Dr. Feba Shaji

Dr. Feba Shaji is a postdoctoral researcher best described by her resilience, dedication, and curiosity. In her current work at the University of California San Diego, USA, Dr. Shaji delves into the regulation of RNA and its impact on cellular processes–a field she finds deeply exciting. Dr. Shaji has faced many ups and downs in her academic career but with the support of the people around her and faith, she continues to be a leader for younger scientists behind her.

Early on, Dr. Shaji was inspired by her high school biology and chemistry teachers to pursue a post-secondary education in science. From a very young age she was intrigued by these subjects that allowed her to make complex concepts accessible which furthered her interest in molecular biology and biochemistry. Dr. Shaji went on to complete both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biochemistry at Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam, Kerala, India. She found herself particularly taken to learning about RNA in her molecular biology courses saying that “this tiny molecule that plays such a pivotal role in regulating cellular behavior” drew her in and motivated her to follow a career in RNA biology research.

Before beginning her PhD program, Dr. Shaji participated in a Summer Research Fellowship at the Indian Academy of Sciences. Through this program, she had the opportunity to work with structural biologist Dr. Dileep Vasudevan focusing on protein purification, specifically chaperones from Mycobacteria. This opportunity provided her an encouraging, supportive environment that not only introduced her to molecular biology research but played a critical role in strengthening her scientific curiosity. Following her Summer Research Fellowship, Dr. Shaji was drawn to the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology in India, “due to its strong commitment to advancing biotechnology research, support by government funding and a clear focus on making meaningful discoveries for a better tomorrow.” She believes that the institution is well-established, well-funded and equipped with cutting-edge technologies that allow it to have a remarkable track record in research. Her PhD took place in Dr. Rakesh S. Laishram’s laboratory known for its work in post-transcriptional RNA processes–a topic that largely aligned with her fundamental biology research interests. The lab environment Dr. Laishram had created was dynamic, supportive and of great mentorship. They had impressive achievements including the Wellcome Trust-Department of Biotechnology India Alliance Grant and the Swarna Jayanti Fellowship. Dr. Shaji was sure of her choice for the next steps in her academic journey where she wanted to establish her research work and contribute to innovative science.

"Never stop dreaming and manifesting your goals. Challenges will come, but your determination, supported by faith and the strength of those around you, will help you overcome them."

Currently, Dr. Shaji is in a post-doctoral position in the Zid Lab at the University of California in San Diego where she focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which the 3’ end-processing machinery selects the cleavage site during pre-mRNA processes. With this, she places a primary focus on investigating factors that influence the precise recognition and selection of a site, and how this process is regulated across different cellular contexts. Additionally, Dr. Shaji is going to inspect the coordination method of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial RNA function. This aspect of her work is important as “this [coordination] plays a crucial role in mitochondrial function and cellular homeostasis.” Dr. Shaji is excited and happy to be working in two areas of RNA that delve into RNA regulation and its impact on cellular processes.

Dr. Shaji’s academic journey was not without its challenges. Although Dr. Shaji encountered many “typical academic hurdles–like paper rejections, failed experiments, and other issues” these were all hurdles that were somewhat within her control. In the first year of her PhD, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition requiring her to take a significant portion of time off for recovery. Dr. Shaji says “When it comes to health conditions, you suddenly are forced to take a back seat unable to reach the steering wheel. Your body suddenly is not always able to keep up with your thoughts, dreams, and aspirations, and you are forced to comply with what your health dictates for that day.” She explains that the most difficult part of the condition was the physical pain, especially in the early recovery days. It had reached to a point where common daily tasks, such as holding a pipette, felt like an immense task, and responsibilities that were once simple, like passaging cells, seemed to take forever. Dr. Shaji says that having a strong support system is key to navigate the difficult moments. Friends, family, and faith are what helped her to persevere through the physical and emotional barriers to keep following her dreams. Dr. Shaji found that during this period, her faith gave her the strength to be patient and to persist. Dr. Shaji says that “this experience taught me to truly appreciate life and the opportunities it presents.” Going through a diagnosis and treatment process like Dr. Shaji did exhibits first-hand how even small pieces of research can contribute to live-saving medication. This realization motivated Dr. Shaji to push through the physical barriers she had faced, strengthen internally and continue to bring forward great science. When she was finally able to rejoin the lab, she was faced with yet another obstacle: the COVID-19 pandemic. This, as many researchers know all too well, significantly slowed down her progress and was ultimately a very overwhelming situation. Dr. Shaji says that her proudest achievement thus far is completing her PhD despite these difficulties. What she has overcome at such an early stage in her academic journey has taught her resilience and strength, and it has been deeply rewarding to continue contributing to the RNA biology field. 

Dr. Shaji is a fan of the NQO1 mRNA that she worked with throughout her PhD. In this part of her academic journey, Dr. Shaji created various mutants to study the mRNA’s function. She was able to gather a deep understanding of the role of NQO1 mRNA making it a very significant part of her research. Dr. Shaji’s favourite RNA Journal article is: “Quantification of elongation stalls and impact on gene expression in yeast.” She said that she recently read this paper, and it resonated with her research interests it quantifies how ribosomal pauses affect translation duration. She encourages everyone to check out this amazing paper in the RNA Society’s Journal!

Dr. Shaji had the opportunity to attend the 29^th RNA Society Annual Meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland. For her, a highlight of this meeting was attending the Career Mentoring Dinner as well as the Junior Scientists Group events. Gatherings such as the RNA Society Annual Meetings provide networking opportunities with unique chances to connect with other early-career researchers. She also appreciated the valuable advice she was able to receive from established scientists in the RNA field. Dr. Shaji remarks that she is “particularly grateful to the RNA Society for supporting [her] attendance through the RNA Society Research Presentation Fellowship Program.” This financial support covered her registration and was the reason she was able to participate in “such an inspiring and enriching experience”.

Dr. Shaji would like to offer a message of encouragement to aspiring scientists who may be recovering from an illness or recent diagnosis: “never give up”. She reminds those battling that there is “so much to dream about and so much to achieve”. If you keep manifesting your goals, work hard, and stay curious, setbacks will not be able to stop you from moving forward. She encourages everyone to remember that “we never truly know what someone else is going through”. We may deem a task as easy or normal, but for someone else this may have taken a great deal of effort and strength. “Whether big or small, always appreciate the efforts others are making, as a kind word or acknowledgment can brighten someone’s day, especially when they’re facing their own struggles”.

For those who are inspired by Dr. Shaji’s story, would like to connect with her further, or simply hear about her work, you can find her on X at @FebaShaji7 or Linkedin at linkedin.com/in/feba-shaji-368bb0138. Thank you Dr. Shaji for all you to do contribute to the RNA field and inspire the many scientists behind you.