What kind of work do you do?
My job title is Senior Research Associate Scientist. I work for a biotech startup company called Arbor Biotechnologies. We’re a gene editing company that focuses on creating genetic medicines to help patients that have rare genetic diseases. So typically these diseases are inherited into the person so we create medicines that would go in and help correct the disease in their bodies in their specific part of the body, and they can be cured of those diseases.
How did you realize that you wanted to go into your field of science?
To be honest, if you told me 10 years ago I would be in this particular field, I probably would look at you crazy. Because, I knew I really loved science. I enjoyed it studying at Boston University and I knew I wanted to be in a field that was going to make an impact for patients. That what I was doing in lab work would make a difference in patients’ lives because at the end of the day these patients, they’re someone’s family. This is someone’s mom, someone’s daughter, someone’s kid. So I wanted to be able to help.
Now before this, I was in the cancer research space and of course cancer is definitely very prevalent in today’s world. But then I was able to get this opportunity working with genetic diseases, rare diseases at that. At first I was like, it’s not what I mentioned, but then once I learned more about it, it actually affects a lot more people than we think. And it’s one of those things where it’s no fault to the person. It’s literally just what they were born with. I realized, this work definitely matters. It definitely makes an impact on people’s lives for sure.
What kind of challenges did you face pursuing a job?
There definitely were some challenges. I think the biggest one was that I was in need of a job and I didn’t have one for a while. It was like okay, these bills still have to get paid. I was grateful that I was still able to maintain my connections at Boston University, like my professors and my mentors. They really helped guide me in the right direction and I think that really helped change the pace for me to be able to get to where I am right now. The connections were great.
What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced in your work being a woman striving to live according to the Bible?
A challenges is [being in an environment where] everyone is trying to do whatever they can to fit in. That could be in the form of gossiping or trying to outdo one another, trying to get ahead.
How would you advise someone to best navigate this type of challenge–your biblical advice?
Something that has really helped me is remembering that I’m here to glorify God. If I want to reach out and really connect and share my faith with them, [being sure that] there is something in my life that will show that I’m truly glorifying God and not myself. That’s something I always have to think about before I’m in the room with a gossiper, or I’m tempted to one up somebody. Will they see Jesus in this moment?
What’s a scripture that would be a great go-to when faced with a challenge like this?
It’s so funny because I actually read it this morning. It’s Psalm 139. I love it because it talks about how before we were even born, God literally planned things out for us. God knew me. I am fully known by God and with that, why should I let someone else tell my story? I have somebody who is much higher than you that knows me so why do I get preoccupied with this. That’s my go-to Psalm now whenever I just need that reminder of who I am before God.
How do you prepare for a workday–your morning routine?
Usually I wake up at 7am and at that time my husband is up too, so I say good morning to him, then start my routine, getting ready, shower, etc. I have a specific skincare routine. I’m very into skincare–it’s really important to me. I do my face wash, then face moisturizer with SPF now that it’s getting hot, and then I use an eye cream just to help wake myself up [aesthetically]. Then once I get ready, I usually ask Alexa, “Hey what’s the weather for today?” It determines my outfit because I work in the lab. Nothing that shows much skin, for my safety.
I eat my routine breakfast my husband makes–a bagel with eggs, turkey bacon, and cottage cheese. I love having a protein-packed breakfast. It makes me feel full, and of course a coffee. We talk about what our days are going to look like.
I get into my quiet time. I’ve been reading my Bible [primarily] along with a book called When People are Big and God is Small. It talks about how to overcome fear of people and how to make God big because he’s bigger than people. Then I pray through my day, I always pray for my husband, I pray for the women that I spiritually mentor, I pray for needs that I know of in the church. Then after that, I pack my lunch for work, say goodbye to my husband, he usually works from home, and drive off to work.
What are you learning in your quiet times lately?
What God is teaching me is that I need to realize how big he is and I need to always draw strength from that. If God can literally create the earth, giving things boundaries, why should we have to worry about the little things. So I’ve really been reflecting so much on the holiness of God–his glory. And allowing that to be my motivation for how I attack the day.
Something I’m realizing is, sometimes I can struggle with allowing other people’s emotions or their actions to basically control me. Let’s say you mentor someone and you know you’re giving them the necessary scriptures to really help them with whatever they’re going through and they don’t do it or they continue to do whatever they were doing. They’re still stuck. In those moments I can get frustrated because, “I’m trying to help you”. Those things would weigh on me heavily in my heart. Because then I’m [thinking], “Am I doing something wrong God? Is there something wrong with me?” And then I’m thinking about the situation the whole day and I’m not happy, and not giving my full heart to other things. It did not have to get to that point. I’m really just focusing on how I can truly meditate on the glory of God, and let that be my strength.
How do you keep from getting swayed or tempted to be career-focused versus God-focused while managing a career?
Once I leave work, work stays at work. I’m not the type of person that’s like, “Oh let me try to [log back on…]” No, I will get back to that tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. I’m making sure I’m taking my PTO even if I have no vacations [planned], and just stay home. I have my one-on-ones with my manager every week and I let him know I have all these projects, “which one is priority?” That’s how I’m able to not let it get to me. I have to see it like, yes God did provide me opportunity to have this job but it shouldn’t take over my life.
It’s knowing how to set boundaries because things will always come up but your life shouldn’t have to stop because of it. I’ve had situations where I would get messages at like 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM about certain requests. I’m not responding until the next day. For people that struggle with that, I think having a vulnerable conversation with your boss and letting him know, “I have these different priorities that I take care of at home. Is it okay that I respond the next workday?”
I’ve learned that I can’t allow it to be my everything because it’s not my everything–God is my everything.
How would you advise a woman in your industry who desires to keep God first above her career, and is finding it hard to persevere?
Definitely get advice from someone that’s actually in a high demanding career and really pick their brain. How they are maintaining their relationship with God but still being excellent in their career. I think that’s so important and that’s why I appreciate the kingdom of God because we have access to so many resources that people in today’s world have to pay for and we literally get it for free. So I would say that, and to know your identity is in God and not in your career. That’s really important because obviously God gives us the talents, he gives us the abilities, he’s putting us in these places to be able to reach out to those in the same positions. But understanding who you are, that you are a daughter of God first and foremost. Nothing should be on top of that. “I am a child of God and everything else follows.”
Truly embracing your identity in Christ.
You did nothing to earn it. There was no exam you had to take. God truly looked at you and said “Wow, this is my daughter. I’m proud of her. Really holding onto that definitely helps. For me, a part of my duties is to present in front of people, public speaking. To this day, it still freaks me out. But I tell myself, “at the end of the day, I’m a child of God, I’m a child of God, I’m a child of God. That’s all that matters.”