Whether I'm learning to sail, baking a loaf of bread, working on my guitar skills, or figuring out the best tool for analyzing tissue samples, I love leaning into trial-and-error, making the most of the process, and absorbing the experiences along the way. In my line of work, it's important to get the details right, but it's also important that I enjoy the journey.

That's when we really get a chance to grow. When I'm surrounded by amazing people, it motivates me to work really hard. You're part of a team – it's not test scores that determine who will end up being a good scientist, it's being willing to put in the time, learn from others, and find your own way to thrive.

And thriving looks different for everyone. For me, it's about choosing a life that has room for everything I care about – sports, video games, my hobbies, my loved ones, my dogs. Work is just one important piece of that puzzle, and it was really exciting for me to let go of everyone else's expectations and choose a life, not just a career, that worked for me.

I love solving problems and treat challenges like a puzzle that needs to be solved.

I love to try new things and always stay active. From playing sports, to trying new recipes to cook, playing guitar, and even growing a new house plant, I like to have my hands in lots of different projects.

I like figuring out how things work and how to do things. However, once I’ve learned something and figured it out, I often lose interest in it.