Alumni Spotlight: Nicole Ratib

A Simons Postdoctoral Fellow in the Marine and Environmental Biology Department at USC

Major & Concentration:

B.S. in Biological Science: Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, 2011

Masters degree, 2013: 

Project title: Identification of genes directly regulated by ChvI and a consensus sequence for ChvI  binding in Sinorhizobium meliloti

Advisor: Esther Chen 

What are you doing now?

I'm currently a Simons Postdoctoral Fellow at USC in the Marine and Environmental Biology Department.

What were you involved with at Cal State Fullerton?

During my time at CSUF, I was mainly involved in research.

How did you choose your career and what role did CSU Fullerton play in finding your career? 

Exposure to academic research during my time at CSUF was the reason why I chose my career. Once I started doing independent research, I knew that was the career path I wanted to pursue. The faculty at CSUF were instrumental in preparing me for pursuing my Ph.D. They helped me navigate the application process and gave me the confidence to aim high.

What are the pros and cons of your career?

Pros:

My job is intellectually rewarding. I think creatively and design experiments to answer questions and solve problems.

Cons:

A Postdoc is a short term position, typically lasting a few years because it is dependent on grant funding.

What was your work/life balance like at Cal State Fullerton and what is it like now?

While I attended CSUF as an undergraduate, my work/life balance wasn't great. I supported myself financially by working nights and weekends and was a full-time student. During my Masters Degree, I was able to earn income as a Teaching Associate. This gave me more time to spend on campus focusing on my masters degree, which made my work/life balance a little better. As a Postdoctoral Scholar, my work/life balance is better. I generally work during normal business hours, but I occasionally need to work evenings and weekends to finish tasks. 

What advice would you give current CSUF Biology students?

Find something to study that you're passionate about and utilize as many campus resources as possible.