Wyss community members share their guidance for those aiming for a career in STEM
It’s widely understood that mentorship has a positive impact on your career. Among other benefits, mentors can provide industry expertise, assist with setting and achieving goals, and make introductions to valuable connections. Yet, research shows that even though 76% of professionals think mentors are important, only 37% currently have one.
One of the many reasons for this mismatch could be that people are too narrow in their definition of a mentor. Great mentors can come from anywhere – they can be younger and might even be outside of the mentee’s field of expertise. Anyone whose opinion one values and trusts can fill this role.
To illustrate that mentorship and guidance can come from a wide variety of people, we asked members of the Wyss community at various points in their career journeys to share their best advice for aspiring researchers. Here’s what they said:
You have to start somewhere
“My advice is just to jump into it. Science is all-encompassing. When you understand the abstract of that, then you really find the beauty in every single thing. Research is nothing but investigating that beauty, regardless of your discipline. So get started!”
- Nikil Badey, Research Assistant
Stay curious
“Be curious. Ask questions. Get out of your comfort zone.”
- Ana Raquel Pato Santa Maria, Technology Development Fellow
“The biggest piece of advice I will give is to stay curious and persistent. Curiosity will help you innovate, and persistence will help you overcome difficulties that you might face. Science is full of unexpected twists and turns. It’s only with an open mind and determination that you will turn those obstacles into opportunities.”
- Jie Ji, Postdoctoral Fellow
Ask questions
“My advice to new researchers is to not be afraid to ask questions. Every scientist in history started off not understanding the thing they study, and learning to ask questions is one of the most important skills to develop.”
- Ryan McMillan, Graduate Student
“Reach out to people and ask them questions. Ask them to meet with you and give you some guidance. Be curious. When you are applying for a position, look at the company’s websites and do your research. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes because that’s how you learn. If you do make mistakes, don’t be hard on yourself.”
- Gozde Basara, Biofabrication Engineer
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions! The best way I’ve found to invest in my education, build connections, and develop research skills is by being inquisitive and curious. One of the best parts about being a researcher is learning about things that are important and interesting, and having the opportunity to ask the experts you work with about their areas of expertise is the best tool available!”
- Katie Lyon, Research Assistant
Get out of your comfort zone
“Don’t be afraid of failure. It’s bound to happen in your experiments, and even when you’re applying for new jobs or the next step in your career. You’re not going to get all of the opportunities you apply for, but you might get opportunities that you didn’t expect.”
- Sarah Sandler, Postdoctoral Fellow
“Stay curious, stay motivated, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone, and always talk to new people. You never know what you can learn.”
- Tania To, Graduate Student
Follow your passion
“First and foremost, you have to love what you’re doing. You have to love science. If you do, you’re going to be good at it. In research, we have more failures than successes. Loving what you do helps you not to be discouraged. You have to be passionate and have a greater goal. Recognize that your contribution is important. Each member of the team has a valuable contribution and together, you can achieve your goals. Also – taking a few advanced math courses will make you a better scientist.”
- Nikolaos Dimitrakakis, Engineer
“Be passionate about your research. There are a lot of jobs we can do and a lot of research projects that we can focus on. The way we can stay persistent is to be passionate.”
- Li Li, Postdoctoral Fellow
“Understand the why behind the science you want to pursue. Your passion could drive that. So, for me, it’s always been to serve the underserved and bring healthcare interventions to as many people as possible. That’s what drove me to become a scientist. Then, once you figure that out, it’s all about effective networking. You need to be comfortable talking to other scientists and stakeholders so that you can pursue the passion you’ve found.”
- Rushdy Ahmad, Director, Wyss Diagnostics Accelerator
Perseverance is essential – don’t give up
“I think the most important piece of advice I can give, especially if you’re a woman, is don’t give up when others tell you that you cannot do something. I’ve heard ‘no’ many times throughout my career, but I never gave up. I think that’s why I’m here today. You’re going to have ups and downs, but don’t quit.”
- Jessica Feitor, Postdoctoral Fellow
“First: Nothing is impossible, it’s just that nobody has found a way to accomplish it yet. Second: Don’t be disappointed if reviewers don’t believe in your work, it’s a better reason to prove them wrong.”
- Bogdan Budnik, Principal Scientist