Get to Know NICHD: Text Alternative

Todd Macfarlan, Ph.D.

Quote from Todd Macfarlan, Ph.D., Head of the Section on Mammalian Development and Evolution: “If you mentor people successfully, you multiply your impact. I think that science is best approached collaboratively, not competitively.”

As a child, Dr. Todd Macfarlan loved reading books about evolution and learning how distinct but related species like humans and chimpanzees evolved from a common ancestor. He also has a unique interest in development that stemmed from being an identical twin, fascinated by the fact that he shared a complete genome with his brother while also living separate lives and having diverse interests.

Learn more about Dr. Macfarlan.

Juan S. Bonifacino, Ph.D.

Quote from Juan S. Bonifacino, Ph.D., NIH Distinguished Investigator and Head of the Section on Intracellular Protein Trafficking: “When weighing opportunities, my primary consideration was not where I would have greater prominence or a higher salary, but where I would be happier. The answer has always been NIH.”

Dr. Juan S. Bonifacino’s interest in science started early in his childhood and led him from his home country of Argentina to NIH, where he has been since 1982. He credits NIH leadership’s recognition of the importance of diversity and NICHD’s mission of helping marginalized groups, such as people with disabilities, as major factors that drew him to the institute and contribute to his reasons for staying.

Learn more about Dr. Bonifacino.

Toyin Ajisafe, Ph.D.

Quote from Toyin Ajisafe, Ph.D., Health Scientist Administrator for the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research: “How am I helping? How am I contributing? How am I being useful to my community? Those questions drive my direction. I always advise students to look around and make connections—don’t just stay in the lab. Always have multiple irons in the fire.”

Dr. Toyin Ajisafe was always interested in the human body and health, even asking his father for a four-volume set of medical encyclopedias when he was a teenager. His research journey led him from Nigeria to the United States and through studies and work in physical therapy, kinesiology, and biomechanics.

Learn more about Dr. Ajisafe.

Leah Rosin, Ph.D.

Quote from Leah Rosin, Ph.D., Earl Stadtman Investigator and Head of the Unit on Chromosome Dynamics: "I came across my current research serendipitously. While using fluorescence microscopy to validate findings, I saw beautiful and strange things under the microscope during meiosis. I’ve been hooked ever since!"

Dr. Leah Rosin attributes an enthusiastic high school biology teacher for first inspiring her interest in science and genetics. She also praises how choosing the right doctoral mentor can provide the training and support needed to learn the skills for advancing or maybe even switching fields after graduate school.

Learn more about Dr. Rosin.

Virginia Salo, Ph.D.

Quote from Virginia Salo, Ph.D., program officer with the Child Development and Behavior Branch: 'Be honest with yourself about what your priorities are—not what others tell you should be your priorities. Getting to a place where you can be truthful with yourself will help when you have to make hard decisions.'

Dr. Virginia Salo knew the moment she began collecting information for her master’s program in experimental psychology that she enjoyed data analysis. A change in advisors during her Ph.D. studies aligned with her own shifting research interests and led to her focus on preverbal development in infancy and the internal and external factors that create the foundation for successful communication and language development.

Learn more about Dr. Salo.

Stephen Gilman, Sc.D.

Quote from Stephen Gilman, Sc.D., chief of the NICHD Social and Behavioral Sciences Branch, Division of Population Health Research: “Never lose sight of your sense of purpose--what brought you into this career. That will keep you motivated. If the discoveries you are striving for were easy to uncover, they would have already been discovered.”

Dr. Stephen Gilman started his professional career in documentary photography. His first post-photography job, as a research assistant, led him to discover his interest in science as well as his first two mentors.

Learn more about Dr. Gilman.

Nancy Zhou, Ph.D.

Quote from Nancy Zhou, Ph.D., chief of the NICHD Referral and Program Analysis Branch: “I appreciate the opportunity to empower our institute to make informed decisions based on data. My responsibility to modernize, streamline, and enhance scientific coding and analysis will ultimately have a profound impact on our institute.”

Dr. Nancy Zhou finds great value in mentorship, whether as the mentor or mentee. She attributes much of her success to mentors who guided her through various career milestones and is determined to share that same support with others, particularly with women in the fields of science and technology.

Learn more about Dr. Zhou.

David Weinberg, Ph.D.

Quote from David Weinberg, Ph.D., lead on the NICHD Human Placenta Project and program officer with the Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch: “There is a whole world of interesting questions out there, and opportunities to do meaningful work wait around every corner. Approach the world with a sense of curiosity and be open to new ideas and directions.”

In every work position Dr. David Weinberg has held, he tries to bring enthusiasm, an open mind, and a willingness to carry his share of the workload. He also always seeks mentorship from persons above, equal to, and below him in the organization, as each person’s experience with him is slightly different, and all have lessons to teach him.

Learn more about Dr. Weinberg.

Mark Stopfer, Ph.D.

Quote from Mark Stopfer, Ph.D., head of the Section on Sensory Coding and Neural Ensembles: “NIH's high-risk, high-reward approach appealed to me. I don't like to nibble around the edges of scientific problems. NICHD offered the opportunity to tackle difficult and interesting questions in ways that are hard to accomplish elsewhere.”

A childhood fascination with understanding how things worked was the spark that ignited Dr. Mark Stopfer’s interest in studying the brain and how it processes information.

Learn more about Dr. Stopfer.

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