And I knew I was choosing between Biomedical and Chemical but I really wanted to do BME. I got in some out of state schools but OSU gave me the most money. Fortunately in 2008, I was chosen to be in the first graduating class of BME undergrads at OSU! #Howfirmthyfriendship

I also did undergrad research....in the comprehensive cancer center so I knew I wanted to go to grad school but not sure for which...my experience involved some cardio and some neuro..I headed to cardio first because my family has a history of heart related issues

My first lab was my master's lab in which I did work under the direction of Dr. Daria Narmoneva! She was very supportive but also very busy and wore many hats. She was a good adviser to work under but unfortunately she was running out of funding

So I applied for phd labs...and my first lab I thought was going to be a good fit (It was not). My 1st semester I was sexually assaulted & it affected my mental health. I also did not see the results I wanted to see. As result my 1st advise thought I was no longer any use for her

Imposter syndrome was kicking in HEAVILY bc she literally said a phd is not for you and you should consider a degree in marketing. All the while, I maintained a 3.9 the first year @ school that shall not be named & passed my qualifiers with minor revisions.

So I did work in a lab that was looking at neural effects of thymol..the research was interested & it reminded me a lot of some of the work I did in undergrad. I was eager to make a good impression so I was in the lab from 7am-9pm almost everyday...I was tired but, determined

The assistant head of the department was 'monitoring' my success and when I mean monitoring, i mean moving the damn goal posts! He'd say one thing and then expect another! The crazy thing was I wasn't even reporting to him OR doing research for him

Even thought the person who I was working for was pleased with my progress, the assistant head wasn't. He kept trying to get me to master out. I said no I already have a masters.

So with that being said, I wanted to go to a bigger, more established lab. One with a little more guidance and less control from the assistant head. Something, someone, somewhere without his authority.

Given that he already blackmailed & threatened my degree for speaking up for my situation, I NEEDED to escape...hence my next lab selection and working to develop an ex vivo model to study brain cancer

This work was great.....for a year...and then the adviser was 1. losing money 2. took an admin job 3. couldn't get more funds because she took an admin job. I stopped getting the mentorship I once briefly had

HOWEVER in the time that I was in this lab, I was lucky enough to develop the neuro fam that I never knew I needed. I was lucky to be chosen as an SfN fellow, which became key supporters in my success and future transition

I realized we were losing money. I was trying my hardest to collect data and become & candidate. However my committee was nearly unreachable & I kept going around in circles with my main adviser. My coadviser never responded to emails or even wrote anything for a grant submission

And on my candidacy exams I was literally setup for failure, and was not allowed to retake or revise the exam (yes this violated the phd rulebook for exams). I was devastated & even more pissed that they suggested for me to master out because its a purdue engineering degree

So in my depression..I fought. I fought long and hard. My SfN family was by my side and I even got strategy calls from @doctorpoe and @PhDeez . I was on a mission to get out

Consequently because the heads of the BME departments at both schools (DANA & LONNIE ARE AWESOME) bent over backwards to help me, I was accepted to both departments 🧠 and I was determined to stay in neuro

Out of all the professors I met with, I chose Erin's lab because her lab members had the best reviews of her! I wanted someone who was hands on and more sensitive towards my situation, so I shy'd away from large labs or professors with multiple titles..

And now since starting at MSU in January 2019, I put a co-author pub, I submitted an NIH grant that got FUNDED, I passed my candidacy exams, and now I'm working on my thesis. It was never me, it was ALWAYS them. SO much for school rankings

Also, none of the lab advisers who told me I shouldn't be in a program has had a student with an NIH NRSA soooo

Moral of the story is never let someone rain on your parade and kill your dreams. What's for you is for YOU. Just know with all the bullshit I've been through I just know its my desire to help other URM get through and become the scientists they want/are destined to be.

A lot has happened since #BINW21 ! I defended my thesis, graduated & got funded for my K00 & LRP grants. I'm currently a postdoc at Case Western Reserve/Cleveland Clinic BME & VA hospital building off my thesis work #BlackJourneyToNeuro

I'm so privileged to get to do what I do! I work in the area of brain computer faces and I'm interested in studying the brain foreign body response to implantable neurotechnology. I am currently creating brain organoids to characterize their response to microelectrode arrays

This thread has more twists and turns than needed 😭. My mom became sick w/ breast cancer towards the end of my PhD & it's the only reason I chose this (former postdoc) lab, where I was abused. My mom is cancer free now and I am looking for opportunities #BlackJourneyToNeuro