Current career position:
My current position is account representative (or sales representative)
for StemCell Technologies, covering MD, DE, DC, PA, and NJ. I sell
reagents for the isolation, growth and separation of stem cell related
cells.
Education:
I have a BS and Ph.D. in Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences from
the University of Houston. For my Ph.D., I worked on the molecular
biology and biochemistry of cynaobacteria (often referred to as
pond scum). After which I did a 2 ½ year postdoctoral stint
at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, MD working on using
the toxin of B. anthracis for therapeutics.
Most Exciting:
The most exciting part of my career was switching from bench science
at the NIH to sales. I had to do a lot of research, talk to people
(network), and become active in the Association for Women in Science
to successfully make the transition from the bench to the real world
outside. Bench science is hard work, but so selling and both often
require the same types of skills: independence, attention to detail,
good work ethics, and ability to learn quickly.
Toughest Barrier:
The toughest barrier to overcome to arrive at my current position
was my lack of sales experience. And that is where the networking
came in handy. Through AWIS, I met a recruiter who led me through
the sale's interview process. I talked to other sales reps about
their jobs and learned what it took to do the job correctly. It
took a lot of hard work but it was well worth it.
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