Research challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic: The experience of a functional genomics laboratory

Abstract

Measures to mitigate and prevent COVID-19 infections included closing universities around the world for an indefinite time and transferring their educational activities to online platforms. Universities were not prepared for such a transition and the online teaching-learning process evolved gradually. Fortunately, there have been many advances in educational technology in recent decades which proved useful during this pandemic. I am proud that the National School of Higher Studies (Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, ENES), Unidad León, of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), was one of the institutions that was able to make this digital transition. Basic research has faced its own challenges during the current pandemic. My laboratory does functional genomics research in plants with undergraduate and master’s students. The experiments of the students were at different stages when the pandemic began and could not stop going to the laboratory due to the need to care for experimental plants and cell cultures. Different strategies were developed to maintain research activities, such as: 1) Scheduling research shifts to promote social distancing, 2) Postponing non-essential experiments, 3) Rationing research supplies that were in short supply during the pandemic. Personally, I consider that the use of digital platforms has also generated unexpected opportunities such as new types of scientific collaboration. I had enough free time to edit student theses, write and publish research articles. Interestingly, the students in my work team have participated in virtual international scientific conferences, the only format that evolved during this pandemic. Digital platforms allowed tutors to be in constant contact with students to advise and support them emotionally. The students in my laboratory have been through difficult times. I asked them to tell their story in their own words (These can be read in the student’s section. Editor’s Note).