John Calise estimates he spends 50-60 hours each week working in the laboratory and reading at home about cell biology. The National Science Foundation graduate research fellow wouldn’t have it any other way — he’s fascinated by the elusive possibility of discovery that could strike at any moment his eye is glued to the microscope.

Calise’s research focuses on a subcellular structure that was only discovered in the mid-2000s. His thesis offers insight into the circumstances under which the cell forms these structures and what the structures do.

“When you do an experiment and look under the microscope — if you get a good result — in that moment, you’re the only person in the world who has that unique knowledge. Those feelings are few and far between. You live for those moments,” Calise says.

Calise credits his peers in the field of cell biology with propelling him forward in his unabating search for answers under the microscope.

“There’s a small community that studies these similar structures, and we see each other at least once a year. We motivate each other to learn things that no one else in the world knows, to become one of the world’s experts in your topic,” Calise says. “I want to contribute to uncovering the fundamentals of life.”

Julie Bray has found her life’s calling in one of the most overlooked organs of the body: the pancreas. For the last five years, Bray has researched pancreatic cancer and the molecular changes that occur when normal pancreatic cells begin the journey toward cancer development. She says her work comes at an important time for the deadly disease.

“Pancreatic cancer is essentially a death sentence, being the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. with a survival rate of 6 percent,” she says. “This is a critical opportunity for research. My project will add to that knowledge pool.”

Receiving the National Institutes of Health F-31 fellowship has allowed Bray to pursue her passion for the pancreas while gaining valuable skills in communication and professional development.

“It’s mind-blowing to receive this fellowship. The impact spans beyond the financial. It affects how you communicate with other scientists and share your work,” she says. “If you can apply for grants, just try. Even if you don’t get the grant, learning what to do and what not to do in applications are equally valuable lessons. I reached out to previous recipients for advice and received paragraphs of information back. That support from fellow students blew me away. I try to pay that forward when people ask me about my award.”

As a young child, Kyle Dyson was already sure his future would be devoted to studying the world around him. It wasn’t until his college years, however, that he realized biomedical research, specifically studying cancer immunology, would form his life’s work.

Dyson, who is a recipient of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award for Individual Predoctoral Fellows, is working to develop a cellular immunotherapy to treat medulloblastoma, the most common form of malignant brain tumor in children. He says leveraging the “potency and specificity” of the immune system may lead to the development of personalized treatments for cancer patients in desperate need of effective, less toxic care.

“For the worst subtypes of this disease, the survival rate is abysmal. These tumors do respond somewhat to radiotherapy, but children who respond may ultimately relapse or be left with neurological deficits and developmental delays. When you’re using these toxic treatments, you affect the brain’s ability to develop properly,” Dyson says. “The reason we come to the lab every day is to find a better solution. I’m motivated by seeing the children and families affected by this disease and knowing that if we focus our attentions on a solution, we can affect them in a positive way and provide them with less toxicity, more comfort and more time with their families.”

As early as her elementary school years, Danielle Vermilyea regularly checked out library books on the “lifestyles of crazy animals.” Years later, biology remains at the forefront of her mind as she now  focuses on tiny bacteria and the big impact they leave on human life.

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research F-31 grant recipient studies bacteria that live in the mouth and the diseases that result if proper hygiene regiments aren’t followed.

“My research studies tiny, living organisms that attach to your teeth. They can cause damage if you don’t brush and floss,” she says. “My passion lies in better understanding oral bacteria in order to prevent and treat diseases that result, like periodontal disease.”

Vermilyea says her work has wide applications, as research has recently unearthed the connection between oral health and the health of the rest of the body.

“More and more research is showing that periodontal disease is linked to diseases like Alzheimer’s and rheumatoid arthritis,” she says. “If we can understand how these bacteria cause periodontal disease, we can come up with intervention strategies to prevent and treat that disease, and because of its link to other systemic diseases, we could find ways to treat those as well. It all starts at square one with basic science research.”

As Kyu Lee thinks about her future career as a dental clinician and researcher, she feels confident that the training she’s receiving as a dual DMD/PhD student in both the colleges of Dentistry and Medicine is preparing her well for what’s ahead. Receiving The National Institutes of Health F30 grant also provides her with ample opportunities for developing her skills and knowledge base.

“My fellowship gives me the opportunity to integrate both research and clinical training, which is what I want to do for my career. It’s given me the chance to learn new techniques, to conduct independent, mentored research and to network with other fellows at conferences. It’s been very helpful,” she says.

Lee’s research focuses on dental caries, commonly known as cavities, and the bacteria that contribute or, in some cases, prevent them from occurring.

“I look at bacteria with probiotic potential that could inhibit the bacteria that cause cavities. If patients have more of these good bacteria, then they have less of a chance of getting cavities,” Lee says. “After studying the microbiome in the mouth, my perspective in treating patients has changed. It helps me think more critically about my patients’ oral and medical health.”