Curiosity and the Power of Articulation: An Interview with Dr. Rudy Leibel
“ Let your curiosity guide you.“ – Dr. Rudolph Leibel
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Today, we’re thrilled to share an inspiring conversation with Dr. Rudolph (Rudy) Leibel, a pioneer in medical research best known for co-discovering leptin, the hormone that regulates appetite and metabolism. His groundbreaking work has transformed our understanding of obesity and diabetes. After more than 50 years as a physician and scientist, he continues to push the boundaries of science as a Professor at Columbia University Medical Center.
Dr. Leibel’s Career Path: Curiosity Leads the Way
As we prepare for college, we often wonder how our choices will shape our futures. Dr. Leibel’s journey was anything but linear:
📌 Started in chemistry in college but switched to English, fascinated by Freudian psychiatry.
📌 Entered medical school planning to be a psychiatrist but shifted to pediatrics, fascinated by genetics.
📌 Drafted as a military doctor during the Vietnam War, later leading public health programs in Cambridge, MA.
📌 A turning point: A mother’s frustration over her child’s untreatable illness pushed him into medical research.
📌 Left public health to pursue genetics research, leading to groundbreaking discoveries at Rockefeller University.
📌 Now at Columbia University, where he continues to lead diabetes research.
Key Takeaways from Our Conversation
Here are the top three lessons we learned from Dr. Leibel:
1️⃣ Follow Your Curiosity When Choosing a Major and Career Path
🔹 Curiosity is your best guide. Pursue what excites you, even if others doubt you. If no one pushes back, you might not be aiming high enough.
🔹 Be persistent. When Dr. Leibel set out to clone the OB gene, experts told him it was impossible. NIH rejected his grant application twice. But he seized an unexpected opportunity—convincing an NIH official on a conference bus ride—and secured funding that led to a groundbreaking discovery. (I’ll share the details below! )
🔹 Choose a path with flexibility. Interests evolve, so pick a field that allows room for growth. A rigid career path can limit future opportunities.
To illustrate, Dr. Leibel shared the fascinating backstory of his most famous discovery—leptin.
~ Behind the Leptin Discovery ~
When Dr. Leibel first set out to clone the OB gene, which produces leptin, experts dismissed the project as too risky. NIH rejected his funding request twice, calling the research insignificant because it was based on mice.
Just when he faced a third rejection, fate intervened.
While on a conference bus, he noticed a high-ranking NIH scientist sitting nearby. Recognizing the name on his badge, Dr. Leibel took a chance and made his case: this research could open a new frontier in understanding body weight regulation.
Days later, that scientist used his personal funding authority to approve a two-year grant. That funding was enough to generate data, secure additional NIH grants, and ultimately make a discovery that revolutionized obesity and metabolic research.
2️⃣ The Real Purpose of College: Learning How to Think
Many students (including us) worry about picking the “right” major. Dr. Leibel reassured us:
💡 College isn’t about choosing a fixed path—it’s about developing the mindset and tools to explore new directions.
Dr. Leibel said that studying a specific major in college gives us “a platform” —a way of seeing the world through a particular lens. The knowledge and skills we gain will help us learn new things throughout our lives.
He emphasized the importance of continuous learning and has taught himself numerous skills throughout his career, including:
✅ Mouse genetics
✅ UNIX programming
✅ Stem cell biology
✅ Statistics
💡 Self-teaching is essential for advancing your career—and it’s enjoyable!
3️⃣ The Power of Articulation—Both in Verbal and Written Communication
Dr. Leibel particularly stressed that the ability to articulate ideas clearly is crucial, ensuring that even those unfamiliar with the subject can grasp the concepts.
💡 If you can’t articulate your ideas clearly, you might not fully understand them yourself.
Strong communication skills open doors to unexpected opportunities—like how Dr. Leibel secured research funding on a bus ride!
The Future of Medicine with AI
Since we’re fascinated by AI’s role in science, we asked Dr. Leibel about its impact. His insights were eye-opening:
🔹 AI is revolutionizing genetic predictions and protein structure analysis.
🔹 Newborn DNA sequencing has begun in New York and may expand nationwide.
🔹 The sheer volume of medical data is now beyond human capacity—AI is critical for analysis.
Dr. Leibel predicts that doctors may reference a patient’s genetic data even during annual checkups—and this will likely become a reality sooner than we expect.
A Final Message to Young Students
Dr. Leibel emphasized two essential qualities for young scientists:
🌟 Curiosity fuels discovery. Keep asking questions and exploring new ideas.
✍️ The ability to articulate your thoughts allows you to share your ideas effectively.
💡 If you can’t explain your thoughts in a clear, coherent way, you won’t be able to share your ideas with anyone.
Final Thoughts
Thank you for reading to the end! I know this was a lengthy post, but there was so much wisdom I wanted to share. Dr. Leibel’s story about overcoming resistance in the early days of leptin research is truly inspiring. Isn’t it cool?
After talking to Dr. Leibel, I now see college differently. It’s not just a step toward a job—it’s a place to cultivate critical thinking and adaptability. And when challenging the status quo, expect resistance—but don’t give up easily.
Through my interviews, one thing has become clear: those who persist through resistance make the greatest discoveries.
So, to all our readers—stay curious, take risks, and follow what truly excites you.
Most STEM professionals we’ve interviewed didn’t end up in the exact field they studied in college. How do you know when it’s time to pivot?
Trust your instincts—they’ll help you navigate the unknown.
Coming Up Next…
Thanks for reading! Our next blog features our interview with Dr. Samantha Morris from Harvard Medical School, an expert in developmental biology.
Until next time! 🚀
Craig
