Women’s History Month: Q&A With Research Trainee Rochelle Glover, PhD

Editor’s Note: Celebrate Women’s History Month this March with our Featured Research Trainee, Rochelle Glover, PhD. Dr. Glover earned her undergraduate degree from Oregon State University and her doctorate in Microbiology from the University of Washington. She is currently a postdoctoral research fellow in the lab of Joseph Zackular, PhD, at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. In this Q&A, Dr. Glover shares her research and her experiences at CHOP, as well as the importance of recognizing contributions made by women to science.

What message do you hope people take away from celebrating Women’s History Month?

I hope people celebrate the accomplishments and contributions women have made to the world while also recognizing the adversity that women have faced throughout history. Women have long been a driving force behind many monumental discoveries in science – the structure of DNA, radioactivity, sending humans to space – but have not been recognized for these accomplishments until recently. Less than 5% of the Nobel Prizes in science have been awarded to women, despite their invaluable contributions.

Despite equal representation at the student level of women and men in the biological sciences, women often experience more adversity in academic environments. These issues are certainly not unique to science, and I hope that Women’s History Month will inspire people to continue to uplift, support, and celebrate women, and realize that work still needs to be done.

What is a research project you’re working on, and why is it important?

I study the bacterial pathogen Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile), which causes infections of the gastrointestinal tract. C. difficile infections can vary greatly in severity; some patients experience only mild symptoms while others succumb to their infections. My research is largely focused on understanding how C. difficile behavior, including its gene expression, metabolism, and interactions with the microbiome, impacts disease severity.

I am particularly interested in C. difficile infections in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, which are primarily severe infections, and C. difficile colonization of infants, which is completely asymptomatic. By understanding how C. difficile behaves differently in these patients, we can start to identify bacterial factors that drive disease severity.

In addition, I am working on a large collaborative project to protect against C. difficile infections. C. difficile infects over 500,000 people in the U.S. each year and colonizes up to 60% of infants, yet effective therapies are lacking. This research has the potential to uncover novel therapeutic targets and translate new treatments to the clinic.

What are some of the most salient training experiences you’ve had at CHOP thus far?

As a trainee, I have received incredible support and guidance from the CHOP community: members of my lab, my principal investigator, clinical fellows, collaborators, administrators, and beyond. Conducting research here truly feels like a group effort, which has been a valuable part of my training.

In particular, it is exciting having the opportunity to participate in more translational projects. While I consider myself a basic scientist, being able to work directly with clinicians and patient samples accelerates the progression of new therapies from the bench to the clinic and has had a direct impact on the way I conduct research during my postdoc.

As a mentor, I have had the privilege of working with many trainees at CHOP, including graduate students and high school students, and participating in outreach activities such as Discovery Day.

Aside from research, what do you consider your biggest accomplishment?

I consider my leadership and mentorship of young scientists to be my biggest accomplishment outside of research. At Oregon State University, I was a member of and served on the Executive Council of Sigma Delta Omega, a sorority of women in science. We organized and participated in many science outreach programs to foster an interest in science among local K-12 students, particularly among young women and students in rural communities.

Participating in similar programs myself as an elementary and middle school student made a huge impact on my career path, so it is important to me to give back and ensure that these types of programs continue to support young scientists of all backgrounds.

Outside of dedicated outreach programs, I strive to do what I can to uplift the next generation of scientists. Some of my favorite moments during my career have been mentoring rotation students, teaching undergraduates, and fostering collaborative student communities. I would not be here today without the support of my mentors throughout my entire scientific career, and I hope one day to mentor my own students to be thoughtful and collaborative scientists.

What do you do for fun when you’re not working?

Outside of lab, I enjoy a variety of hobbies, including gardening, hiking, baking, roller skating, and hanging out with my dog, Maya. My weirdest hobby is traditional soap making, which combines my love of science and creativity. I also love living in Philly and exploring all that the city has to offer.