Women in Science: Dr. Nicole Ellis on Self Advocacy

Meet Nicole Ellis, Ph.D. , a staff scientist in the Machner Laboratory at NICHD . She studies Legionella pneumophila, a bacterium that causes a severe respiratory infection called Legionnaires’ disease. Her path to cell biology and microbiology was not straightforward. “From an early age, I wanted to become a marine biologist, despite living in Wisconsin and not having direct access to an ocean,” she recalled. “But in high school, my Advanced Placement (AP) chemistry teacher had a doctorate, opening my eyes to graduate school and a Ph.D.” Now Dr. Ellis designs tools to advance CRISPR capabilities, which allow researchers to selectively modify DNA, in microorganisms.?

Exposure to Science?

Dr. Ellis grew up in the Midwest and explains that her AP chemistry teacher, Thomas Katte, Ph.D., made quite an impression on her. “It was a very small class, and he was the first person I ever met who had a Ph.D.,” she said. “I had always been in the science lane, but that’s the year I got exposure to experiments at the bench.”?

While an undergraduate at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Ellis spent a semester abroad in Australia to explore marine biology. “From day one, I told my advisors that I wanted to go to Australia and asked for advice on how to make it happen. When I got there, I took intense science courses and did research, like observing how the shapes of fish beaks mediate their diet. Even though I enjoyed it and even learned how to scuba dive, I later decided to reevaluate my goals. I realized it’s okay to keep hobbies and work separate. Still, I’m very glad that I tried it out,” she shared.

During her junior year, Dr. Ellis worked in a plant laboratory. The experience equipped her with a solid letter of recommendation that enabled her to get a position studying the dynamics of chromosome sorting in the University of Minnesota laboratory of Duncan Clarke, Ph.D. “He was my cell biology instructor, and I approached him directly to ask if he had space in his lab,” she said. “I also joined at a unique time, when the graduate students were transitioning out, so I wasn’t assigned to a student mentor but got one-on-one training with Dr. Clarke. I learned to be independent, and I helped finish three papers during my senior year.” Dr. Ellis graduated with dual degrees in biochemistry, as well as genetics, cell biology, and development.??

Dr. Ellis advises trainees, “Advocate for yourself from the start. This is your career. You need to tell people what you want or need. The sooner and more frequently you do this, the greatest likelihood for success.”?

Doctoral Training?

For graduate school, Dr. Ellis only applied to Big Ten schools in the Midwest. She initially wanted to join the University of Michigan, which accepted her, but a chance conversation at her University of Wisconsin interviews changed her course. “Someone had remarked that graduate school is very hard and very long and that I might want to be closer to home to get a mental break or enjoy a family meal. I asked myself, ‘Do I want to fly home for Christmas for 5 to 7 years, or do I want to be able to drive home in a few hours?’ They were right!”??

For her doctorate, Dr. Ellis studied microbiology in the laboratory of Patricia Kiley, Ph.D. , and researched a transcription factor in Escherichia coli called Fur (ferric update regulator). Dr. Ellis learned skills in bacterial genetics and how to develop her own research tools and techniques. “There are two kinds of scientists—one uses established tools to answer their questions, and the other has a question where tools are not yet available. The latter one, that’s me! I develop tools that benefit both my research and the field,” said Dr. Ellis.

During her first year of graduate school, Dr. Ellis was scheduled to give a talk at a major scientific conference after a senior student graduated and left. “I remember it was in an airplane hangar in Salt Lake City with multiple TV screens with my face on them. I shook as I went up the stage, as I gave my talk, and as I walked back down. But the experience was like jumping out of an airplane to conquer your fear of heights. My first talk was so intimidating that subsequent talks have felt so much easier,” she shared.?

Dr. Ellis also met and married her husband during graduate school, and the couple relocated to the Washington, DC, area after she graduated. Her husband accepted a job as a principal investigator, and her search for jobs in the area brought her to NIH.?

Research at NIH?

“During my undergrad, my research was on cell biology, but for my thesis, I studied microbiology. The Machner Lab [at NICHD] was a perfect merge of the two fields,” shared Dr. Ellis. The lab uses Legionella as a model organism to understand how pathogens infect cells, evade immunity, and cause disease.?

Dr. Ellis initially joined the lab as a postdoctoral researcher, but when Dr. Machner received tenure a few years later, she successfully applied for the staff scientist position available to all tenured investigators at NIH. “Usually, staff scientists complement the principal investigator. For example, [Dr. Machner] is an expert in microscopy and protein biochemistry, whereas I have a strong genetics and -omics background. This combination helps create a more well-rounded lab,” she explained.?

“The ‘staff scientist’ title can mean many different things. The amount of time you spenon training, laboratory management, and experiments depends on the principal investigator and you. A staff scientist can also help set the tone of the lab,” shared Dr. Ellis. For example, she coordinates celebrations, like birthday parties, citizenship ceremonies, and baby showers, and offers both scientific and life advice to younger trainees. It adds to her workload, but she’s happy to do it. “Science can be tough; it’s important to not forget to celebrate wins in both science and life,” she said.?

Dr. Ellis, who is the mother of two young children, is also surprised at how often she is asked about whether one can be a scientist and a parent. “Yes, you can! It’s not easy, but both are rewarding. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about maternity leave or work–life balance when you interview. If someone is giving bad vibes when you’re not even pregnant yet, you don’t want to work there,” said Dr. Ellis. During her interview, she saw that another postdoc was pregnant and asked about her experience. In addition, Dr. Machner’s office wall is decorated with all the baby announcements of his past trainees. “I think the lab is on baby number 12 and counting,” said Dr. Ellis.

For her current project, Dr. Ellis invented a tool called MuRCiS , which stands for multiplex, randomized CRISPR interference sequencing. “It took almost 8 years to develop, which is another benefit of being a staff scientist—you have the time to take on a long project with a high payoff,” she said. Compared with other model pathogens, Legionella is hard to study. It has more than 300 virulence factors, many are redundant—meaning that deleting one factor won’t affect the microbe’s survival—and in general, deleting genes in this bacterium is difficult. MuRCiS is a new method for rapid genetic examination of large groups of redundant genes. “Too many scientists hold things close, and the field doesn’t benefit,” said Dr. Ellis. “I want other people to use the technique I spent so much time working on.”?

Last year, during the 10th anniversary of CRISPR, Dr. Ellis was invited to speak at the 2022 International Conference on CRISPR Technologies in Berkeley, California. “Even though CRISPR comes from bacteria, when it comes to using it as a research tool in bacteria, the field is actually way behind when compared to CRISPR’s use in eukaryotic cells,” explained Dr. Ellis. “I was very honored to give the talk. I felt like I had ‘made’ it.”?

Read Dr. Ellis’ publications at https://go.nih.gov/TlrCjEz .??

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