Career Roadmap
Kiran's work combines: Science, Medicine, and Problem Solving
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Western Washington University
Doctorate
Genetics, General
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Associate's Degree
Whatcom Community College
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Molecular and Cellular Biologists:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Doctorate: Genetics, General
Associate's Degree
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
As a child in India, my grandfather told me, "You're going to be a doctor." It sounded great to me!
2.
In high school, I loved science; we did some live dissections that really stuck with me.
3.
After finishing my undergraduate work, I still thought I wanted to go to medical school.
4.
I spent some time drawing blood at a lab and realized that I didn't want to be a physician.
5.
I loved human disease though, so I decided to instead pursue a Ph.D. in genetics & go into research.
6.
Teaching a genetics class for the first time really helped me understand and appreciate the field.
7.
I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer; my role as patient has lent new views to my research.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You're a first-generation female scientist of color - how are you going to do this?
How I responded:
As an immigrant from South Asia, it was difficult pursuing higher education at times because I didn't have any role models who'd received their degrees. But my parents always supported me, and I felt motivated to break the barriers they'd reached. Later on down the line, I decided I should become that role model for other people and for South Asian female scientists; I founded a group, Hutch United, that encourages diversity in the sciences to do my part in bringing about change in these fields.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
My mother was killed in a car accident when I was 16 and trying to finish school. Being South Asian, I was expected to help run the house and take care of my family, all while showing Indian hospitality. There were some long nights but we got though.