Priya Uppuluri, PhD, an associate professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and an investigator at The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation, says that her time spent as a postdoctoral associate in MGM gave her the confidence that she could build an independent academic career. She now runs a federally funded research program investigating fungal pathogenesis, evolutionary genomics, biofilm biology, and antifungal drug discovery.
“Joe Heitman and the exceptional fellow scientists in his lab fostered a culture of intellectual curiosity, scientific rigor, and collaboration that continues to shape how I approach research and mentor my own trainees,” she said. “The experience at Duke taught me the importance of asking bold biological questions while maintaining the highest standards of scientific excellence.”
She advises trainees that setbacks are part of the journey. “Stay curious, embrace challenging questions, seek out great mentors and collaborators, and don't be afraid to pursue ambitious ideas," she said. "Most importantly, enjoy the process."