Lab philosophy - Love your life and your science
We strive to create an environment of inclusion within the lab where researchers from diverse backgrounds can thrive. I feel that a key to success in science is productive mentoring and support at all career stages.
No one should be discouraged from a career in science due to concerns about managing work/life balance or from feeling that they don't belong. I feel very fortunate in my journey in science, but my experience includes a number of hurdles that I now try to use to make myself a more thoughtful and empathetic mentor. As a first generation college student, I struggled to see a place for myself in academia and science for a long time. I was lucky to have access to undergraduate research experiences that helped me find a path forward and now strive to provide such experiences to diverse students. Furthermore, as a woman who had children somewhat early on in my career, I found that mentorship, community, and support was extremely important to me in my career. I now try to pay that mentorship forward to aspiring researchers.
We strive to create an environment of inclusion within the lab where researchers from diverse backgrounds can thrive. I feel that a key to success in science is productive mentoring and support at all career stages.
No one should be discouraged from a career in science due to concerns about managing work/life balance or from feeling that they don't belong. I feel very fortunate in my journey in science, but my experience includes a number of hurdles that I now try to use to make myself a more thoughtful and empathetic mentor. As a first generation college student, I struggled to see a place for myself in academia and science for a long time. I was lucky to have access to undergraduate research experiences that helped me find a path forward and now strive to provide such experiences to diverse students. Furthermore, as a woman who had children somewhat early on in my career, I found that mentorship, community, and support was extremely important to me in my career. I now try to pay that mentorship forward to aspiring researchers.
Lab action - Outreach and mentoring
I coordinate in multiple mentoring programs that aim to provide research opportunities, professional development and advising to diverse students interested in host-microbe interactions. These include:
The CIHMID URE program for Cornell undergraduates
The Microbial Friends and Foes REU program
Members of the lab are also encouraged to engage in outreach, which we mainly do through existing programs such as Skype and Scientist, GRASSHOPR, and Expanding Your Horizons.
I coordinate in multiple mentoring programs that aim to provide research opportunities, professional development and advising to diverse students interested in host-microbe interactions. These include:
The CIHMID URE program for Cornell undergraduates
The Microbial Friends and Foes REU program
Members of the lab are also encouraged to engage in outreach, which we mainly do through existing programs such as Skype and Scientist, GRASSHOPR, and Expanding Your Horizons.
Resources - Diversity and inclusion in STEM
Diversify Microbiology - Information on diverse researchers in microbiology
Diversify EEB - Information on diverse researchers in ecology and evolution
500 Women Scientists - Advocacy and contact information for women in STEM
Diversify Microbiology - Information on diverse researchers in microbiology
Diversify EEB - Information on diverse researchers in ecology and evolution
500 Women Scientists - Advocacy and contact information for women in STEM