The Incubator #227 - 🔬Decoding Lung Development (ft Dr. Erin Plosa)
In this episode of the Incubator: At the Bench, we talk with Dr. Erin Plosa who is a neonatologist and physician scientist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. We learn what inspired Dr. Plosa to pursue neonatology and learn about her background and career as a lung biologist. Dr. Plosa talks about the importance of collaboration in scientific research and highlights her work studying the role of integrins and the extracellular matrix during lung development. She discusses the role of the extracellular matrix in alveologenesis, fusion of the alveolar capillary barrier, and in directing communication between epithelial and endothelial cells. We also discuss Erin's experience with mentorship and career development, including her transition into becoming a mentor and winning mentoring awards. Erin shares her approach to mentoring and the importance of fostering intellectual curiosity. Join us as we learn more about what it takes to build a career as a neonatology physician-scientist and how the extracellular matrix directs lung development and response to injury.
As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.
Enjoy!