S’s Story
Tell us about yourself and your science.
“When I was in college, my best friend was diagnosed with cancer. I spent a lot of time with her in the hospital, caring for her and studying for exams in my biology and math majors. I had chosen those topics because I found them interesting, but during the time in the hospital with my friend, I realized I could use my knowledge to create treatments to help people like her. Today, I study DNA. Our strands of DNA get broken all the time. Luckily the broken ends are usually attached back together in the right spot, but sometimes they're attached to the wrong spot. This rearranges the whole genome - sort of like those choose-your-own-adventure books. These rearrangements can cause problems like infertility and cancer. I study why broken DNA ends are sometimes attached to the wrong spots, and how those rearrangements cause health problems.”
Personal Impacts.
“The moment I found out that my K99 was going to be funded, I sat down on the floor and was in absolute shock for a while. I never believed that I would be able to successfully compete for such a prestigious and life-changing award! Over the next few months I let myself envision my future as professor for the first time. I had avoided this during the previous decade of training as a method of coping with the extreme selectivity of this career path. The moment I found out that my K99 was going to be canceled, I sat down on the floor and was in absolute shock for a while. The future I had finally envisioned and finally seemed truly within reach was whisked away. Realistically, many institutions prefer faculty applicants who have a K99. And having the R00 funding on top of start-up funds makes the initial years of running a lab much easier. Without the K99, I again doubt that I will ever have my own lab. In the time between being notified of receiving my award and being notified of losing my award, I aged out of eligibility for many other funding opportunities. I also had my second child, but had to return early from parental leave to apply for the few funding opportunities available to me. I was fortunate to receive one of those awards, on the condition that I do not have a K99. However, I have learned that some MOSAIC scholars are getting their K99s reinstated, so I am afraid to spend my new funding. And if I do get my K99 back, I fear it will be taken away again, so it will be difficult to make any scientific progress in either case. Every day I am lost, navigating uncharted waters and drowning in analyses, paper writing, childcare, and eldercare with no land in sight.”
Your coping strategies.
“My children bring me joy. But also fear that I will need to become a stay-at-home parent. I remember all the difficult things I have achieved in the past, including receiving my K99. If I did that, I can do this too.”
Image source: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/dna-biology-science-genetics-8895881/