Professor Oriana Fisher joined Wesleyan’s Molecular Biology and Biochemistry department in the 2024–25 academic year as an assistant professor, bringing with her a deep passion for structural biology, an appreciation for good storytelling, and a commitment to inclusivity in science. In an interview as part of putting together this profile, she shared how she got her start in science, what drives her research, and why diverse spaces in science matter.
As an undergraduate at Brandeis University, Professor Fisher majored in both English and biochemistry. Her initial interest in biochemistry and structural biology began early on in her college career. Specifically, she recalled attending a mini-lecture series where Brandeis professors would share their research across disciplines. One talk in particular stuck with her. Her soon-to-be mentor’s talk explaining how his lab uses structural biology to investigate disease motivated her to ask for a position in his lab. Her eagerness to work in this professor’s lab didn’t waver – even after she was advised to come back after having taken a chemistry course first. With this lab from sophomore year to senior year, she pursued structural biology research. Thereafter, she brought her passion with her to Yale University, where she earned her PhD while using structural biology techniques to investigate genetic diseases.
From her time at Yale, aside from graduate-level research, Professor Fisher found herself enjoying the many aspects a research career had to offer; initially unsure about a two-semester teaching requirement as part of her program, she ended up enjoying her semesters as a Teaching Assistant. She also enjoyed her qualifying exam, including topics like grant writing. Perhaps drawing from her undergraduate experience as a double major in English and her enjoyment of writing, Professor Fisher felt comfortable with the writing-heavy nature of the career she had ahead of her. All these qualities considered, she decided that maybe academia was the path for her. She then went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern University, where she studied copper usage in bacteria that oxidize methane. From one faculty position to another, Professor Fisher joined the Wesleyan Molecular Biology and Biochemistry department from a professorship at Lehigh University.
Transitioning from one teaching position to another is one thing, but relocating a lab is also no small feat. Describing the process to a friend, she said it felt like moving into a new house and needing to set up the new kitchen, only there were no pots and pans, no cabinets, not even a stove. Everything, from the equipment to the reagents, had to be sourced anew by her lab, which is a careful process. Still, despite the tricky challenge, Professor Fisher and her group have made steady progress and have successfully built a new home base for their research here at Wesleyan.
At the heart of Professor Fisher’s lab is the question of how bacteria interact with copper. Professor Fisher emphasized that there are still many things left to be discovered about bacteria, such as the biochemical processes used by these microorganisms. She explains, “We’ve known since the time of the ancient Egyptians that copper in large quantities is an antimicrobial agent. But weirdly, thousands of years later, we have yet to understand the biological or biochemical mechanism of how copper gets into a bacterial cell, what physiological processes use copper in bacterial cells, and how it’s being regulated.” New research in this field will illuminate new research directions in bacterial biochemistry, for instance, revealing enzymes that catalyze key bacterial reactions. For the Fisher lab, this means investigating some of the copper-dependent proteins found in bacterial species. By identifying these proteins, the development of targeted antimicrobial drugs can be better informed. The lab is also exploring how bacteria manage copper overload and how enzyme-substrate interactions drive precise signaling cascades, shedding light on the broader metabolic networks.
The field of biophysics and STEM disciplines is ever-changing at present, with new discoveries and new doors opening for those of underrepresented identities, or the first in their families to obtain degrees from higher educational institutions. This growing diversity adds to the STEM community and strengthens communication across backgrounds, united by a single purpose: research. Adding to this notion of inclusivity, Professor Fisher adds that pursuing science has given her an opportunity like no other to learn from her diverse collaborators; her favorite thing about science and research is how international and diverse the scientific community is, providing a wonderful opportunity to not always learn about research but also be exposed to other cultures that are unfamiliar.
“I also feel very strongly about women in science, which is something I don’t think I appreciated as much as an undergrad,” she noted. Professor Fisher explained how, generally, studies show that from undergraduate to graduate studies, there is a drop-off in the female-to-male ratio for STEM disciplines. Though some undergraduate STEM courses may be balanced with gender representation, she offers that later career stages may not follow suit. Because of this, she says it is all the more important that professors and those more senior in their careers advocate for women and other minorities in science and create space for them. “One of the beauties of science and STEM is that for new discoveries, no one knows how it works yet, and no one knows the answer. So one of the things I try to emphasize in my teaching and research is for people to feel comfortable about asking questions.” Indeed, in science and in research, oftentimes new questions and research topics are black boxes, waiting to be opened. To be able to share an idea or ask a question without pushback, she emphasizes, is key to discovery and collaboration, which “can take a lot of effort to cultivate but is very important.”
In a current climate where educational opportunity for diverse individuals is under scrutiny as well as many research disciplines, it is important to keep these messages at heart.
Coming from a background driven by curiosity, Professor Fischer reminds us of the importance of finding spaces where questions are welcomed and where you can be yourself and learn from others. For those considering a future in science or biochemistry, her advice is simple: get research experience early on. “That initial experience doesn’t need to be something that you stick with, but what’s more important is identifying a research group or professor that is going to support you as yourself. You don’t want to be in a place where you feel like you have to hide who you are to be successful.” And with the thousands of scientists in the world, she says that, most likely, there will be at least one whom you will click with. With that mindset and curiosity paving the way, Professor Fisher is an inspiring and innovative new addition to the Wesleyan community.
You can learn more about the Fisher lab here: https://fisherlab.research.wesleyan.edu/