My Experience as a Lab Tutor in the Virgilio Program – Ramona Meanti

My experience as a lab tutor in the Virgilio Program began in 2020, when I was a PhD student in the Pharmacology Laboratory led by Prof. Antonio Torsello at the Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca. Since then, every year I have been pleased to welcome students from the Pre-Graduate Program for Training Medical Students as Physician-Scientists into our lab.

For me, opening the doors of the laboratory where I work and sharing my passion for preclinical research on neurodegenerative diseases has always been both a privilege and a source of motivation. Being a tutor does not simply mean showing students the routine work carried out at the bench. Rather, it means helping these future physicians understand the complex process behind scientific research, while at the same time drawing inspiration from their curiosity and enthusiasm. Their fresh perspective often helps rekindle the same sense of wonder that first led many of us into research.

During their rotation, I try to guide students through the entire research process. We begin by discussing the importance of identifying real unmet clinical needs, then move on to critically analyzing the scientific literature to understand what is already known and which questions remain open. From there, we work together to design an experimental approach that can be implemented in the lab.

As the weeks progress, students gradually take ownership of their activities. They gain hands-on experience with several laboratory techniques, from cell culture procedures to molecular biology methods, and they learn how to analyze and critically interpret the data they generate. Seeing them move from observing experiments to actively contributing to them is one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

The final moment of realization, when experiments stop being just technical steps and become part of a scientific narrative, perfectly captures what research is all about.

If I could offer a short piece of advice to future Virgilio students, it would be this: stay curious and do not be afraid to ask questions. Research is driven by curiosity, critical thinking, and sometimes by unexpected results.

From my perspective, tutoring students is deeply rewarding because it creates a two-way exchange. While students learn the foundations of scientific research, tutors are reminded of the passion and curiosity that make science such a fascinating journey.