Between Molecules and Milestones: Journey to grad school and beyond

We pick up where we left off with Anna-Lena Vigil, now a PhD candidate in the Crocker Group at EMBL, as her journey unfolds to moments beyond the bench that shaped her path. In part one, we traced how questions of metabolism, cell fate, and adaptation shaped her scientific path — from studying cancer cells in a dish to exploring how metabolic shifts guide development in flies. But Anna’s story is also one of personal growth, bold moves, and a deep curiosity which make her among the few who took the leap from US to pursue grad school in Europe.

Anna’s scientific appetite spans fields and organisms — from plants to hibernating mammals to cancer cells — always chasing the big questions. As a technician in Lucas Sullivan’s lab, she honed both her skills and her curiosity, studying how metabolism rewires under stress. That experience sparked her shift to Drosophila, where she now explores how metabolism shapes development and adaptation. Whether in cell lines or whole organisms, Anna bridges disciplines, using metabolism as a language to make sense of biology’s complexity. Check out all her work here.

In this next part of our conversation, she reflects on what kept her in the field, how she navigated her transition into graduate school, and what advice she has for others at the crossroads of research and curiosity. In both parts of her interview she credits the infectious scientific culture in the Sullivan Lab, the value of mentorship, the thrill of scientific independence, and how metabolism remains both a personal fascination and a powerful lens for asking big biological questions. Along the way, she shares lessons in resilience, advice for young scientists, and the joy of embracing life (and science) with curiosity and a sense of adventure.

Do not forget to check out the part 1 of her interview here. Follow along and continue reading as Anna shares her experience about moving countries for grad school alongside the ideas that continue to drive her forward.

What kept you interested in continuing to pursue the field of metabolism?

To me, the biochemical processes that make a cell, a cell and an organism, an organism, is the most fascinating lens to view biology. The best thing about metabolic research is that it is the foundation to almost anything that biology focuses on: any question you ask or area you pursue, there is a metabolic system/process that is intertwined with it. These biological systems are deeply connected, and metabolism provides a more complex layer into how systems operate. I think what propelled me to stay in this field was not only the amazing work that has been done thus far, but all the work there is still yet to do and all the questions that still need to be pursued.

Tell us about what experiences/results/training from your time in the Sullivan Lab at Fred Hutch motivated you to continue pushing forward in grad school ?

As a research technician, I think the main motivation that drove me to pursue grad school was the unexplored opportunities for growth that come associated with scientific research. There is always room for improvement in science, so for me, pushing through to receive further training was something I wanted to experience, and I felt like I wanted to keep pushing myself further to reach my higher academic potential. As a technician, I learned a lot of independence with techniques and experiments, but I always felt as though I could go further intellectually and push myself to ask the important questions and decide on the right next steps. I find myself growing as a scientist everyday, and this is the exact reason I wanted to continue onto grad school.

Could you briefly share your experience transitioning from Fred Hutch in the U.S. to EMBL in Heidelberg? How did you apply, and what was the process of getting into graduate school?

Apart from wanting to try out life in Europe for a while, I was really interested in diversifying my research experiences and learning how research questions were approached in different institutes and countries. I knew that I absolutely want to be a biologist/scientist, so the goal of obtaining a PhD was something that I found necessary for my future plans of pursuing a scientific career. Also, learning of the metamorphosis that occurs as young scientists go through graduate school was something that I wanted to experience for my own personal development; even with all the ups and downs that come associated with it.

As the requirements for entering a PhD program were a bit different in the U.S. versus in Europe, I wanted to find a place where I could go directly into a PhD program without needing a Master’s degree (in the U.S. you can enter directly into a graduate program from your Bachelor’s studies, provided you have sufficient research knowledge and experience to help make the transition easier; in Europe, a Master’s degree is usually required). I felt my time as a technician helped reinforce my research independence, so I felt like obtaining a Master’s degree was an unnecessary step for me. So when I found the PhD program at EMBL I immediately became interested in pursuing an application. Not only was EMBL a leader in scientific research in Europe, it also had really cool research groups (like Justin’s group!) which made me very interested in pursuing a PhD in Heidelberg, Germany.

What were the cultural changes, how did you adapt? what were the biggest challenges/setbacks – how did you overcome them?

