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Scripps Student Spotlight: Ria Bhabu
Ria Bhabu is a first-year PhD student studying marine biology, specifically cell and molecular marine biology, at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Bhabu is originally from Delhi, India, and received her bachelor’s degree in marine biology with a minor in chemistry at UC San Diego. During her time as an undergraduate student, Bhabu was the co-president of Scripps Education Association (SEA Club), a non-profit student organization providing educational and professional support for undergraduate students majoring in Scripps-taught disciplines at UC San Diego (Environmental Systems, Geosciences, Marine Biology, and Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences). At Scripps Oceanography, she is advised by Scripps marine biologist Martín Tresguerres, and is currently researching an Antarctic sea squirt that expresses a chemical compound with promising anti-melanoma properties, exploring where and why this compound is produced.
Synoicum adareanum (sea squirt), found in Antarctica. Photo credit: Professor Bill J. Baker/University of South Florida
explorations now (en): Why did you choose to attend Scripps?Ria Bhabu (RB): I found Scripps online during COVID-19. Since I was in India (and the world was on lockdown) I didn't have the chance to tour colleges, so my decision was made completely based on the research, expertise and facilities that Scripps provided. After a few weeks of wading through Scripps' history and research, it was clear that Scripps was the place to be. When I was accepted into UC San Diego the decision was easy. The longer I stay at Scripps, the less I want to leave. en: What are you researching at Scripps?RB: Currently, I am researching an Antarctic sea squirt that has expressed a chemical compound with promising anti-melanoma properties. I’m looking into where and potentially why the sea squirt produces this compound. One hypothesis is that the compound is released by bacteria as a form of defense against digestion by the sea squirt. Host-microbe relationships, such as that of the bacteria and the sea squirt, are interesting for their evolutionary insights as well as their potential to produce bioactive compounds. I’m interested in why and how these relationships emerge and hope to delve deeper into these questions during my time at Scripps!
Image of a sea squirt taken using the confocal microscope (blue: nucleus, orange: alpha tubulin, potentially cilia).
en: How did you become interested in science and your field of study?RB: I wasn’t always interested in science. After going scuba diving when I was younger, I decided I wanted to be a scuba instructor, but I had to go to college so I settled on being the most overqualified scuba instructor ever and studying marine biology. High school biology gave me an inkling that I would enjoy research, but it wasn’t until college that I became absolutely certain. Dr. Tresguerres presented his research for the SIO 90 undergraduate seminar during my first couple of weeks at UC San Diego. Intrigued, I read a couple more papers and sent him an email to put my name out there. The rest was history. While a lot different than what I thought I was going to be doing, the lab was (and is) exceedingly question-focused, just pure curiosity and drive. I was quickly convinced that I wanted to ask and try to answer questions for the rest of my life.
Bhabu in her lab with a picture of an osedax (zombie worm) root taken using a confocal microscope.
en: What’s life like as a Scripps student? Describe a typical day.RB: Most days currently are lab days which come in a variety of forms. I could be running a western blot as a technique used to find out if the protein we're looking for exists in the animal and if the antibody we're using can identify it with accuracy. It involves separating the proteins in a sample by size using electricity and then seeing if the antibody recognizes the size of protein that we expect it to. We can then use that antibody to find that protein in animal tissue. Immunohistochemistry days involve hours of pipetting precisely measured liquids containing antibodies in and out of tubes. This helps us look at proteins within tissues using fluorescence microscopy. I could also be taking care of our corals, cleaning their tanks and ensuring that they are happy and healthy. After recently getting a scientific diving certification, I hope to incorporate a few more field days in the rotation! The best part of my day is talking to people in my lab and the building. Having lunch with my Scripps friends and talking about all the experiments that didn’t work and also with Dejan Ristic, our building manager who always has a smile and a joke. en: What’s the most exciting thing about your work (in the field or in the lab)?RB: Imaging is for sure the most exciting part of my job. With a heavy emphasis on visualization, the lab uses a variety of techniques to investigate cellular structures and proteins that occur within cells. The confocal microscope converts theoretical concepts into images that improve our understanding of where, when and why certain proteins and expressions occur. Also, it’s pretty. My favorite are cells with microfilaments. What is life without a little whimsy?
The gills of Aplidium californicum, a species of sea squirt, taken using the confocal microscope.
en: Are there any role models or mentors who have helped you along the way?RB: Warning, this may get mushy. There is an infinite list of people who have inspired me so far. At the top of this list, however, stands Dr. Garfield Kwan, my first mentor at the Tresguerres Lab. From putting up with my horrifying pipetting technique as a first year, being endlessly patient, constructively critical and an absolute inspiration, Garfield has in every way shaped my career as a scientist. I will never find enough words to thank him. Dr. Tresguerres has given me every opportunity to grow as a scientist, and through a long list of lessons has taught me to never give up. I can’t miss Maitri Rangarajan Paul, a PhD student in my lab who is the representation and inspiration I never knew I needed. To everyone who is and has been in the Tresguerres Lab, thank you for answering my never ending barrage of questions — you all are the best. Last but definitely not the least, my mother Dr. Priyanka Bhabu, a force of nature who changes lives everyday as a behavior analyst for children with autism.en: What are some of the challenges you face as a student?
Bhabu geared up for a scientific diving course.
