As people around the world are affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Biophysical Society is sharing stories from members about how their lives and research have been impacted.
Hua Zhu, Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center
Columbus, Ohio, United States
The novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, continues to establish its presence throughout the greater part of the world. Here in the United States, the pandemic is affecting all lines of work, including research institutions and PUIs.
I am an Associate Professor of Surgery here at the Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center. In response to COVID-19, my institution has cancelled face-to-face classroom teaching, meetings and seminars effective on the week of March 9th. Personally, I have been working from home since March 16th and undoubtedly my colleagues also have done the same. Despite the challenges of not being to interact with my colleagues and lab members physically, I am still able to conduct and join WebEx and Zoom meetings on daily basis to ensure that goals and objectives are still being met. The Ohio State University has also implemented remote learning for students, and gives me the ability to teach from the comfort of my home. In the midst of this pandemic, the one aspect of my work that is most affected is conduction of research. Since we must maintain our responsibility of social distancing, I have requested my lab personnel to only come in for lab-essential work, such as providing animal support and maintaining liquid nitrogen tank that stores irreplaceable cell lines.
Fortunately, we can still work on our manuscripts within the confines of our homes, so there’s that! With our continued efforts of social distancing and self-quarantine, I am hopeful that this pandemic will end sooner rather than later.
Thank you and stay safe and healthy,
Hua
Would you like to share your experience in this difficult and uncertain time? Email your perspective to [email protected].