Taylor Robinson, a freshman studying chemical engineering at the University of Kentucky, is doing research on muscle stem cells in Dr. Esther Dupont-Versteegden’s lab.

Robinson, an Illinois native, says, “Ever since I was five, I could remember wanting to be a doctor. Into middle school and high school, I really started to like math and problem solving. So that’s kind of where I was led to research.” Robinson counts his uncles—an orthopedic physician and a physician’s assistant—and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson as inspirations. 

As for his day-to-day in the lab, Robinson says, “I’m here two days a week and on one day I’ll cut muscle samples and image those on the microscope. And then the following day, I will stain them, image them and count the certain cells that my research pertains to and then analyze that the next week.” The cells he’s interested in, called satellite cells, are stem cells that are involved in muscle growth and repair. He says the number of satellite cells naturally decreases as we age and this research could help improve daily life for older adults. 

“Everyone growing up who has an interest in research says, 'I’m going to find the cure for cancer!' But a lot of times what’s involved in scientific research is 99% grind and 1% shine, in the sense that 99% of the time you’re doing more tedious things to get data and 1% is analyzing and making a discovery. And so, you have to find that field where you can still enjoy that 99%.  

“UK is a great place to do science because it’s very open-minded in the sense of everyone’s input is valued. It’s motivated by the impact that we can have. The fact that we’re right next to the hospital really puts the importance on the patients and how this can affect them. There are a vast array of opportunities in the types of research that you can get involved in.” 

Robinson is featured on LabTV.com. This website features videos with medical researchers who tell where they came from, how they chose their career, what they do each day in the lab, and why they love it. LabTV’s founder, Jay Walker of TEDMED, said he started the site because if high school students can personally identify with a young medical researcher, they are far more likely to consider becoming one. LabTV’s network features researchers working at dozens of leading universities, corporations, and the National Institutes of Health.