Building a happy career: four principles, my two greatest fears, and a question! Maggie Werner-Washburne Regents’ Professor, UNM

Thanks To Gayle Slaughter To all the P.I.s and mentors To all the post docs To all the staff

How did I get here? I didn’t start at Harvard!

Man proposes and God disposes Thank God for Nothing

Why have “principles”? A “medicine bundle” A “medicine bundle” The Pipeline The Pipeline Energizing the water Energizing the water

Principle 1 Know your heart If you don’t love it, find a way to love it or do something else If you love it, commit.

Travels Stanford Stanford Mexico → Colombia Mexico → Colombia Alaska Alaska Minnesota Minnesota Hawaii/Samoa/New Zealand Hawaii/Samoa/New Zealand Wisconsin (Go, Badgers!) Wisconsin (Go, Badgers!) New Mexico New Mexico

Principle 2 Look for the positive or the blessing in everything Look for the positive or the blessing in everything ◦ Family, friends, your networks… ◦ You can choose how you respond  Challenges, problems, “failures” are teachers

Look for the positive: My Post Doc I came from a plant lab I was interested in gene/protein function I had one baby and another one while I was a post doc My advisor didn’t like to give talks My advisor wrote a competing grant when I left

Look for the positive: You are going to have important challenges Look for the positive: You are going to have important challenges How you deal with them is a measure of character, leadership, and creativity How you deal with them is a measure of character, leadership, and creativity Finding the positive will bring you allies, put you in leadership positions, and make whatever you do more successful Finding the positive will bring you allies, put you in leadership positions, and make whatever you do more successful

Look for the positive: Now “That DUI is the best thing that ever happened to you!” “That DUI is the best thing that ever happened to you!” My students can’t think! Great! My students can’t think! Great! The “left out” button The “left out” button The Imposter Syndrome The Imposter Syndrome

The Imposter Syndrome It can be isolating and debilitating It can be isolating and debilitating It can keep you from succeeding It can keep you from succeeding Everyone has it Everyone has it How to love and honor the Imposter Syndrome????? How to love and honor the Imposter Syndrome????? It is a sign of humility, a call to reflection, and an opportunity to create community It is a sign of humility, a call to reflection, and an opportunity to create community

Principle 3 Dig down to your roots, embrace it all, and bring it to the table

The path of my mitochondrial DNA The path of my mitochondrial DNA Our minds are tiny!

Principle 4 Science and life are like gymnastics – everyone remembers the landing Science and life are like gymnastics – everyone remembers the landing

My two greatest fears! Not getting a job Not getting a job Getting a job Getting a job

New Mexico I was interested in the students I thought I could contribute something I liked the “wide openness” of the place I wanted to see if I could do science here I liked the cultures I didn’t want to be at Harvard My husband liked it

What about you? What is most important for you? How important is “place”? Do you want to be a faculty member? Do you want to do something other than academia? ◦ Industry? Patent Law? Editing? Education? Keep track of all the things you have learned ◦ management, writing, people skills, the ability to do library and wet-lab research, bioinformatics, teaching, team building….. AND…..

Reflect

What is your vision? Where will you lead us?

Definitely Not The End!

Principles Know your heart Know your heart Look for the positive or blessing in everything Look for the positive or blessing in everything Embrace all that you are and bring it to the table Embrace all that you are and bring it to the table Science and life are like gymnastics, everyone remembers the landing Science and life are like gymnastics, everyone remembers the landing

Your principles? Start with these principles. Think about those things that mean the most to you Write them down, see if they are large enough Keep those that work and help you enjoy what you do

Remember Don’t forget, we are all human Your support network only works when you activate it Take chances – be generous Have an interesting life BE FEARLESS! FLY!!!

Los Comanches Miguel Gandert

Horses on Los Llanos Miguel Gandert