Dear Charlie

Dear Charlie,

Although you're still in your junior year in graduate school, I hope you're already thinking about insane research ideas that will drive your prospective adviser to kiss you and your beautiful mind. I hope you don't end up settling for a drab topic with a drab simple commercial significance that, for some not so apparent reason, seems to be attracting plenty of big sponsors.

Two months ago, I had a conversation with Iñaki, the principal investigator (PI) of the project I will be working on. His rough yet gentle demeanor struck me as that of a humble intellect who couldn't care less about others' superficial perceptions. I've come to find that self-assured individuals need not adorn themselves with excessive sparkle and glamor to earn respect. Beyond his air of confidence, what truly inspired me about Iñaki was his ability to ignite passion in his mentees. I'm sure you've encountered arrogant PIs who only care about their mentees when their work benefits their fragile and insecure egos. Unlike those vain and pompous individuals who prioritize reputation and publications, Iñaki is selfless. He aims to mold his protégés into the best versions of themselves, hoping that one day they will carry their own legacies. He seeks to awaken our latent curiosity and unleash the scientists within each of us. He places little emphasis on patenting inventions or pursuing research solely for economic gain. Instead, he encourages us to explore diverse fields of interest (even beyond science) that can shape our dissertations in profound ways. Surprisingly, he did not dismiss my idea of incorporating literature and art into my work. Iñaki is truly one of the exceptional minds I am fortunate to work with, treating science as a creative and interdisciplinary field that knows no boundaries. His mentorship caters to the unique mental makeup of each individual, which has been a blessing for someone like me who struggles with conventional learning methods. If I had encountered someone like him earlier, perhaps I wouldn't have struggled with physics exams or felt like a complete idiot in high school. How we were once victims of our flawed education system. Nevertheless, I believe he is an extraordinary individual who treats both science and art as his religion. I can envision us connecting well, as I too am a proud being who has long strayed from the path of Christianity.

If I have the opportunity to work with him in the future or advance my scientific career, my first goal would be to enhance my microscopy skills. The high-tech microscopes in the lab have the power to transform even blackheads into otherworldly beauty and brain cells into fluorescent rosettes.

Our world holds countless unseen wonders, and through the pursuit of science, we are granted the privilege of delving into these uncharted realms using advanced technology. Perhaps that is the essence of scientific exploration—illuminating the hidden wonders and distilling truths from a mosaic of alien data. With the universe as our muse, I am confident that if you too embark on a scientific path, you will formulate a cosmic topic that will leave conspiracists, religious zealots, science skeptics, anti-vaxxers, flat-earthers, and the like astounded.

-S

P.S. Check out some of my favorite illustrations/micrographs by/taken by Haeckel, Ramon y Cajal, Golgi, Smith, Atkins, Wiesner, Kurenda, Wolfson, Cisarovsky, Piccar, Dudin, Orlovskis, Dixsaut, Patsyk et al, Hung et al.