Member Highlights

Ed. Note: Emme Van Doorn, an early career researcher and writer, approached us about a tribute she wanted to write detailing her experience in Dr. John Hepler’s lab, and how it shaped her growth and direction as a scientist. A pharmacology and physiology PhD student at Georgetown University, this is her first publication with The Pharmacologist.

Guidance Through Great Scientific Landscapes

By Emme Van Doorn, Georgetown University

Fresh out of undergraduate, I was a smiling face with little light behind my eyes. Years of juggling life, part-time jobs, and school had finally caught up to me; I’d lost that fundamental belief that I could learn, see, and do things in a meaningful way. But the wheels of fate spun when Suneela Ramineni, the Hepler lab’s research supervisor of 20 plus years, interviewed and hired me for a researcher position at the lab—despite how new to research I was. And each day, I navigated to G206: home of Hepler Lab at the Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology at Emory University School of Medicine.

Some days, Sara Bramlett, the Hepler Lab’s soon-to-graduate graduate student, was in. We would chat, sometimes about her beautiful brain slice images, sometimes about exciting new science and goings-on in life. Most days, Wuji Yan, our undergraduate, was in, and we diligently wrangled our lab work as he shared memes or chatted about his classes. But it was Suneela who I shadowed, writing down each optimized protocol step in detail. Closely observing her, I learned hard-won expertise about mammalian cell culture, protein purification, point mutagenesis, western blotting, and so much more. She, in turn, was patient with me through each step and every mistake: most notably, when I dropped our painstakingly purified protein in the Dewar liquid nitrogen tank. Always open to questions, always willing to help no matter how difficult, Suneela supervised the lab with warmth. She taught me, and countless others, the invaluable lesson of performing rigorous, quality work with balance and grace.

And every day, Dr. Hepler was in. John always had his door open to us, and in turn, we kept him updated on our research progress. Because of John, I learned to love the research rhythm and our focus, Rgs14, a protein that suppresses synaptic plasticity in the brain. In the lab, we worked to discover Rgs14’s role in the nucleus, Rgs14’s expression in the brain, and Rgs14’s role in kidney phosphate regulation. John gifted me with trust, and I felt my ability expand: I began to believe in myself again. I decided to change my life trajectory and pursue a PhD in the field, and John supported me through it all. He encouraged me to give a departmental presentation about our project and shared my excitement about getting interviews, and even provided support when decisions were delayed. John led with quiet strength. His understanding, trust, knowledge, and scientific passion nourished my ability to thrive, as it has for all his students, co-workers, and friends. A veteran principal investigator, John owed me nothing but gave everything, often with a sun-warm smile and a quick-witted joke.

I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am without John, Suneela, Sara, and Wuji. Their patience, kindness, and steadfast support nurtured a life-changing gift: confidence.

Thank you to John, Suneela, and the entire Hepler Lab for an absolutely wonderful experience, and for extending your heartfelt mentorship to me.