You belong here.

To be our best selves, we need to be our whole selves. In the lab, I want you to thrive by thinking creatively, embracing challenges, and bringing your unique perspective and experience in solving problems. Achieving this requires a workplace where you have meaningful social connections, find the science exciting and engaging, and know that your opinions and contributions are valued. I am committed to fostering a lab environment where you feel safe and encouraged to be your authentic self.

Throughout my career, I have found that my ability to bounce back from rejections or experimental disappointments with the renewed motivation to try again (or “rinse and repeat” as one of my former mentors liked to refer to it) was greatly increased when I was intentionally prioritizing the things that make me whole. I love playing tennis, spending time with my wife and kids, and catching up with friends. I hope you invest time in building your own community, and never neglect your passions outside the lab.

I once had a great bench mentor, who after a hard day of failed experiments, refused to leave the lab without first doing something productive. Maybe they would pour agar plates, or aliquot a needed reagent. It made them feel better knowing that their day had not been a complete loss. We all have different ways to cope with hardship. And trust me, science will challenge you. My hope is that you will find many buckets from which to fill your lives outside of lab with joy and purpose, so that when experiments prove to be difficult, it will be a little easier to “rinse and repeat” and overcome these roadblocks. 

Together, we can create a supportive team where everyone is empowered to be their whole self, ultimately benefiting both our personal well-being and our collective success in the lab.