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She’s taken many walks in Kakaʻako, multiple times a day for the past five years while diligently working on her doctoral degree at the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine. Originally from Indonesia, Dr. Lovina Abdi, PhD, took us along for a walk around the place she’s called home, here in Hawaiʻi. Every step, filled with nostalgia.
Less than ten minutes away from the UH Kakaʻako campus, we were at SALT, a dining and shopping center in the heart of the neighborhood and a popular gathering hub for the JABSOM community. She looks around and points to a place she and her supervisor spent long nights going over her dissertation for the umpteenth time. Her eyes grow wide looking over at one of her go-to lunch spots. Then, her lips curl downward as she sadly remembers that one of her favorite cafes to order her morning cup of coffee or matcha will shutter this summer.
Walking back to the JABSOM Biosciences Building, we found ourselves looking at her cozy cubicle and personal study space, which, she notes, was conveniently located just a few steps away from her Developmental and Reproductive Biology supervisors.
“Everyone has been so supportive and caring and they really helped me throughout my whole PhD career so I will forever cherish my time at JABSOM,” Abdi says. In addition to the many hours spent focusing on her research, she put in just as many hours pouring herself into the local community.
Getting down to the science
Her research focuses on understanding why some people tend to age better than others, especially when it comes to heart disease and other aging-related health conditions.
“I study a longevity-related gene called FOXO3, which has been associated with living longer and staying healthier later in life. Specifically, I look at how this gene may help protect the body from stress, inflammation and cellular aging,” says Abdi.
She wants to better understand the biological mechanisms behind healthy aging and resilience and how that knowledge can help improve a person’s health span.
“Ultimately, the goal is not just helping people live longer, but helping them stay healthier, more independent and maintain a better quality of life as they age,” says Abdi.
In fact, her fascination with the intersection of aging, disease prevention and regenerative medicine is what brought her to JABSOM after completing her Master’s degree in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Southern California several years ago.
“Hawaiʻi provides a unique environment for studying longevity and healthy aging, especially through long-running population studies that have contributed significantly to the field,” Abdi says. She adds, “I felt that JABSOM offered a supportive and interdisciplinary environment where I could grow both scientifically and personally while pursuing research that has real translational potential.”
Abdi expresses her gratitude to have found mentorship not just once, but twice– in Drs. Richard Allsopp and Bradley Willcox. Allsopp encouraged her to think critically, ask bigger scientific questions and develop independence in research. Even in his retirement, she says that in the weeks leading up to her dissertation, they met on Zoom almost every day!
Dr. Bradley Willcox provided a valuable perspective on translational aging research and the broader impact that the work can have on public health and longevity science. “Together, they created a supportive environment that challenged me to grow scientifically while also encouraging curiosity, collaboration, and resilience throughout graduate school,” Abdi says.
Being Real: No Instagram vs. Reality
With 11.7K followers online (IG: @lovina_28), she hasn’t shied away from sharing her day to day, producing several “Day in the life of a PhD student and content creator” videos in hopes to motivate others to follow their ambitions. She’s also shared snippets of her personal wellness habits to prepare for a conference, and a peek into her personal work-life rhythm to show that it’s possible to work and have fun while doing it!
“I think when people hear ‘PhD,' it sounds like this huge impossible thing, and of course it is challenging, but you really do figure it out one step at a time. Nobody starts grad school knowing everything or feeling fully prepared,” says Abdi. “I think the biggest thing is being curious and staying persistent. If you genuinely care about the questions you’re asking, that passion carries you through the difficult moments. And honestly, having supportive mentors, friends, and hobbies outside of research makes such a big difference too.”
For those hesitating to pursue their PhD, Abdi says, “I’d honestly tell them not to let the idea of a PhD scare them too much. At the end of the day, I’d say don’t count yourself out before you even try. You’re probably more capable than you think."
What’s next for her after JABSOM? She is en route to Boston, Massachusetts with her dog, Lucky, to pursue her postdoctoral research. Although, she hopes her travels will one day lead her back to Hawaiʻi and back to walks with her dog in Kakaʻako.