Thinking back— did you always imagine becoming a scientist? Was there a particular event that inspired that path?
Honestly, I have always been someone who could imagine lots of different careers that I would enjoy. As a kid, I actually hated science at school because it felt like mostly memorization. It wasn't until I took physics in high school, with a fantastic teacher (shout-out to Mr. Applebaum from New Trier High School), that I realized science could be something much more than that. I later entered undergrad at Yale planning to major in physics, but then pivoted to Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. Toward the end of college, I actually applied to MD/PhD programs, but ultimately withdrew my applications right before interviews to pursue a PhD in Molecular Biology. In short, while I love my job and feel it is an incredible privilege to be able to do research and mentor students, I think I could be happy doing many different things. I think you can be successful in science while still having a wide range of other interests.
You have conducted research at Yale, MRC-LMB, and Caltech. How have these different scientific environments shaped your approach to research?
I have been so fortunate throughout my career to work at amazing places that treasure and value basic science. But what I've learned is that the place itself is not the most important; it is the people who make the biggest difference to how you approach research and grow as a scientist.
At Yale, Scott Strobel and members of his lab were very supportive and patient, especially as they taught me the very basics of molecular biology, since I was a complete novice at that time. At the MRC-LMB, my supervisors Venki Ramakrishnan and Manu Hegde taught me how to approach ‘big problems’ and make strategic decisions. Then at Caltech, I have been lucky enough to have generous colleagues who have shown me the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and helped me navigate the transition to becoming a mentor and starting a lab. I am also grateful to all the students and postdocs I’ve worked with, as I find the science that we do and the way we approach it are increasingly shaped by them. It is very exciting to be in a place where science is no longer driven solely by me, but instead by the creativity of trainees.
You have made instrumental discoveries across protein biogenesis and quality-control pathways. Which findings are you particularly proud of?
That's such a hard question. I think I'm proud of each discovery and manuscript for different reasons — sometimes because they represent success after years of failure, such as our lab's first cryo-EM structures, and other times because they represent a first foray into a new area, such as our first paper studying mitochondrial protein biogenesis. Sometimes, I’m proud of what a paper or discovery means for an individual trainee and their career. I’ve often joked that papers are like children and you really can’t pick a favorite.
Looking ahead, what are the ‘big questions’ you hope to answer in the next decade?
I think one question the field is just starting to address is how cells regulate the levels of the full diversity of the proteome, especially non-model proteins and protein complexes. This is an area I expect to see lots of growth in the coming years, with implications for how we understand protein homeostasis and disease in diverse systems.
Mentoring has become an important part of your career. How would you describe your mentoring style, and what insights from your own experience as a trainee influence it?
I truly believe that the biggest and longest-lasting impact that my lab can have is through the people who train here. I try to make strategic decisions with this in mind. When I was a trainee, I know I was always happiest and most productive when I felt the most supported, and I do my best to replicate that environment in my lab. Mentoring is one of the greatest privileges, but also the most challenging aspect of academic research. I have made many mistakes and am still learning and trying to improve. But I have been very lucky to have some incredible trainees in the lab from the very beginning. It is very exciting to watch them grow and develop, both as scientists and people.
Are there any lab traditions that you established in your lab?
We have many lab traditions, although they continue to evolve as the lab changes. We try to celebrate all the big and small achievements and milestones (personal and professional) of all lab members, including birthdays, fellowships, papers, and jobs. We also hold an annual retreat, where we ask everyone to give a presentation on anything other than science. We've learned a lot of unexpected things about our colleagues (including that one of them won a Grammy Award!), and it’s something I look forward to every year. We also celebrate a few lab holidays, including carving pumpkins for Halloween, lab Thanksgiving, and a holiday white elephant exchange. I feel really fortunate to have an amazingly kind and supportive group of people to work with every day!
What do you enjoy doing outside the lab?
I have always jokingly said that if I hadn't become a scientist, I would have opened a bakery. One of the things I enjoy doing in my spare time is decorating elaborate cakes and cookies for my kids' birthdays and activities.
As a scientist and a parent, how have you approached work–life balance?
The truth is that it can be very difficult to balance everything, but I am lucky to have an extremely supportive partner and family, without whom it wouldn't be possible. I've also learned that sometimes I simply have to say no to work opportunities in order to prioritize family responsibilities (and vice versa).
That said, I do think academia sometimes gets an unfairly bad reputation, because the truth is that it is also a very flexible career. I am lucky to be able to set my own schedule and, for the most part, act as my own boss, which isn't true of most jobs. This flexibility is often critical to making everything work. For example, I’m writing these answers from the side of the pool deck during my daughter’s swim practice.
Finally, what advice would you give to students and early-career scientists?
Try not to be too strategic. Make decisions not necessarily based on what you think will be best for your career, but on what you’ll find the most fun. Keep your eyes open for unexpected opportunities and take risks.