“ICIS is a truly inclusive and global community of scientists. ICIS is exceptional at promoting trainees and faulty at all career stages and has promoted me (Note: Prof. Naik recived a 2021 ICIS-Regeneron New Investigator Award) and also trainees in my lab through awards and travel fellowships. The Cytokines meetings have been an unparalleled platform for networking with colleagues and identifying new collaborators.”
- Please tell us your name, degree, where you currently work, position
Shruti Naik, PhD I work as an Assistant Professor at NYU Langone Health - Where did you do your training?
I received my PhD under the mentorship of Dr. Yasmine Belkaid via the University of Pennsylvania-NIH partnership and performed by postdoctoral training at the Rockefeller University as a Damon Runyon Fellow. - Briefly, what is your research about?
My lab studies the dynamic interactions between immune cells and the tissue in wound repair and inflammation. As cytokines are key mediators of cellular crosstalk in tissues, we try to understand how these signals are perceived by different cell types and the context specific downstream functional involved. - Tell us your thoughts about ICIS: how has being involved in the Cytokine Society help your career?
ICIS is a truly inclusive and global community of scientists. ICIS is exceptional at promoting trainees and faulty at all career stages and has promoted me (Note: Prof. Naik recived a 2021 ICIS-Regeneron New Investigator Award) and also trainees in my lab through awards and travel fellowships. The Cytokines meetings have been an unparalleled platform for networking with colleagues and identifying new collaborators. - Are there any particular friendships or collaborations that came specifically out of Cytokines meetings?
I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Lydia Lynch for the first time at a Cytokines meeting. She is an incredible scientist (and human being) and someone whose work I had long admired. We hit it off right away and I feel fortunate to have her as a friend and colleague. - What Cytokines meeting(s) have been your favorites? Tell us about any special memories or anecdotes.
The Cytokines Hawaii 2022 meeting was truly remarkable for two reasons 1) The big island is beautiful and 2) It was wonderful to get together in person after the pandemic for the first time with friends from near and far and hear about very cool science. My favorite memory is an impromptu get together of about 200 attendees in the then ICIS President’s room (unbeknownst to him), and running into all my own friends from graduate school. - What do you like to do when not in the lab?
I love traveling to interesting places, whose ecosystem, languages and cultures are rapidly changing because of globalization. I also enjoy good, theatre, museums, shopping, and generally everything about New York City, my home. - What is the best life/career advice you’ve ever received?
“There is no free lunch”. If you want something you have to work for it and even then it may not happen. But you have to try and then try again. - What book or TV show are you reading/watching right now that you recommend?
I’m watching Lessons in Chemistry (also a fun read) on Apple TV. The show and book are both entertaining and enraging. We may not be in the 1950s but bias towards women, URMS and many other groups still persists. While we have made progress toward equality we cannot take our foot of the gas pedal. - What is your favorite cytokine?
IL-17 for life!
