How Undergraduate Research is Shaping this Student’s College Experience
Interview with Iza Kopec Heading link
Name: Iza Kopec
Major: Biological Sciences (concentration in Molecular, Cellular, and Organismal Biology)
Minor: Polish Language Studies and Chemistry
Year in school: 3rd
How did you choose your major/minor?
I was lucky to have some phenomenal high school biology teachers who made biology fun and exciting. They inspired me to be curious about the natural world, and combined with my interest in medicine, biology felt like the right fit! I chose to minor in chemistry because I feel that additional knowledge in the field can assist me with my future research and studies. I’m also minoring in Polish Language Studies as I’m passionate about my Polish heritage, and I’d like to utilize my Polish language skills in my future career as a physician.
Can you talk about your participation in the Liberal Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Initiative (LASURI) program? What are you researching?
I applied for LASURI during my sophomore year, and I’m currently conducting research on antibiotics and how they function. Antibiotics can affect bacteria in a multitude of ways, but the ones I study interfere with the process bacteria use to make proteins. Bacteria, like all other living organisms, contain microscopic protein factories called ribosomes. My lab uses structural biology techniques, such as x-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, to analyze how antibiotics interact with the bacterial ribosome.
My current project revolves around a class of antibiotics known as aminoglycosides, and I study the effects these drugs have on the ribosome’s ability to generate properly functioning proteins. The ultimate goal of my research is to provide critical information about how existing antibiotics function, so that other researchers are able to produce even more effective antibiotics that can overcome bacterial resistance mechanisms.
As a part of the LASURI program, you are being mentored by Yury Polikanov, Professor of Biological Sciences here at LAS. Can you share a bit about your experience in the program and what it has been like to work with Dr. Polikanov in his lab?
Dr. Polikanov and the whole lab have been absolutely wonderful to work with. It’s been especially cool to work with graduate students and learn from them about all the different aspects of academic research—from using complex experimental techniques like x-ray crystallography or HPLC, to writing research papers and presenting at conferences.
Has anything surprised you in your research?
Honestly, I was surprised by how challenging it can be! It took quite a bit of determination to keep my head up when my experiments were failing, when I didn’t get approved for grants, or whenever I felt overwhelmed by my workload. I’m first gen so it can be difficult to navigate college in general, let alone research or networking with graduate students and professors. There are a lot of roadblocks that I’ve encountered, but it’s been very rewarding to push past those roadblocks and continue pursuing my interests in the lab.
You currently serve as President for the Eastern European Student Association. Can you talk about your involvement in this group and what it means to you?
Being President of the Eastern European Student Association (EESA) has allowed me to connect with fellow UIC students who share a similar cultural background with me, and the experience has been extremely rewarding. My parents are Polish immigrants and I’ve always strived to stay rooted in my family’s ethnicity and traditions. EESA is a space where I can celebrate my Polish roots while also learning about other Eastern European cultures from my peers. It’s exciting to be able to share stories with each other and see how our experiences are shaped by our unique customs and traditions!
If you could give yourself one piece of advice during your freshman year, what would it be?
I think I’d tell freshman me to believe in myself a little bit more. When I first came to UIC, I had a hard time stepping out of my comfort zone because I was afraid I would embarrass myself or make mistakes. Three years and many mistakes later, I’m really thankful that I took risks and never stopped chasing my goals. I’ve learned and grown a lot!
What are your aspirations after graduation?
I’d like to pursue an MD/PhD dual degree with a specialization in pediatric genetics. My ultimate goal is to treat patients and advance research in the field of genetic medicine, and I’m excited to work my way there!