RB: I just started as a PhD student so the greatest challenges are imminent but not here yet. One of the challenges of being an undergraduate student at Scripps however is the lack of places to be. Without an office, I would often find myself trying to focus on the couch in Hubbs Hall, at Pinpoint Cafe or in the Eckart Building lobby between classes. All great places to bump into people, but not so great for focused work. My solution has been to turn up the brown noise on my headphones to a deafening decibel. en: What are your plans post-Scripps?RB: While I still have at least five more years left on my degree, post-Scripps I hope to pursue a postdoc abroad and expand my scientific career, producing impactful research. You can find Bhabu on Instagram @marinebiologydoesria.
Synoicum adareanum (sea squirt), found in Antarctica. Photo credit: Professor Bill J. Baker/University of South Florida
explorations now (en): Why did you choose to attend Scripps?Ria Bhabu (RB): I found Scripps online during COVID-19. Since I was in India (and the world was on lockdown) I didn't have the chance to tour colleges, so my decision was made completely based on the research, expertise and facilities that Scripps provided. After a few weeks of wading through Scripps' history and research, it was clear that Scripps was the place to be. When I was accepted into UC San Diego the decision was easy. The longer I stay at Scripps, the less I want to leave. en: What are you researching at Scripps?RB: Currently, I am researching an Antarctic sea squirt that has expressed a chemical compound with promising anti-melanoma properties. I’m looking into where and potentially why the sea squirt produces this compound. One hypothesis is that the compound is released by bacteria as a form of defense against digestion by the sea squirt. Host-microbe relationships, such as that of the bacteria and the sea squirt, are interesting for their evolutionary insights as well as their potential to produce bioactive compounds. I’m interested in why and how these relationships emerge and hope to delve deeper into these questions during my time at Scripps!
Image of a sea squirt taken using the confocal microscope (blue: nucleus, orange: alpha tubulin, potentially cilia).
en: How did you become interested in science and your field of study?RB: I wasn’t always interested in science. After going scuba diving when I was younger, I decided I wanted to be a scuba instructor, but I had to go to college so I settled on being the most overqualified scuba instructor ever and studying marine biology. High school biology gave me an inkling that I would enjoy research, but it wasn’t until college that I became absolutely certain. Dr. Tresguerres presented his research for the SIO 90 undergraduate seminar during my first couple of weeks at UC San Diego. Intrigued, I read a couple more papers and sent him an email to put my name out there. The rest was history. While a lot different than what I thought I was going to be doing, the lab was (and is) exceedingly question-focused, just pure curiosity and drive. I was quickly convinced that I wanted to ask and try to answer questions for the rest of my life.
Bhabu in her lab with a picture of an osedax (zombie worm) root taken using a confocal microscope.
en: What’s life like as a Scripps student? Describe a typical day.RB: Most days currently are lab days which come in a variety of forms. I could be running a western blot as a technique used to find out if the protein we're looking for exists in the animal and if the antibody we're using can identify it with accuracy. It involves separating the proteins in a sample by size using electricity and then seeing if the antibody recognizes the size of protein that we expect it to. We can then use that antibody to find that protein in animal tissue. Immunohistochemistry days involve hours of pipetting precisely measured liquids containing antibodies in and out of tubes. This helps us look at proteins within tissues using fluorescence microscopy. I could also be taking care of our corals, cleaning their tanks and ensuring that they are happy and healthy. After recently getting a scientific diving certification, I hope to incorporate a few more field days in the rotation! The best part of my day is talking to people in my lab and the building. Having lunch with my Scripps friends and talking about all the experiments that didn’t work and also with Dejan Ristic, our building manager who always has a smile and a joke. en: What’s the most exciting thing about your work (in the field or in the lab)?RB: Imaging is for sure the most exciting part of my job. With a heavy emphasis on visualization, the lab uses a variety of techniques to investigate cellular structures and proteins that occur within cells. The confocal microscope converts theoretical concepts into images that improve our understanding of where, when and why certain proteins and expressions occur. Also, it’s pretty. My favorite are cells with microfilaments. What is life without a little whimsy?
The gills of Aplidium californicum, a species of sea squirt, taken using the confocal microscope.
en: Are there any role models or mentors who have helped you along the way?RB: Warning, this may get mushy. There is an infinite list of people who have inspired me so far. At the top of this list, however, stands Dr. Garfield Kwan, my first mentor at the Tresguerres Lab. From putting up with my horrifying pipetting technique as a first year, being endlessly patient, constructively critical and an absolute inspiration, Garfield has in every way shaped my career as a scientist. I will never find enough words to thank him. Dr. Tresguerres has given me every opportunity to grow as a scientist, and through a long list of lessons has taught me to never give up. I can’t miss Maitri Rangarajan Paul, a PhD student in my lab who is the representation and inspiration I never knew I needed. To everyone who is and has been in the Tresguerres Lab, thank you for answering my never ending barrage of questions — you all are the best. Last but definitely not the least, my mother Dr. Priyanka Bhabu, a force of nature who changes lives everyday as a behavior analyst for children with autism.en: What are some of the challenges you face as a student?
Bhabu geared up for a scientific diving course.
RB: I just started as a PhD student so the greatest challenges are imminent but not here yet. One of the challenges of being an undergraduate student at Scripps however is the lack of places to be. Without an office, I would often find myself trying to focus on the couch in Hubbs Hall, at Pinpoint Cafe or in the Eckart Building lobby between classes. All great places to bump into people, but not so great for focused work. My solution has been to turn up the brown noise on my headphones to a deafening decibel. en: What are your plans post-Scripps?RB: While I still have at least five more years left on my degree, post-Scripps I hope to pursue a postdoc abroad and expand my scientific career, producing impactful research. You can find Bhabu on Instagram @marinebiologydoesria.
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