Winner of a prestigious competition for high school students: Evelína scores with her SPAT on neuroscience
In September, Evelína Voleská entered the last year of the eight-year Grammar school Česká Třebová. At the end of it, she will graduate and then, as she believes, study at university. After all, she already knows her way around the university campus in Brno-Bohunice more than well. For many months she has been researching neuropathic pain caused by chemotherapy in cooperation with the Anatomical Institute of the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University.
Currently, her efforts in writing the SPAT have resulted in the Czech Header Award, given since 2007 to young scientists for the most outstanding achievements in the field of science and technology. At the gala evening, which was broadcast by Czech Television, Evelina was presented with the SANITAS award, which is given for scientific works and projects in the field of natural sciences that deal with human health. How did the work that moved her forward come about? What does she have planned for the future, or what are her tips for future researchers of the SPAT? Find out in this article!
Can you tell us about your project for the SPAT? What inspired you to choose this topic?
The research group I am now part of is studying one important structure of the brain ventricles (choroid plexus) in light of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. My thesis is titled Neuropathic Pain and Immunoreactive Dynamics: Investigating the Effect of Paclitaxel on Brain Ventricular Macrophages. My specific aim was to map the numerical changes of macrophages on the surface of brain ventricles after chemotherapy treatment.
I have wanted to work on the SPAT for a long time and I was inspired to collaborate with the Anatomical Institute of the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University in Brno by a visit to the open day of this institution. Then I came to the topic through the JCMM platform. One such topic caught my attention at first sight with its description - it was a neuroscience paper in English. Eventually, I got the tutors M.Sc. Parisu EmamiAref and Alemeh Zamani, Ph.D. I would like to thank them for their expert guidance and support.
How was the cooperation with the English trainers? What did this experience bring you?
Both of my trainers are from Iran, so all our communication was entirely in English. At the beginning I was worried about the language barrier, but this turned out to be unnecessary. This foreign-language collaboration has definitely not only broadened my language skills with professional terms, but also, for example, the habit of using primarily foreign literary sources.
What were your feelings and impressions from the regional and state rounds of the SPAT? What was the most difficult for you and what did you find most pleasing?
Participating in the regional round was challenging for me, mainly because of uncertainty and stress, as I did not know what to expect. The biggest challenge was to manage my own internal pressure. In the end, however, it turned out that my fears were again unnecessary. The national round was then much more relaxed. In the three days that the show took place, we made friends and gained mutual support. The national round also had a rich supporting programme and not only the expert opinions of the committee but also the friendly conversations with other competitors were a good experience.
How did you prepare for your thesis defense? Do you have any tips for other students on how to manage stress and nervousness?
I prepared for the defenses by writing down the information that needed to be mentioned and repeating it intensively. Going over the main points of my presentation with friends who asked quite trivial questions that I also had to answer quite simply also helped me a lot. Of course, despite my honest preparation, I struggled with stress. It helped me to plan things out in detail and to reward myself for small successes. It was also important to realize that it wasn't about the success, but the whole experience, for which I am incredibly grateful.
What did you do during the holidays? Did you engage in any projects or activities that enriched your personal or scientific growth?
During the holidays I did some traveling, some part-time work, and a little more theatre, which is a big hobby of mine. But there was also academic training. I had the opportunity to travel to Oxford and attend a summer school focused on the study of medicine. I also started working on a new follow-up project looking at macrophage proliferation.
What are you looking forward to in the new school year? Do you have any specific plans or goals you would like to achieve?
I have a high school graduation coming up in the upcoming school year, so a good portion of my attention will certainly be going in that direction. A big goal is also to be successfully accepted into medical school. But events like morphology conferences or nominations for international competitions await me. I am definitely looking forward to every experience this year will bring.
What skills and knowledge have you gained during your time at SPAT that have helped you in school or in your personal life?
The SPAT has given me a lot of skills and knowledge beyond a traditional high school education. I was able to participate in each of the sub-steps of the research, learning activities from the experimental part of the project to data collection and analysis to interpretation. The SPAT was also the first long-term project I worked on. Thus, this activity became my individual challenge, which also pushed me a lot in my personal life.
What advice would you give to high school students who are considering participating in the SPAT or another science competition, but are not sure if they have what it takes?
Definitely don't be afraid. While participating in SPAT or other competitions is a commitment, you determine how much effort you want to put into the work. Of course, you will be expected to be diligent and willing to spend your free time studying, but I'm sure there is always room to balance your studies with other leisure activities. Beyond that, working with a research institute is certainly one option, but not the only one. Everyone can go their own way.
What has been your greatest achievement throughout the process and how did you celebrate it?
I see the completion of the thesis itself, or the final defence in the national round, as the biggest achievement; this was met with celebration together with the other competitors and then with parents and friends after the announcement of the result. So I celebrated the success in my modesty grandly.
What motivates and inspires you to do scientific work? Do you have any role models or books that have influenced you?
My biggest inspiration for scientific work, specifically in the field of medicine, is the human body itself. I am fascinated by how much of the unknown is found in everyday life. I enjoy asking questions not only about what and where, but also how and why. Science is the place to answer these questions. I am also motivated by the personal stories of specific people, from successful scientists to patients.
What role did the support of family and friends play during your work on the project?
In a word, enormous. Throughout the challenging writing of the thesis and the stressful defenses, they have all been a great support, not only mentally, and a source of the motivation already discussed. Without them, I would not have been able to enjoy the results.
Do you see your future in science? If so, what direction would you like to take?
I would definitely like to continue in science. I am excited about the ongoing collaboration with the Anatomical Institute of the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University in Brno. If we focus on the distant future, ideally, I would like to combine scientific work with clinical practice. Of course, I do not know my specific direction of interest yet, time spent studying medicine will show that.
