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SCIENTIST & STEMINIST
I'm a Postdoctoral Fellow in the lab of Dr. Erin Schuman at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. I received my Ph.D. in Pharmacology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus under the guidance of Dr. Matt Kennedy. The overall goal of my work is to understand how the correct proteins are delivered at the right time and in the appropriate amounts to remote sites in neuronal dendrites. I’m particularly interested in the activity-dependent mechanisms that influence how newly-made proteins reach their final destinations at or near the synaptic membrane, in hopes of better understanding the neurobiological processes underlying central cognitive functions such as learning and memory.
mentoring philosophy
My approach to mentoring has been sculpted by my experiences as a mentee & mentor, and it will continuously change shape as I navigate more diverse mentor-mentee relationships. In general, I take a holistic approach that is customized to the needs of the mentee – engaging in what I call “personalized mentoring” – in order to optimize the professional yet personal relationship for mutual success. Not only do I take into consideration the mentee’s learning preferences, strengths, weaknesses, and career goals, but also their background (racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, etc.) and past life experiences. I acknowledge and strive to accommodate diverse personalities by consciously identifying what motivates each student and then tailoring my mentoring style accordingly. I believe effective mentoring is built upon a foundation of trust, mutual respect, honesty, openness, willingness, accountability, empathy, and compassion. As a mentor, I will create an interactive and safe research environment in which mentees feel it is acceptable to fail and learn from their mistakes. I will cultivate an atmosphere that honors open and direct communication, encourages growth through challenges, and promotes learning through inquiry. My primary objective as a mentor is to help my mentees recognize and reach their full potential so that they may fulfill their professional goals.
CU Anschutz women in stem
Being involved in WiSTEM facilitates my goal of becoming a stronger advocate for the advancement of diversity in STEM fields. The motivation for starting the WiSTEM group originated from discussions with college friends and realizing the gender disparity in our experiences with career support from advisors. To put it simply, I started the WiSTEM group at CU Anschutz because I want to see more women being supported and succeeding in STEM.