MEET A BIOL MEMBER:
Tania Lupoli
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
New York University
In her lab at New York University, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Tania Lupoli is “interested in studying pathways that are important for survival of bacterial pathogens under the stressful conditions that they encounter inside and outside of the host.” As a member of the Division of Biological Chemistry, Lupoli was awarded one of the ACS Infectious Diseases Young Investigator Awards in 2022. She answers questions about her life, career, and advice to young scientists in this question-style profile.
To what three things do you most attribute your professional success?
1.) Commitment
2.) Willingness to try new things
3.) Creativity
If you weren't a scientist, what career would you choose instead?
I would work in the restaurant industry, which I think is somewhat similar!
When you were 15, what kind of career did you think you wanted?
As a kid, I loved animals, and thought I would become a veterinarian.
What is some especially good advice you have received from a mentor?
My Ph.D. advisor told me never to get too comfortable – I think this was great advice to encourage us to always learn new things.
What is one way your field has changed since you began working in it?
Like many fields related to biology, “-omics” techniques have become integral to chemical microbiology.
How do you explain what you do to non-scientists at dinner parties or family reunions?
I tell them that my group is trying to discover new antibiotic targets and make new antibiotics, which is kind of true but not completely!
What were you most afraid of when you were first starting out in your field?
Like many young students, I was afraid that I wouldn’t make it as a scientist. Taking it day by day helped me enjoy the process more, and I’m really happy I got to pursue my interests.
Eggs or pancakes for breakfast and why?
Pancakes! Why not?
If a sophomore undergraduate with a comparable personal background to you was interested in your field and wanted advice, what would you tell them?
I would encourage them to do what I did – find a lab that fits your interests with people willing to train you. Then, just dive in. Try not to overthink your next steps if you’re enjoying yourself.
What is a skill that you had an especially hard time developing?
Public speaking! It took me a long time to feel OK about giving a talk, although I still get nervous.