MD/PhD candidate 

I worked in Dr. Dawn Davis’ lab as a part of the Cellular and Molecular Biology program. Our lab works to better understand islet biology to inform new target treatments for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. My thesis project focused on better understanding the role of pancreatic intra-islet paracrine signaling in the control of insulin secretion and beta cell mass preservation. I specifically focused on the role of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor signaling in the beta cell. Our goal was to better understand how GLP-1 may influence beta cell survival.  

What is your education/career background? 

I attended the University of Iowa and majored in biomedical engineering for my undergraduate studies. As an undergraduate engineering student, I was immersed in an educational program that sought real-world application of principles taught in class and in translational research that focused on patient and user interfaces. Very early on, the idea that I could participate in research to further advance medicine intrigued me and I found mentorship under Dr. Renata Pereira in Dr. Dale Abel’s laboratory to begin my research career. Beyond gaining the skills necessary to maintain mouse colonies, perform basic metabolic phenotyping, and learning how to answer mechanistic questions using cell culture models, it was in this environment that I discovered an interest in metabolism and physiology. While at Iowa, I was also a part of the Iowa Sciences Academy (formally Iowa Biosciences Academy- IBA). This program aimed to increase the number of historically underrepresented individuals achieve STEM PhDs and M/D PhDs. I was able to gain significant insight into post-graduate training and careers through this program as well as learn applicable skills for success in graduate school. The Iowa Center for Research by Undergraduates (ICRU) in the Office of Undergraduate Research provided leadership and funding opportunities that allowed me to conduct research at Iowa during my summer breaks. In August of 2018, I matriculated into the UW Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP).  I recently completed my graduate students in the Cellular and Molecular Biology training program in Dr. Dawn Davis’ lab and have returned to UWSMPH medical school to complete my MD.  

LINK: https://isa.uiowa.edu/   

LINK: https://our.research.uiowa.edu/  

How have you navigated a career in STEM as a woman/underrepresented minority? 

Navigating a career in STEM is challenging. I have gotten to where I am in my training in large part by finding great mentors along the way. But in all honesty, I always internally groaned when people gave me the advice of finding a mentor. So, see my advice below.  

What advice do you have for women/underrepresented groups pursuing an education/career in STEM? 

  1. Finding your one perfect mentor is not a goal I would have. Your career will be different than every other person you meet because you are not them and that is wonderful. I have found immense success by having lots of mentors, in all capacities. Some I meet weekly, some I email once a year, some I only see at that ‘one’ conference every so often. All those are valuable mentoring relationships. I have also found help along my path by asking tons of people who were not mentors in the traditional way a couple of questions- What do you do? What do you like about what you do? What could you change about what you do? How did you get here? In doing so, I learned about how people got to their position, but I also keyed in on what motivated them. So, my general advice for mentorship is find people doing cool things or that look happy, get to know them, and if you see yourself wanting to explore a career more like theirs ask them what their advice is. With any luck, you will have found a mentor! 
  1. Try out that new experience. Don’t shy away from an opportunity that seems difficult. Just keep sending out those applications or emails to professors. The absolute worst outcome is a ‘no’ and that is the same outcome if you didn’t try.  
  1. STEM careers are a balancing game. So, while I encourage you to go out and send out that new application, I also encourage you to take time now to reflect on things that matter most to you and ‘fill your cup’. Make time for those, schedule them in if you need to.  

What do you enjoy most about your career/current role? 

My favorite part about a career in STEM is that you are always learning. How cool is it that we know so much and yet there are endless things left to learn. Doing that learning alongside other people who are just as curious and want to apply learning to helping others; I really cannot think of a better way to spend my days. 

What is your favorite way to unwind? 

Taking my dog out to the park or on a walk has become one of my favorite ways to unwind. I can either use that time to reflect on how I am feeling or to just appreciate how insanely fast my dog can run when he sees another dog at the dog park.