Career Roadmap
Joanna's work combines: Science, Education, and Accomplishing Goals
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Santa Cruz High
Bachelor's Degree
Mathematics, General
Brown University
Bachelor's Degree
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Brown University
Doctorate
Genome Sciences/Genomics
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Mathematics, General
Bachelor's Degree: Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Doctorate: Genome Sciences/Genomics
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I grew up in sunny California with a mathematician father and a biologist mother.
2.
I decided I wanted to go elsewhere for college (why?!) so I moved across the country to go to Brown.
3.
I originally wanted to focus on math, but during my sophomore year, I realized I also loved biology.
4.
I realized I could combine my two interests and study the applications of math within biology.
5.
I got my Ph.D. from the University of Washington, then did a postdoc at the University of Chicago.
6.
After completing my first postdoc, I moved back to California to do a second at Stanford University.
7.
I decided to become a professor so I could have the flexibility to conduct my own research.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You're in the minority as a woman in mathematics.
How I responded:
In several of my mathematics classes, I was the only girl in the classroom. Luckily, I've been surrounded by supportive people and I'm quite outgoing, so I didn't let it affect me. I could definitely see being the only one in the room (who is like you) as a major stumbling block. My advice to anyone in that position is this: anytime you're in the minority in any given room, remind yourself that you belong there and you deserve to be there.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I have a toddler as well as a full-time career, and balancing those two things can be challenging for anyone. The key for me has been having a very supportive partner, as well as a supportive community.