Meet PhD student, Kelsey Huntington, and learn all about how she became interested in pathobiology research.
When did you first become interested in STEM?
I have been interested in STEM for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I remember being constantly concerned with how and why things were the way they were. I love that STEM encourages curiosity and gives us permission to ask questions.
Where did you go to school and what did you study?
I went to undergrad at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington where I received my Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. It was here that I worked in a lab doing research for the first time, and I loved trying to answer questions that no one else in the world knew the answer to. My junior year I received an internship at a local biotechnology company that focused on developing therapeutics for hematological malignancies. I fell in love with the work and was fortunate enough to be hired on full-time as soon as I graduated. After several years there, I decided that I needed to continue my studies to better contribute to the field of cancer therapeutics. Because of this, I recently moved to Providence, Rhode Island to pursue a PhD in Pathobiology with a focus in cancer therapeutics at Brown University.
What is your current career/profession and how do you use your interests in STEM on a day-to-day basis?
I am currently a second-year Pathobiology PhD student at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. My thesis work involves screening approved FDA drugs for their ability to immunomodulate the tumor microenvironment. This work involves looking at cytokine production, immune cell infiltration, and immune cell activation in a cancer cell model. Through this research I hope to be able to predict drug-response in patients with colorectal and pancreatic cancers. My project is constantly evolving, and I am always thinking about new ways to approach the question.
What do you like most about your current job? What do you find most challenging?
I like that I am responsible for conducting my own research, designing my own experiments, and both analyzing and interpreting my own data. Working on one’s dissertation is a very independent pursuit, and this has both positive and negative aspects. For example, it is a lot of responsibility, and a huge time-commitment, but it is also very fulfilling and exciting when your data shows something novel. Also, here at Brown I have the opportunity to work with both experts in fields relevant to my own research, as well as other students in my program who will likely be future leaders in their field. Lastly and most importantly, I get to learn increasingly more about cancer biology and the current treatments in hopes to one day contribute to the field in whatever way possible.
What advice would you give to young girls who are interested in pursuing STEM activities or careers?
It wasn’t until I worked in industry at a biotechnology company focused on developing cancer drugs that I became exposed to the career path that I am currently pursing. I was not aware of the plethora of STEM jobs that are available that are not often well-known. I think early exposure to the types of career paths available is very important, especially for girls. Personally, I didn’t know my goal career position until I saw strong, smart, and motivated women in the same role. Therefore, I would encourage girls and women of any age to seek a supportive mentor who can help guide you and encourage you along the way.
Anything else our girls would be interested in knowing about you?
My dad always told me growing up that “you can do anything you put your mind to” and I genuinely believe this is true. If a girl shows an interest in a STEM topic, she should be encouraged and supported the whole way. There are going to be ups and downs, so the key is to stay motivated and stick with it, and this is much easier when there is a passion for the subject. I was fortunate to have incredibly supportive parents and credit them for much of my success.