How a Biotechnology student uses words
This week’s Write Like A Pro interview features Alazne Portela Huerta, a third-year biotechnology student at the Universitat Politècnica de València (Valencia Polytechnic University), Spain’s top-ranked biotech program.
A lively mind
Alazne and I met a few years ago when I tutored her for the C2 English exam. If you’re not familiar, C2 is the highest level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and certifies native-level language skills.
She aced it.
In short order, Alazne completed a double high-school diploma (achieving top marks in International Baccalaureate and the Spanish Bachillerato), placed in the Top 3 in a national Mandarin-language contest and built some robots.
It was a treat to reconnect to learn about her studies, the role of writing in scientific research and the intersection of AI and critical thinking.
Interview
What’s your current role?
I’m a biotech student and have recently joined a research group working on a confidential project. My career goal is to be a researcher, so this is a chance to learn how it’s done: the workflow, how researches discuss results, approaches they take to keep the project moving.
How long have you been doing this?
It’s my third year [of four].
You’re in a special program in your major, right? What does that entail?
It’s called an ARA Group. Participants are selected based on grades and English [language] level, as the classes are mostly in English. There is a greater focus on research and entrepreneurship. The idea is to have the most qualified students working together, and working with the best professors and experts.
What role does writing play in your field of study?
Lately, we’ve been asked to write debates on topics that are controversial in biotechnology right now. We also give presentations in class, seminars basically; you have to teach parts of the class to your peers. We also write reports that are [journal] article-like, with abstract, introduction, methodology, results, etc.
How did you learn to write for the academic discipline?
They didn’t really teach us about writing. We read so many papers to prepare for seminars, debates and so forth — I think they thought they could skip teaching us to write because we would absorb it through reading.
Writing is so important in research, it’s a fail not to teach it.
What resources have aided your writing?
The IB helped a lot. In high school, we had specific lessons in how to cite things, how to write an extended essay.
When a student has come from the IB, the difference is impressive. They come in to university knowing how to write; other students struggle in the first year.
How important are writing-based skills like research, organization, etc?
When you write, you learn to connect concepts from different areas, which is essential.
In research, you have to learn how to connect things that are apparently not connected at all.
When you’re in a research team and you have to find solutions, writing skills are invaluable. If you learn argumentation, you can work through the options available in your projects. Organization is also critical to all areas of research.
What role does AI have in your field?
We had a task, a debate, and were told to use AI to get ideas, to synthesise them then apply critical thinking. I’m learning to use it to develop my own ideas and arguments.
It is a tool to get as much information as possible then use it to improve your research.
For example, in our research group, if we got unexpected results, I could ask AI why might we have gotten those results, then use critical thinking to identify and correct the problem with the experimental procedure.
How important are writing skills to success in your field?
A teacher told me, after reading my answers to an exam, that they knew I would be a good biotechnologist.
What areas of writing would you like to improve in?
I’d like to develop my technical vocabulary and be able to synthesize things more. As a Spanish speaker, we tend to write and talk in long sentences, which can be confusing, especially in science.
I would also love to expand my creative writing, but that’s more of a hobby. I love reading, love modern poetry like Rupi Kaur, love novels. I swallow books.
Just for fun questions
A favourite book?
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry — it’s a book my mom used to read to me. It evolves as you grow; it evolves each time you read it. You get new perspectives and new conclusions. That’s beautiful about a book.
A biotech publication?
We use [science journal aggregator] PubMed a lot.
An inspiring blog/podcast/YouTube channel?
Ted Talks on anything from endocrinology to creative thinking.
An area you’d like to learn more about?
Everything.
I mean it. I’m fascinated by the world, life.