students do, and enjoy the journey. A side hobby is a great way to decompress and take a mental break.
4. What advice would you give to people starting out in the job market?
Take time to prepare a good resume tailored to the advertised job and seek feedback from someone senior in your organization to polish the resume. It may take a few iterations till the application looks sharp. Prepare a list of potential interview questions and practice your answers, preferably with a colleague or senior, paying attention to content and timing. Be focused on the requirements of the job during your preparation phase.
Do not be afraid to contact potential employers and express your interest to learn about their work. Networking is critical because it will improve your understanding of opportunities and the scope of jobs in your field. Although it is important to find the right job for your background, sometimes the dream job will not come your way and it may be more realistic to accept the next-best position and do your best in it. Over time, other opportunities for growth will present themselves. A very important piece of advice, in my opinion, for young professionals is not to switch jobs too quickly—take time to learn the subject area and contribute to the mission of your employer. Important skills that will make you successful in the job market are good teamwork, collaboration, clear communication, and integrity.
5. Who has inspired you scientifically? Why?
Gregor Johann Mendel, who laid the foundation of the science of genetics, has inspired me scientifically. Despite facing tremendous personal struggles, he had many aspirational qualities that contributed to his success in laying down the foundational rules of inheritance. He had astute powers of observation and was rigorous, methodical, analytical, and persistent. He displayed courage to stand up for what he believed was right.
6. How did you make the transition from science to policy?
The Science and Technology Policy Fellowship (STPF) program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) helped me segue from science to policy. I listened to some lectures by invited scientists at Cornell University and became aware of the prospects the AAAS STPF gives to scientists to contribute their knowledge in the policy realm. The stories of former fellows were inspiring and offered a glimpse into an exciting and relevant career path. As a STPF Fellow in USDA APHIS BRS, the transition process was difficult, and I missed being on the bench and doing active research. I had to learn about biotechnology regulations, how they are implemented, how to apply science to perform risk assessments, and decision-making in the face of uncertainty. Every bit of my education, research experience, and soft skills were utilized during this transition. In my current position I am a regulatory scientist doing science and policy work, applying scientific skills to support complex evaluation of products to make regulatory determinations, and keeping up with advancements that will inform future policy.
7. What is the greatest challenge you have encountered in your career? What did you do to overcome this challenge?
I worked as regulatory manager at CropLife International (CLI), an international trade association that promotes agricultural technologies. The job at CLI pushed me out of my comfort zone because it was a new work environment and I had to interact with industry colleagues and a dynamic team of legal, trade policy, and communication professionals whose purpose was to promote trade and globally harmonized regulatory policies. This meant I had to zoom out and look at the big picture instead of focusing on details. I used the lessons from my academia workbook to overcome the challenge. I observed the workstyle of different member companies; learned about business pipelines and the importance of deadlines; was goal oriented; collected and organized information; used data for problem solving and presenting solutions; and was open to critical suggestions. My experience working in different sectors now helps me in my current job.
8. How can people find you on social media?
I have a LinkedIn profile, which is the easiest way to find me on social media.
9. What's your favorite story from an IS-MPMI Society meeting?
The first IS-MPMI meeting I attended was in Madison, WI, in 2001, when I was a postdoc in Greg Martin's lab working on the ethylene response factor Pti4. During the meeting, our lab met Charles Després who is now professor, biological sciences, at Brock University in Canada. Charles had an interest in studying plant signaling pathways, and after the meeting, we went on to become collaborators and coauthors on a 2003 paper on Pti4-mediated gene expression and its role in plant defense. This is a favorite story because it showcases the power of networking prior to the explosion of social media!
10. Have you ever conducted research in a country other than the United States? What were the challenges and good parts?
I completed my Ph.D. degree in India under the guidance of Dr. P.K. Burma and Dr. D. Pental. I was part of the first cohort of Ph.D. students from the lab and worked with researchers who focused on transformation and improvement of Brassica, cotton and pigeon pea using Agrobacterium and biolistic based methods. It was a stimulating environment, and I learned a lot though the discoveries and experiences of fellow scientists. At that time, it was challenging to access scientific literature, and I had to commute to a different institution to prepare photocopies of articles to read. Visits to the library often turned into a full-day event, which allowed me to detach from the bench and spend time browsing journals and books.
11. Is there anything else you would like to share? If so, what is it?
In my opinion, it is important to find ways to pay forward the support we obtain during our career to other colleagues and younger professionals. This could be by mentoring, offering career advice, or volunteering in schools and the local community.
12. Bonus question: What's your favorite molecular plant pathology-related article?
This paper I am a co-author on is by far my favorite—it was published when I was a research associate in Dr. Alan Collmer's lab: “Genetic Disassembly and Combinatorial Reassembly Identify a Minimal Functional Repertoire of Type III Effectors in Pseudomonas syringae. (Cunnac, S., Chakravarthy, S., Kvitko, B. H., Russell, A. B., Martin, G. B., and Collmer, A. 2011. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 108:2975-2980).
