Vaccines, Yeast, and Dreams
An Interview with Dr. Geoff Lin-Cereghino
For the start of the STEM and humanities interview series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Lin-Cereghino, one of our school’s esteemed microbiology professors and lab coordinator. Although his placard may address him by his doctor status, he much rather prefers to be addressed by his first name, Geoff, by his students and others! During our conversation, he shared his thoughts on the intermixing of humanities and STEM, as well as insights on trust, communication, and the resilience required to advance the complex story of science.
Can you share what led you down the path of STEM education as your career?
I grew up on a farm in Madera, California and I initially thought that I wanted to be a vet. I went to college, specifically UC Davis, but I soon realized that I didn’t have the right personality to continue on. So, I switched to medicine, but that also didn't feel quite right for me either. Nothing seemed to truly fit my personality! Despite this, I've always had a passion for science, and I've always loved writing, having been a newsletter editor back in the day. I have always enjoyed the practical side of science and had a keen interest in research. I always preferred teaching university students over high school; I didn’t want to discipline kids to keep them on track and interested. So, pursuing a PhD seemed like the natural next step, and that's how I ended up where I am today!
What aspects of STEM resonate with you the most?
Well, I've always been drawn to the practical side of science and how it directly benefits society. While I appreciate scientific discovery for its own sake, my passion lies in applying these discoveries to improve the lives of everyday people. When I began my research, I wanted to improve crops through drought resistance and whatnot, but I couldn’t find a professor that was doing that kind of work or someone I could really get along with. So, I ended up working with a scientist that was working with yeast. Although yeast research was more basic than what I had initially envisioned, I always believed that it would eventually transition to more practical applications. During my postdoc, I continued working on projects involving yeast, which is used now in producing industrial proteins and other therapeutic products. While I've always had a deep love for science, my true motivation lies in making a tangible impact on the community, not just in terms of financial gain although it seems to always lead there, but in ways that genuinely enhance everyday lives.
Have there been any impactful stories in STEM that have resonated with you?
For me, that story has to be the tale of crushed dreams and yeast. When I delved into my yeast research, I learned the original goal was to explore its potential as a food source. The yeast showed promise: when fed a small amount of methanol, it could grow biomass. Eventually, someone realized these cells had lots of proteins and good stuff in them, leading to the idea of using the yeast in animal feed. So, they started to grow the yeast, dry them down, and use it supplementary to conventional feed. It worked and they ran with the idea! They built huge hundred-thousand liter fermenters with the vision of eventually using the yeast as a novel food source for humans. However, this dream faced a harsh reality check. The methanol used in the process was derived from oil, and during the 1970s, when oil prices spiked, it became clear that using yeast as a food source wasn't economically feasible. It seemed like all these years of blood, sweat, and tears in research was done, gone to waste in a second. But, despite this huge setback, the scientist I worked under during my postdoc came up with a new idea: using the yeast for recombinant DNA production! This involved inserting DNA into the yeast to produce new proteins, which could be used in medicine and various industrial applications. It was kinda fascinating to me how the original dream was shattered, but something new rose from it. It would have been so easy for them to say forget it and throw in the towel, but, it took some incredibly dedicated people to speak up and acknowledge that hey, we did all of this work, we gotta get something out of this. By sheer luck they were able to utilize the yeast as a recombinant protein expression system, which is continuously used in pharmaceuticals and other industrial proteins today! Sometimes, you have all these dreams and visions, and even if they don't pan out, you have to try to leverage the knowledge you've gained and pursue a different path. Quitting isn't an option. It frustrates me when people say their research is a dead end because sometimes hitting a dead end forces you to find an alternate route; that’s just the nature of life! Science is about resilience; it's never a straight path like some textbooks make it out to be. It's like a conventional story with its buildup, drama, failures, and politics, but it's far more complex than most people realize at first glance.
I find that learning is all about creating connections. How do you utilize stories and other elements of humanities to help further understanding of STEM subjects?
Well, even I stare at these complex topics and wonder, gosh, how can I even explain this to other people when I don’t understand it myself! But then, I realize there are parallels between these complex concepts and simpler, everyday ones. People grasp simple concepts easily because they encounter them daily. If you strip away the fancy terms, you'll find that these scientific mechanisms are essentially the same as those simple connections. This is where you can connect with others! It bothers me when people say science is too hard because I believe it's all about the approach: finding ways to explain difficult concepts in a simple manner. I use little stories and humor because after a while, science can become overwhelming. Trust me, I have zoned out at my fair share of seminars in the past. I think it's important to keep things light-hearted and maintain a sense of humor as well. That's why I love incorporating skits into my classes; it's a way to entertain while educating! I find it important to have the ability to joke and to keep a sense of humor about you even when conversations or topics get heady or tough.
Do you feel like there should be more integration between the STEM and humanities programs at UOP?
Well, first off, as a scientist you gotta know how to write. There are tons of scientists that don’t get funding because they aren’t great writers. They do great work at the bench but they can’t translate it to the layman! I always recommend students to take writing classes. I honed my skills at my catholic high school, where these strict nuns emphasized writing to the max with good transitions and flow. It’s a value and lesson I still carry with me to this day. I think it is great to explore, but, I understand that with a demanding STEM major, there's little room for additional classes. That's why I suggest students take general education courses focused on writing, as there's always room for improvement. Even beyond writing, when you find yourself in that elevator with the person holding the key to your research grant, you need to hook them quickly with a teaser, a pitch that grabs their attention. You must demonstrate the practical application of your research to that individual. You can’t just say it is great to learn just for the sake of it, you have to learn how to appeal to someone to convince them that “hey, my research is important to dig deeper into.” Additionally, you can’t lose them in the details. Every passionate research student loves to dig into the details but then you lose them in the weeds, you gotta keep it accessible to them on whatever level of knowledge and interest they hold!
Do you feel there are things humanities students can learn from STEM in general?
Now that’s a big question! I think number one, by taking an introductory biology class, I think you can impart the fact that science is extremely rigorous. You have to constantly test and retest all the time and converse and share data and it’s a really thorough process. I hope they get the idea that they will only believe people who are very rigorous in science as well. I think sometimes misinformation is so prevalent out there and many people don’t check the qualifications of those sources. There are so many steps that scientists have to take before coming to a consensus. Vaccines, although they may have side effects, there is so much data and work showing how vaccines are extremely useful and prevent so much suffering. There is a real community of science and knowledge that is constantly questioning concepts, and when scientists finally agree, there has to be something behind it that is beyond theory. However, there is real importance in maintaining good rapport and trust with those around you. The human body is understandably a very emotional and personal topic and there is a big conversation on how scientists can communicate with their patients in empathetic ways. However, we have to learn to trust others who dedicate their lives to their profession. We have to put trust in our mechanics that they won’t miss a screw when repairing our engine, same thing goes with scientists! Even though someone may not understand everything about everything, I believe that it is incredibly important that they find that connection. People need to be open to that trust with someone in the field that is able to effectively communicate with them how so many scientific advancements can improve their daily lives.
The story of science is a complex and ever-growing narrative. It doesn't follow a linear path with straightforward cause-and-effect relationships, as often portrayed in textbooks. Behind the jargon lies a realm of complexities that mirror our human experience, complete with drama and confusion similar to what we encounter in our everyday lives. Science, though seemingly daunting to those like myself, can be demystified by relating it to everyday terms and events, allowing us to make connections and expand our knowledge! Engaging in communication and building trust with those dedicated to rigorous scientific studies can lead to a deeper appreciation of the world around us. After our interview, I reflected on the importance of humility, trust, and an open mind as there are scientists working tirelessly to make our lives easier, one experiment at a time!