The Trends journals are turning 40 this year, and as part of the celebration, we are highlighting up-and-coming Trends authors. I interviewed one such young and trending Trends in Parasitology author, Katherine Ralston, to find out more about her research, career path, and views on life as a scientist.

Katy recently published a review in Trends in Parasitology on the mechanisms that the intestinal parasite Entamoeba histolytica uses to cause disease. In her research, Katy found that these parasites kill human cells via an unusual mechanism in which they bite off and ingest fragments of human cells fragments. Katy termed this mechanism "amoebic trogocytosis" because it's a nibbling process (trogo = nibble) rather than whole-cell ingestion (phagocytosis).

Katy began her work on these parasites during her postdoctoral studies at the University of Virginia, and in 2014 she started her lab at the University of California, Davis. Based on her recent experience, I wanted to get Katy's advice for young researchers planning to start their own labs.

In Katy's opinion, a young researcher should start thinking about their research topics very early on in their career. "First of all, it is helpful to get to know your field more broadly, or if you are thinking about changing fields, you will need to get to know that field," she says, suggesting that researchers attend conferences or research courses to see the latest research on a variety of topics and to meet the leaders in those fields. Independent of the research field, it can be tough to get funding, and it might also help to consider the fit of any given topic for various funding agencies.

When Katy started as a new assistant professor, one piece of advice that she got from a very successful senior professor was to run on the assumption that only one in five grants will be funded. It takes serious mental and physical stamina to keep going in spite of a success rate as low as 20%.

"Your attitude is incredibly important," Katy says. She advises young researchers to cultivate resilience and see every application as an opportunity to learn and improve. "For example, if the reviewers didn't see the importance of X or understand Y, then I know it is my job to explain this more clearly or change my approach next time."

As a woman in STEM, I'm always interested in the experiences of other female scientists in the course of their careers. Katy's experience has been positive, with both support and encouragement from mentors and colleagues.

"Current views of gender issues in science suggest that we all have implicit biases," Katy says. "As a small example of what I believe is implicit bias, since becoming a professor, I find that many (or most) people that I meet assume I am a student or a postdoc, never a professor. Many new professors are relatively young, but my peers who are male are generally not mistaken for trainees. I think it is likely that we as a society have an idea of what we expect a professor or a scientist to be like, and it is not the most diverse construct."

Katy has developed strategies to handle these situations, such as introducing herself deliberately using her title, first name, and last name—and multiple times, if necessary. "I would recommend this to anyone who is part of a group that is more underrepresented in science, or who happens to look a little young."

However, there can be advantages to the challenge of not being thought of as the professor. "In teaching thus far, many students have commented that I am approachable, and they feel more comfortable asking questions," Katy says. In this case, not looking like a professor may work to Katy's benefit and help her achieve her goal of being an inspiring teacher who can get students excited about science.

To read my interview with Katy in full, don't forget to stop by the Trends in Parasitology home page. And while you're there, find out more about the cell-nibbling parasites Katy studies.