James Saba
The ribosome is a macromolecular complex that is essential for life. My work provides deeper understanding of how mammalian cells regulate the synthesis of ribosomes through a key protein called LARP1. My work also identified a physical interaction between LARP1 and ribosomes that enables LARP1 to sense ribosome concentration and titrate its own protein expression accordingly. This work was done in the lab of Rachel Green in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics.
Questions & Answers
Why did you choose Johns Hopkins for your work?
I chose Johns Hopkins because of the kind, collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment of researchers.
What does receiving this award mean to you personally and professionally? Do you have any connection with the particular award you received?
This award serves as a capstone to my Ph.D. work. I am delighted that other researchers at Johns Hopkins value my research through this award.
What contributed to your project’s success?
This project would not have been possible without my Ph.D. mentor, Dr. Rachel Green. She is a rigorous and brilliant scientist who makes it fun to come to work every day and whose guidance helped to make sense of some confusing observations during this project. It also would not have
been possible without the other members of the Green lab, who provided insightful feedback throughout this project. Finally, it would not have been possible without the work of our collaborator, Jingdong Cheng, whose lab at Fudan University solved the Cryo-EM structure of LARP1 bound to the 40S ribosomal subunit.
What thoughts do you have about Young Investigators’ Day itself, as a celebration of the roles students and fellows play in research at Johns Hopkins?
Young Investigators’ Day is an important celebration of some of the incredible work being done by trainees at Johns Hopkins.
What has been your best/most memorable experience while at Johns Hopkins?
That is hard to answer. There have been a lot of memorable experiences here.
What are your plans for the next year or so? Graduating, looking for faculty positions, etc.?
I will defend my Ph.D. thesis this summer and return to medical school in August. I will then complete my last two clinical years of medical school and apply to residency programs.
Tell me something interesting about yourself that makes you unique. Do you have any special hobbies, interests or life experiences?
I learned to dunk a basketball at the age of 30.