Since being named an ASCP 40 Under Forty, I was promoted two tiers to lab manager instead of supervisor. I now manage two Core facilities, one in Tissue Culture and one in Histology and Image Analysis, as well as managing significant portions of the general departmental laboratory operations. I have a new credential from LMU for Lab Management from which I gained many soft skills in interpersonal interactions and client management.

I also picked up a side hustle in ministry and completed (as a part time student) a Master of Divinity degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

How did this recognition help catapult your career?

People don’t tend to pay much attention to what young people say. This award helped me be treated like I deserved to be as the expert I already was. More than advancing my career, it made the research scientists do things right the first time, waste fewer resources, preserve animal lives, and publish sooner.

What significant or notable achievements have you made in your work since you were named a 40 Under Forty?

Co-authored five peer-reviewed scientific publications.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in the years since being named 40/40?

Unionize.

Of what are you most professionally proud of in the years since your 40 Under Forty recognition?

That the efforts to unionize the staff succeeded and that now staff, faculty and grad students are all unionized at Pitt. When we fight, we win.