I have always been used to German culture growing up, as my mom is German by birth. That being said, there were definitely cultural changes I had to adjust to. I grew up and studied in Las Vegas before moving to Seattle, so needless to say most Europeans are far different than anyone from Vegas. One challenge was navigating how serious people can be, especially in some research settings. However, I am a true believer in the notion that we should not take life, and definitely not science, so seriously and instead focus on the joy that it brings and the gratitude we should all feel in being scientists. I have done many jobs in my life, and this one by far is the most fun and rewarding (and of course challenging). So I try to bring this mindset to every interaction I have here, either in science or in society, and it usually leads to a smile, even from very serious people. And for me, that smile makes cultural barriers break down and reveal the shared humanity we all have, as happiness and joy is universal.

What were the positive changes/surprises?

Generally, I found the move to Germany from the U.S. to be very refreshing. The way of life in Europe is a little more relaxed, so it has been a pleasant experience so far. Scientifically, I think it was also helpful to have a variety of different research experiences before coming here to help me navigate the landscape of such a different scientific environment, and different ways of thinking and approaching scientific questions. That being said, I work with amazing people and they have been integral to adjusting to a new place, scientifically and culturally. Having good people around can make all the difference. Although it has been a tough challenge to be far away from family and friends back in the States, I found the move to be generally more positive and rewarding than anything.

What advice would you offer to undergrads/postbacs interested in exploring the intersections of nutrition/metabolism and cell fate decisions?

My advice would be to start in a lab that specializes in metabolism to learn more mechanistic details of metabolic systems and pathways, and then move into more broader-themed labs. I think the trajectory of starting small (molecular) and zooming out (to disease, development, or evolution) gives you a better understanding of the molecular underpinnings of cell fate decisions and evolutionary trajectories. Also, apply to as many summer internships as you can while in undergrad; they provide really amazing research experiences and will give you a head-start when it is time to continue on to graduate school. Lastly, another piece of advice is to never ever give up! You are capable of many great things and you owe it to yourself to find out what you can accomplish in this world. Follow your curiosities and enjoy the journey, wherever it takes you!

Were there any pivotal moments that shaped your career path?

The most life-changing event that happened for me academically was a summer internship that I participated in hosted by the University of Washington doing single-cell genomics in Arabidopsis. It not only gave me hands-on experience working in a state-of-the-art lab, but also opened many doors for me professionally. I think I would not be where I am today if I didn’t get a chance to have that summer research experience and I am so grateful to have had that opportunity.

What role does curiosity play in your life, both within and outside of science? What motivates you to be a basic science researcher?

Curiosity is the fuel that keeps all scientists going! Curiosity is crucial to make it through difficult periods that are inherent to science, and I am grateful to have new curiosities to pursue everyday. I think basic science research is the diesel that fuels our societal understanding of the natural world around us. I find it a great honor and privilege to be able to contribute my career to help broaden our collective understanding of how nature works. Knowing that something I observe in the lab may be the first time it has ever been observed is literally the most exciting thing you could experience. To me, there is no better way to spend the day! I believe that basic science questions lay the foundation for the rest of the scientific community to build upon, and aid in advancing our collective health as a society. Without basic science research, the realm of health advances that we have achieved would eventually collapse. Understanding basic principles of how biology occurs in a general sense is the only way we can progress in the fields of health sciences as well, as many basic science and clinical questions overlap. Moreover, I am a huge plant lover and have many plants in my house. I find having plants in my home and seeing all the crazy developmental stages and cell-type changes that occur when you propagate them brings me back to why I find biology so cool!

How do you maintain a balance between your rigorous research activities and personal life? Are there hobbies or practices you find particularly rejuvenating?

I really enjoy gardening and animals. My goal in the future is to have my own (small scale) farm with a few crops and of course a nice collection of chickens for eggs, sheep for wool, goats for milk, and dogs because they are a human’s best friend. So in my spare time I like to learn about best gardening and farming practices for the future, while tending to my house plants in the meantime. Alternatively, I just enjoy being outside and find time in nature to be very rejuvenating.

If you hadn’t embarked on a career in biological research, what other profession might you have pursued, and why?

If I didn’t pursue biology as a career, I probably would have pursued a career in anthropology or sociology. I like people, communities, and the wisdom that different cultures can provide, so I was very interested in studying people and the customs they have built from generational traditions.

Previously we learnt about the role of metabolism in developmental patterning and embryogenesis. Check out – Metabolic Origins: Steering of early developmental fate featuring Kristina Stapornwongkul. Krisitina will be starting her lab at her own lab at IMBA, Vienna and will be hiring soon. Check out her lab page here !

Check out the article All the world’s a metabolic dance, and how early career scientists are leading the way !!

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