Biophysical Society Newsletter - July 2015

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BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

2015

JULY

single molecule level, their stochastic nature is evi- dent – events don’t all happen at a set time when you’re dealing with single molecules.” She began using single molecule techniques immediately thereafter. Van Oijen recalls, “Candice worked on a number of quite elegant single-molecule experi- ments in my group. She used fluorescence imaging tools to visualize how proteins move along DNA and used her knack for physics to describe some of the molecular properties that determine how proteins interact with DNA.” Following her PhD, Etson began a postdoctoral fellowship in the lab of David Walt at Tufts University, as part of the Training in Education and Critical Research Skills (TEACRS) program. “TEACRS postdocs spend 75% of their time in the lab, and the rest of the time is spent on career development, including training in all aspects of teaching,” she says. Etson worked on developing new methods of studying the activity of restric- tion endonucleases at the single molecule level. She used fluorescence spectroscopy and single molecule imaging in this endeavor. “The methods I developed can also be applied to other enzymes that modify nucleic acids,” she explains. In the Walt lab she also worked on a science outreach project called Bioinformatics Inquiry through Sequencing (BioSeq). “We set up a se- quencing center that is for educational use, and we developed hands-on, open-ended experimental lab modules designed to introduce high school stu- dents to next generation sequencing and bioinfor- matics,” Etson says. “I really enjoyed this project because doing science with high school students requires a whole different mindset, and I learned a lot about education and how to engage people.” This month, Etson began a new position as Assis- tant Professor of Physics at Wesleyan University. She currently is using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy to study how proteins interact with DNA. “Most recently, I have been using TIRF microscopy to observe the cleavage of DNA at the single molecule level,” she elaborates. “By characterizing the distributions of the times at which the individual events occur, it is possible to uncover the presence of reaction inter- mediates that cannot be directly observed.” In her new post at Wesleyan, Etson plans on continuing this work while expanding the methods she uses. “I plan to move into single-molecule Förster Reso- nance Energy Transfer (smFRET) studies to get more information from my experiments,” she says.

Etson also plans to continue work- ing with undergraduate students in her new position, exposing them to research opportunities. “I really enjoy working with novice research- ers and introducing people to the practice of science. It’s so much bet- ter than studying from a textbook,” she says. “People tend to think that science, and especially physics, is really hard. It’s not easy, but I don’t believe it is as difficult as some people think it is. There is a lot of beauty in science, and I love it when I can help students see that beauty for themselves.”

Etson teaching high school students during the BioSeq program.

Van Oijen believes that Etson will be a great example for her students. “Candice is a fantastic role model for young scientists. She has been able to launch a successful career as a scientist having started in a non-traditional way and while having a family,” he says. “I hope that students at Wes- leyan are smart enough to pick her lab for their thesis research!” Etson’s life is not all science, all the time. She is married with two daughters, and loves spending time with her family and also engaging her artistic side. “That includes cooking, sewing, knitting, and even building things for around my home,” she shares. “I also take the occasional dance class, and volunteer backstage when my daughters perform.” Throughout Etson’s career, she has benefitted from the time and energy her advisors and other scientists expended for her, and hopes to continue this tradition with her own students. “I admire all of those people who were willing to give their time to share their knowledge and to encourage me to continue along the path to becoming an academic scientist,” she says. “Each of them had plenty of reasons that they could have been too busy for me, but they took the time anyway. I never want to forget how important five minutes can be for someone who is trying to find his or her path.” Her first piece of advice for young scientists? “Try things. Get as many different research experiences as possible before you choose something to specialize in. Sometimes the things you like to read about don’t turn out to be a good match for your way of thinking or working in the lab. Find a good match so that you can enjoy your work.”

Etson dancing with her daughter.

Profilee-at-a-Glance Institution Wesleyan University Area of Research Single-molecule studies of proteins that interact with and/or modify DNA