Austin, a PhD candidate in the Biomedical Sciences program, is one of 12 outstanding UCSF students chosen to receive an ARCS scholarship for the 2018-2019 academic year. The Graduate Division interviewed him in fall 2018.
Did you take time off between undergrad and grad school?
After graduating from UC San Diego, I worked as an associate at a San Francisco healthcare consulting firm. I found myself missing science and decided to quit the consulting position and work as a technician in Dean Sheppard’s lab at UCSF before applying to graduate school.
Why did you decide to pursue a PhD?
I realized how much I missed science while I was working at the consulting firm. The prospect of building a career out of chasing curiosity and trying to uncover the fundamental underpinnings of nature and biology was too enticing to pass up. I can imagine very few careers that would afford the same degree of fulfillment and sense of purpose for me, even with the challenges that come with this career choice.
Why UCSF?
My time as a technician at UCSF prior to applying to graduate school opened my eyes to the breadth of knowledge and expertise of the faculty at this university. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in many collaborations as a technician and it became clear that the willingness among labs to work together towards a common goal was a strongly valued aspect of the UCSF culture that I wanted to participate in.
What is the focus of your dissertation research?
My dissertation work is focused on uncovering epigenetic and transcriptional regulators that drive pathologic cardiac remodeling and heart failure. Our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac disease and plasticity is remarkably limited in scope relative to the massive burden of this disease on our healthcare system. Our hope is that by expanding our fundamental understanding of the epigenetic and transcriptional regulators active in cardiac remodeling, we can expand our arsenal of therapeutic targets in an effort to control the epidemic of cardiac disease.
What pursuits do you have outside the lab?
I have a passion for education and outreach that I try to fulfill whenever possible. I currently volunteer as an HIV test counselor with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation at the Strut clinic, a collective focused on the health and well-being of gay and bisexual men in the greater San Francisco community.
Despite having lived in San Francisco for 4 years, I have barely scratched the surface of what this city and the greater Bay Area have to offer. During my free time, I enjoy exploring all the nooks and crannies of the city and traveling around the Bay Area to experience the all wonderful scenery and nature it has to offer.
What are your post-graduation career goals?
Since deciding to pursue a PhD, my eyes have been set on becoming an independent academic investigator. I love the work that I do on a day-to-day basis and would be incredibly fortunate to make my career out of it. It’s no doubt a long and challenging road, but I can think of no better place to prepare for the journey than being here at UCSF.
