Jevithen Nehru
Multimedia Subcommittee
University of Toronto

Research Interest

The regulation of gene expression is critical to orchestrating proper development of the nervous system. How and when genes are turned on or off can be controlled by various proteins and protein complexes. Chromatin-modifying factors are proteins that are essential for healthy growth and development and can alter the structure of chromatin and DNA, allowing for specific genes to be expressed in specific contexts.

In my research, I use the C. elegans model to study how chromatin-modifying factors contribute to nervous system development. By imaging neuronal processes, like cell fate specification and axon extension, and performing behavioral assays, I hope to assess how and when certain chromatin modifiers act to establish the correct transcriptional programs necessary for healthy development.

As a PhD-trained scientist, you have many career options. What interests you the most?

I am primarily interested in scientific teaching and communication. I’m still very new to science in a professional context, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time teaching undergraduate courses and labs, as well as engaging with scientific communication materials with GSA. I can definitely see myself working on projects that help bridge scientific research with general audiences, or with students, in a more educational environment.

That being said, I think it’ll be hard to step away from bench work. I’ve really loved learning new techniques and imaging practices to answer a wide range of questions over the last few years of my training. There is of course, much more to learn, and there is an unending list of directions to take my research in (not to mention all the other fascinating topics in genetics research!). Any career path, whether in industry or academia, that allows me to explore genetics and development is certainly something that I’ve got my eyes on and ears open to.

In addition to your research, how do you want to advance the scientific enterprise?

I strongly believe in the accessibility of scientific knowledge and the scientific approach to thinking and learning. Many people are still curious to learn about the world but are often discouraged by how difficult and obtuse science and scientific thinking may initially seem. A goal of mine is to make science more accessible and help improve scientific literacy. By exposing people to how actual science is done, and how intuitive our practices really are, we can help improve scientific understanding and tackle misinformation.

I often think back to my childhood and how I was first inspired to pursue a career in science. It was the creativity of the teachers I had in school, as well as TV shows like Mythbusters, that helped cultivate the curious part of my brain that wonders “why?” Alongside my contributions to my research in epigenetics and neuronal development, I hope that I can build a career that can inspire others to be curious about the world, applying rigorous scientific thinking to find some answers.

As a leader within the Genetics Society of America, what do you hope to accomplish?

The Genetics Society of America is a fantastic organization that is working to push forth our understandings of biology and communicate that knowledge. As a member of this community, I hope to contribute to these efforts by working on scientific communication projects and promoting scientific literacy.

Within the Multimedia Subcommittee, I hope to learn more about the research done by talented scientists in our community and share it with listeners of the Genetics in Your World podcast. I want to contribute to and advance our goals in making scientific research more accessible, hopefully inspiring young scientists along the way.

Previous leadership experience

Career and Professional Development Representative, Cell & Systems Biology Graduate Students Union, University of Toronto, 2023–2024

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