Today, we are joined by Ariel Parker, Director of Partnerships and Legacy at the Center for Engineering MechanoBiology (CEMB)–a science and technology center funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The CEMB represents faculty across various disciplines at multiple institutions within mechanobiology, an interdisciplinary field exploring how physical forces affect living things. In her role, Ariel manages the educational programs, recruits new students, provides first-hand research experiences, organizes a postdoc preview day and much, much more. While Ariel’s role doesn’t require using a pipette anymore, she has made use of translational skills, such as successful project planning and knowing what questions to ask during the planning process. “A good researcher thinks not only about today, but their Tuesday, 3 months from now,” explains Ariel. Two of the favorite things about her job are the diversity of the tasks and responsibilities, and working with her colleagues. A challenge that Ariel encounters in her role is, of course, funding and the uncertainty this can create in providing sustainability for CEMB. Looking back at some of the events Ariel has organized for K-12 outreach, she recalls an outreach day where students conducted experiments with venus flytrap plants. The event allowed the students to have memorable experiences beyond simply learning the science. “Exposure, equity and access–those three things allow us to change outcomes for people,” Ariel explains. One piece of advice from Ariel is to embrace pursuing your interests broadly to find your perfect fit.
Tune into this episode to hear Ariel share:
- How her values drive her decisions in her career path
- Why there is no such thing as useless knowledge
Reach out to Ariel:
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ariel-parker/
- Email: pariel@seas.upenn.edu
If you enjoyed this episode, also listen to:
- Ep 36: Sista, Sista! Graduate School Years - The Work
- Ep 12: Immunology and squid
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