How did you become interested in science and research?
My father was a pediatrician, and my mother a director of nursing at a hospital, so I come from a science- and medicine-focused family. When I was very young, my father gave me the book "Microbe Hunters" to read, and I was hooked. I was drawn to the wonder of science more than the process. For example, I would search the fields and ponds near our house for lizards, snakes, and black widow spiders. "Jacques Cousteau" was my favorite television show.
My parents wanted me to be a physician like my father and his father, so I was always pushed toward science and math. But when I discovered that the sight of blood or people in pain made me feel faint, I decided that I needed a different path and turned to research. With age and maturity, I sought to help people. I spent many years in the pharmaceutical industry, hoping to develop the next great drug for humankind. I was not successful in that endeavor, but eventually, I found my way to NIH and here I truly feel I have made a difference.
What brought you to NICHD?
When I came to NIH, I joined the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) as a scientific review officer (SRO), assigned to manage panels responsible for reviewing grants relevant to the NICHD mission, especially pregnancy and maternal health. NICHD’s mission resonated with me the most of any of the NIH institutes. I knew that I ultimately wanted to move to NICHD, so when the opportunity came to manage NICHD review panels, I grabbed it. I was able to prove my value to the institute while simultaneously building relationships with the extramural division and leadership.
What types of training, experiences, or traits are essential for success in your position?
The lesson I have learned in every position, from before arriving at NIH until now, is that a good attitude, willingness to listen to advice, and willingness to do the necessary work are the most important traits that predict success. Attitude impacts the desire of colleagues to work with me. Mentorship provides the practical roadmap to my goals. Willingness to do the necessary work shows that I back up talk with action.
My selection to lead the Human Placenta Project came in part from training in translational research back before NIH, but I could have gained this experience by working with an experienced program officer inside or outside of NICHD. I had been an SRO and that gave me insights into grant review and honed my project/time management skills. I had managed several reviews in the pregnancy and women’s reproductive health space and that gave me perspective into what aspects of pregnancy were most in need of research support. Mentors told me of committees that would give me broad NIH perspective or provide opportunities to demonstrate my leadership skills. Each person will have a slightly different end goal. A good attitude, mentorship, and a determined work ethic will help achieve it.
What do you find most valuable about working at NICHD?
The words from the NICHD 2019 vision statement, “Healthy pregnancies. Healthy children. Healthy and optimal lives,” reflect the focus of everyone who is drawn to work at NICHD. There is tremendous value and satisfaction in knowing that all your colleagues share in the same collective vision and are open to hearing your ideas and to assisting you in thinking through innovative paths to advancing your ideas. It also means that they have historical knowledge and can help keep you from embarking on a path that is unlikely to be successful.
Can you explain your job to people who are not familiar with scientific positions outside of a laboratory or clinical setting?
My job as a program officer and project lead is to support research that increases our understanding of pregnancy and improves our ability to assess it safely and non-invasively, from early on through birth, and thus give a pregnant person a chance for the best possible outcome, or when heartache occurs, a chance to understand why. My area of focus is the placenta, which is critically important for fetal growth and development. I survey the literature, maintain relationships with key researchers, develop supportive funding opportunities to fill knowledge and technology gaps, and provide input into grant funding decisions where appropriate.
If you have advanced along your career within the institute, can you summarize your career steps and how you successfully navigated these changes?
In every position I’ve held, I try to bring enthusiasm, an open mind, and a willingness to carry my share of the workload. I like to think it has made me a person that people enjoy having on their team, and it has smoothed the path to opportunities I have sought. Long ago, I was advised that opportunities are not often handed out but must be asked for. I have not been shy about raising my hand. I have also always sought out mentorship from persons above, equal to, and below me in the organization. Each of them experiences me in a slightly different way, and all have lessons to teach me.
What advice can you offer to people who are at an earlier stage of their career?
There is a whole world of interesting questions out there, and opportunities to do meaningful work wait around every corner. What you feel passion for now is not necessarily what you will be passionate about in the future. Approach the world with a sense of curiosity and be open to new ideas and directions.
Along the way, have conversations with people more senior in their careers. Share your ideas and ask for their feedback. Remember that sometimes, the best advice is to not do something. Ask them to share their stories, and you will find that almost all will have made unexpected changes in direction. Remember to thank them for their mentoring, and always be mindful to thank everyone who is helpful to you, regardless of their position in the organization, so they know they were appreciated. People don’t always remember specific events, but they always remember how they were made to feel. Finally, be willing to forgive yourself for any missteps. You get to write the ending to your story.
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