Elizabeth Hubin

Elizabeth Hubin, Ph,D., is a biology teacher at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and former graduate student in the Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics at The Rockefeller University. For two years, Elizabeth was our lead teacher for our RockEDU Science Outreach program, LAB Jumpstart.

Elizabeth grew up in Eugene, Oregon, which she describes as, “A college town known for retired hippies, track and field stars, and more recently, college football”. In her opinion, Eugene is quite different from New York City, especially in regards to the atmosphere. Although she misses her hometown, she loves the energy of New York City.

The setbacks that you go through will make the discoveries all the more rewarding.

Why did you decide to come to NYC?

“I loved NYC ever since I was a kid, and we took yearly trips here for my Dad’s work. Although back then I mostly envisioned NYC as Times Square, Broadway shows, and 5th avenue shopping. I got a broader perspective of NYC life when I was a summer undergraduate student at Rockefeller. I fell in love with the city, and when I was applying for graduate schools, I looked mostly at schools in NYC.”

What’s your favorite thing about being a scientist

“Being able to dive deep into a question. I love biochemistry in particular—it is like taking tiny tweezers to dissect a molecular process. It’s rare in life that we can truly take the time to understand something with so much detail, which almost feels indulgent. I actually wasn’t interested in science at all until mid-to-late high school, when science courses started to address questions at the biochemical level.”

Can you think of a specific time when you found science or pursuing science challenging?

“During some stretches of time, when experiments are not working or when results are conflicting, research can be a serious struggle. When I first joined my current lab, I worked on a project for a year without being able to produce a thing—and that was pretty hard on me, both intellectually and emotionally. But my latest project has been incredibly productive and rewarding. The breakthrough moments are addictive and what every scientist lives for.”

If you could give one piece of advice to young scientists or students, what would it be?

“If you could give one piece of advice to young scientists or students, what would it be? Just remember that most of the time science isn’t accompanied by short-term gratifications. Try not to get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results.”

Shai Shaham

Maryam Zaringhalam