Stuck on Science
"I always knew I wanted to be in science," admits Ellen Kokolis, a research specialist at the Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. "I always enjoyed science fairs. But I didn't enjoy anything as much as biology."

That's why she chose to major in biology and minor in biochemistry at Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA, where she supplemented her classroom studies as a professor's research assistant in her first three years of school. By senior year, she was ready to tackle her own research project on preconditioning yeast to osmotic stress through salicylic acid treatment -- in other words, she determined the effect of aspirin on yeast (it kills it!).

Kokolis confesses that conducting her own experiments was challenging at times. "You're the one who's doing the research, so you have to find the solutions to the problems," she explains. "You must have the determination and the motivation to make that happen. I've always had that, but school helped me refine and expand it."

Calling for a Cure
In fact, Kokolis' education prepared her so well that just one week after graduation, she was offered a lab position at the University of Pittsburgh. Though her daily research varies, her overall goal is to determine protein functions and learn about gene expansion in an effort to advance cancer research. "If we can understand how the [Kaposi's Sarcoma] virus genes affect cells, we can research and develop target-specific drugs against cancer," she confirms.

There are drawbacks to working in such a complex field, though. "It's hard to work an eight-hour day, because we have projects that go longer. And once you start working, it's hard to stop," she explains.

Fortunately, there's enough energy at work to sustain her through long days of research. "Each day holds its own excitement, like when you get the results you were looking for, or you get unexpected results that open up a whole new avenue of research."

Breeding Biologists
If you aspire to the world of biology, Kokolis advises you to keep your GPA up in high school, and focus not only on science, but also on English. "A large part of science research is publishing. Once you do research, you have to be able to write about it."

Hands-on research opportunities are important as well. "Get all the experience you can in the lab," she urges. "Class gives you theory, but the lab gives you experience."

Above all, emphasizes Kokolis, you need to have a love for science. "The most important thing is to have fun while you're [working]," she asserts. "If science isn't fun, you shouldn't do it!"