Margaret Lippincott

How did you pick your career? Did you know all along?

I picked my career because I grew up surrounded by science. My parents are both scientists: my Mom is a biotech professor and my Dad is a retired chemist. I always wanted to be a scientist but explored other careers paths when I was early on and in high school and college. When I explored other passions including medicine, art, teaching, and IT/library information science, I only solidified my decision to become a scientist and can't see myself doing anything else full-time because I love wet and dry lab work. This decision occurred after volunteering in hospitals, teaching and training medical and PhD students, and doing freelancing for AI software companies as well as commissions for art websites. Each time I strayed from science I only ended up a better scientist and drawn back towards research.

What is it like when your job gets tough?

It's stressful and sometimes it takes courage for me to calm myself down. But it is never truly bad, it always motivates me to think about any positive successes both past and future. I also read a lot to relax.

What is the most useful piece of career advice you got as a student, and who gave it to you?

That "a good leader always leaves the gate open behind them" was what a post-doc in the first lab I worked in told me. He was the first teacher and mentor I ever had in science back in 2017. He meant to say that a scientist or leader should always make sure that the people behind them or below them have the same knowledge you do so that they don't struggle to find it on their own.

Did anyone ever oppose your career plans when you were young or push you in a direction you did not want to go?

Yes; there were about 3 people I've met in my career that pushed me away from my goals and tried to steer me down a path I didn't feel comfortable going down. I continued on anyway and went down the original path I planned. I never regretted any decision I made to do this.

What is the one piece of career advice you wish someone gave you when you were younger?

That it's ok to admit when you've failed at something or to let yourself fail at something. Imposter syndrome is very real and it's ok to feel it. A lot of science is dealing with failure and how to plan and design new experiments based on past failures.