Free Radicals Abroad | January 2024

Ari Zeida
Universidad de la República - Uruguay

Prepared by: Isabelle Logan

How did your education and background shape your science? When did you discover your passion for redox biology and how did you develop your research into the experimental and computational studies of Cys-based redox enzymes?

The truth is I didn't have a traditional scientific path at the beginning of my career. I studied to be a Math teacher before I started my degree in Biochemistry, I was not afraid of equations. So, since the very beginning of Biochemistry/Biology studies, I developed an interest in physical chemistry models that study the structure-function relationship in biomolecules. That guided me to start working in a biomolecular simulations group, and then to move to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for my PhD in Physical Chemistry. And that was when I met Cys redox biology and got enchanted by its complexity. My former PhD directors opened the doors for me to work in the area, and I've never had second thoughts about continuing my research within such a framework. During the last few years, I've been trying to develop my own lines of research, or to say it better, my personal way to approach Cys-based redox biology questions. I work in a large interdisciplinary laboratory with colleagues with different expertises, where several redox biology projects are under development. So, the idea is to consolidate a group that can participate in some of these projects, bringing the structural biology point of view to each of them, where experimental and theoretical methodologies integrate in order to do so.

Have you encountered outstanding mentors who shaped your scientific career? How did they help your growth as a scientist, and what tactics do you currently employ to aid the growth of up-and-coming scientists?

Without a doubt. One of the most significant aspects of my scientific career has been the opportunity to encounter mentors who have paved the way for me. My initial major mentors were my PhD advisors, Dr. Dario Estrin at the University of Buenos Aires instilled in me his love for chemistry, modeling, and university teaching - a true exemplar. Alongside him, Dr. Madia Trujillo from Montevideo introduced me to the world of redox biology and, specifically, the passion for Cys. Since then, but even more intensely in recent years, working alongside Dr. Rafael Radi and the entire team at the Department of Biochemistry of the School of Medicine here in Montevideo, has been a great privilege and a vast source of daily learning. I strive to absorb as much knowledge from them as possible. The first thing I believe I caught from them, and therefore what I try to do every day in this new role as a mentor, is to revel in the generation of knowledge, from the seemingly less important details to the most resonant results. Secondly, I try to replicate a fundamental aspect: to help create a work environment respectful of everyone's ideas, encouraging teamwork where each member has access to learn the various techniques the laboratory offers.

In your role as a mentor and scientific reference, is there any knowledge you would like to share? Is there anything in your area of research that is often overlooked?

Well, I don't see myself as a scientific reference, but I appreciate the compliment. The field of Redox Biology is expanding greatly, and I sense that an increasing number of scientists from various backgrounds and perspectives are contributing to the field. Besides, in the area of Structural Biology, we are experiencing revolutions related to the rapid development of methodologies, both experimental, such as cryo-EM, and computational, with advancements related to artificial intelligence, such as AlphaFold2. I believe that the future of the field will require open-minded professionals capable of integrating knowledge from different 'knowledge spaces' and with the ability and enthusiasm to interact with colleagues with diverse expertise. This will enable the growth of different lines of research while being strongly connected to the complexity that the field demands nowadays. Therefore, my advice to students and young scientists would be to develop a receptive way to approach new scientific questions, to try to stay updated with new technologies even far from their own expertise, and to encourage a team-working environment around your daily research dynamics.

What excites you the most about your science, and what do you consider your most exciting discovery?

I believe what I enjoy the most in the daily life of the laboratory is the dynamic of working with a very diverse group of people, each having different motivations and objectives. Being able to understand their work styles, how they approach new challenges, and generate new hypotheses becomes a great driving force. I also find it very gratifying to learn new things within our working group and then share that knowledge with colleagues. And then observe how some results, which sometimes seem closed or finalized, often end up opening new questions, many times more interesting than the original ones.

My most exciting discovery would be more of a personal finding than a scientific result. It was to acknowledge that I need to work at the experimental-theoretical interface, and try to reconcile and integrate both worlds in order to enjoy my work.

Do you have hobbies outside of science?

I do. I love playing sports, particularly soccer, which I still play as much as I can. I also enjoy singing "murga", which is a popular choral musical style associated with carnival, quite typical from Uruguay. Being a father of a 2-year old kid made me discover several new activities related to parenting that are becoming my hobbies also.