A Light Breakfast, Episode #1 | Sharayu Shrinivas
Hello, and welcome to the first episode of “A Light Breakfast!” In this limited summer series, I, Danny Giancioppo, will be interviewing Photonics and Neurophotonics Center grad students as a part of our ongoing student community profiles.
Here, I aim to talk to BU grad students who, prior to joining BU, had enrolled in one of our Summer Research Experience programs. And because I love a good pun, we have these conversations after a light breakfast at a food stop in or around BU’s campus.
In this first episode, I talked to Sharayu Shrinivas: a 2023 REU at the Photonics Center, a technical coordinator for the 2024 cohort, and now a rising second-year PhD student in Dr. David Boas’s lab.
This Q&A has been edited for time and clarity.
Transcript:
Hi Sharayu, thank you for speaking with me today!
Sharayu Shrinivas: Hi, Danny. Thank you for having me!
Can you tell us a little bit about where you’re from? About your hometown, about the vibe––what the STEM presence was like there?
SS: I’m coming from Saint Louis, Missouri––more of the suburbs. The STEM presence growing up was developing, I would say, for sure. There were science fairs and such that I was able to get involved with at a very early age. That’s kind of where my STEM journey began.
And you went to Mizzou for undergrad, right?
SS: I did. Correct.
What did you study there?
SS: I did my Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Engineering with an imaging and instrumentation emphasis.
And then, while you were in undergrad, that was also when you were an REU in this program, correct?
SS: Yes.
Why did you choose to do this REU program specifically, and how did it go?
SS: So, because of my emphasis on imaging instrumentation, I was looking into summer research programs to dive a little deeper into research regarding imaging, and the Photonics REU seemed like a perfect fit.
While you were an REU, what did you work on? Whose lab were you in? What was the kind of experience that you had?
SS: As an REU, I was working in Doctor Darren Roblyer’s lab, working with spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI).
While you were here at BU and in Boston, clearly, there was something about it that you enjoyed, because you decided to come back as a PhD student. Before we dive into talking about your time as a PhD, what was it back then about Boston or BU that really drew you into coming back?
SS: I think overall the experience that I had over the summer was great. From the city, to the research experience itself, and the environment that BU fostered. Whether it be, like, being in lab meetings and immersed in the technical conversation, or whether it be going and walking down to Boston Commons––I think it was a positive environment and a really positive experience. I had no hesitancy in applying to the PhD program.
When you had applied and were accepted as a PhD, in the summer leading up to your start as a PhD student, you had served as the technical coordinator for the very REU program that you had been in. Why did you apply for that position, and what did that position entail?
SS: I was very grateful for the opportunity to apply and become a technical coordinator for the REU that summer, because it was a wonderful segue into becoming a PhD student that fall.
Now that you are a PhD student, what is the research that you’re doing? Whose lab are you in and what are you sort of focusing on within the realm of photonics or neurophotonics?
SS: I’m currently working in Dr. David Boas’s lab, working with, the fNIRS system to better understand cognitive load through tasks.
Once you’re done with your PhD, what are you looking toward as the next step? Is it going into academia, is it industry? Is it not yet determined?
SS: As of now I’m definitely looking into industry, but, it’s bound to change. When I came into the PhD program, the reason why I was getting this PhD was to go into a national laboratory.
Looking back at your STEM journey, how would you say you feel about where you are now and where you’re looking?
SS: I think everything fell perfectly in place. Starting from when I was an REU at the Photonics Center, to becoming a technical coordinator, and then starting my PhD journey––it all flowed well, and everything was a positive experience leading up to this. I’m only excited for the future.
Now that you are on campus as a student, what are some of your favorite things about the campus, or things to do around campus? Is there anything about BU that kind of sticks out to you as a favorite?
SS: Although BU’s an urban campus, there’s a lot of greenery and places to sit outside, even during the workday. So I really like to enjoy my time sitting outside and working. This is also true for Boston in general! It is a city, but at the same time, there are really nice places to chill.
Obviously, PhD students are always very busy. So there might not always be time for the most important meal of the day. But would you say that you’re normally a breakfast person?
SS: I gotta be honest. Typically, I’m not a breakfast person.
Okay… But in this case, we were at Pavement Coffee House, off of Commonwealth, right near the Photonics Center. What did you think of the meal in this case? And the vibes in general?
SS: I love the vibes of Pavement Coffeehouse. It actually reminded me of the times I’d hang out with my own REU cohort, and we would go and grab an afternoon coffee or brunch over the weekends. So it was a really nice place to talk about this.
All right. Well, great! Thank you again for talking with me, this was really nice.