The Reasons Why Syphilis, STIs, and STD Are at the Top of Our “Professional Favorites” List; Dual Perspectives From Early Career and Established Investigators

GRATITUDE FOR A CAREER FOCUSED ON RESEARCHING SYPHILIS Caroline E. Cameron: Since the start of postdoctoral training, my research career has focused on deciphering the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of the causative agent of syphilis, Treponema pallidum. The goal over the years for my trainees and me has been to use these findings to enhance understanding of T. pallidum biology and facilitate the identification of syphilis vaccine targets and diagnostic biomarkers. Entry to this field was by happenstance; originally slated to do a fellowship in neglected tropical diseases, shifting research priorities in my chosen postdoctoral laboratory transitioned my research to T. pallidum investigations, with the addition of Dr. Sheila Lukehart as a co-mentor. This fortuitous situation created the most amazing opportunity imaginable; research on a challenging bacterium with endless pathogenic secrets, outstanding mentorship from a world leader in the syphilis field who was generous with both knowledge and time, and a career that offers a lifetime of learning and where I am surrounded by outstanding trainees with a shared interest and passion for this enigmatic disease. As I reflect on my past career experiences and those yet to come, I am grateful my professional path led to syphilis. Mara C. Goodyear: I joined the world of STI research relatively recently for my postdoctoral training and can attest that the syphilis field is an exciting place for an early career researcher. As someone who was trained as a microbiologist, T. pallidum is a fascinating pathogen to study—from its unusual morphology to its interactions with the host. When I started my postdoc, it seemed that every new thing I learned about T. pallidum was completely different from the bacteria I have previously worked with, providing unique challenges and opportunities. As I've continued to be immersed in the STI pathogen literature, I've been reminded of the Introduction to Microbiology course where I first learned about the incredible variety of microbes and their mechanisms of survival and pathogenesis. I am grateful to be working in a laboratory and conducting discovery research that aims to improve public health. Since beginning my postdoc, I have had family members and friends send me news headlines from their communities about increasing cases of infectious or congenital syphilis, and this renews my motivation to continue working in the field. WHY THE FIELD OF STI RESEARCH IS AN EXCEPTIONAL CAREER CHOICE CEC: The STI field is a welcoming, interdisciplinary community focused upon generating meaningful solutions to global sexual and reproductive health and rights issues that, to varying degrees, affect every individual on the planet. A primary focus for the field is mentoring and fostering early career researchers, especially early career researchers from resource-limited settings. Conference-focused scholarships are available for early career investigators, with the majority of the funds designated for individuals from institutions in low- and middle-income countries, and career development workshops are offered at STI-focused conferences, including the joint World Congress hosted biannually by the International Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Research (ISSTDR) and the International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUSTI). The community is replete with dedicated investigators that are passionate about STI research, and the intimate link of the subject area with public health provides researchers a window into governance processes occurring at oversight organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and World Health Organization. Further, as STIs present medical, behavioral, social, economic, and political challenges, addressing these infections requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses the entire STI prevention continuum. As a result, trainees gain exposure to a range of STI prevention approaches including public health campaigns, biomedical strategies, and community advocacy measures. This need for a collective community response provides a unique training experience that imparts trainees with a holistic understanding of these complex infections and strategies for their control. MCG: In my short time in the field, I have already had endless learning opportunities and have felt supported by mentors, colleagues, and collaborators. At conferences I have attended, I have learned from interdisciplinary researchers, community advocates, and people with lived experiences, and have benefited from sessions for early career researchers. Ideas and discussions from these meetings have shaped my own projects. The opportunity to collaborate with clinicians has provided me with insight into the clinical and public health aspects of syphilis and has allowed me to expand my skillset (e.g., by writing clinical research protocols). The importance of communication to science and public health is widely understood in the STI field. I have found a variety of learning materials and opportunities available to facilitate my transition to the field, including collections of online resources from STI organizations and virtual seminar series. A key aspect of the research career I envision is collaboration, a value which is strongly reflected in the STI field, making it an excellent environment to build a career contributing to improving health equity. PRAISE FOR STD CEC: With the rapidly expanding number of journals available for publishing primary research, opinions, and commentaries, STD remains my favorite journal from the viewpoint of a reader, author, and advocate for fostering the next generation of scientists. Treatment and control of STIs requires the combined efforts of medical practitioners, clinical and laboratory researchers, policy makers, and funders. All partners regularly contribute to STD to report the latest advancements in the field. As a laboratory scientist, having access to descriptions of clinical findings in a journal dedicated to sexually transmitted infections/diseases provides invaluable insight into clinical disease symptoms that informs molecular studies on the causative pathogens. Further, STD is a welcome island in a sea of predatory journals with unethical review practices, and legitimate journals with complex submission pipelines and excessive review times. The journal is managed by active and engaged leaders from the field, ensuring high publishing standards and topical and relevant content. The submission platform is user-friendly, and the journal offers a fast turnaround time from submission to publication. Finally, the emphasis STD places upon highlighting and supporting early career investigators and fostering diversity and inclusion provides career development opportunities for the next generation of scientists and ensures the best science is disseminated to the field. MCG: Starting a new research project or joining a new field requires extensive reading, and STD has been a valuable resource for me in this process. STD has allowed me to learn from the perspectives and opinions of others working in the field, get up to date with current challenges and innovative solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of STIs, and gain an understanding of the varied approaches applied in STI research. Working in a laboratory where a major focus is vaccine development, I have found articles in STD about vaccine acceptability and implementation particularly informative. It is critical to incorporate this knowledge early into vaccine development, and these articles are important reminders of the social and political contexts in which our research takes place. CONCLUDING REMARKS We are grateful to be a part of this field, to have the chance to research challenging pathogens that necessitate innovative approaches, to work alongside the multitude of talented researchers that are committed to resolving the diseases caused by these pathogens, and to contribute to the field's collective purpose of improving global sexual and reproductive health.

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