Career Roadmap
Crystal 's work combines: Science, Engineering, and Problem Solving
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Physics, General
The University of Texas at Austin
Graduate Degree
Physics, General
The University of Texas at Dallas
Doctorate
Physics, General
The University of Texas at Dallas
Certification
Postdoctoral fellowship
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists:
Bachelor's Degree: Computer Science
Bachelor's Degree: Molecular Biology
Bachelor's Degree: Mathematics, General
Bachelor's Degree: Chemistry, General
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
After college I didn’t have a plan. I started substitute teaching at a local middle school.
2.
A year after I graduated from college I applied to graduate school. Still didn’t have a plan.
3.
After I finished my masters degree I met a professor who worked with MRI and he offered me a research assistant position.
4.
I finished my PhD working with MRI and my boss asked me to stay on for a postdoctoral fellowship.
5.
I moved around within the university in job title and departments and I’m still working my way up.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Teachers:
You don’t seem ambitious enough to be successful.
How I responded:
I use it as fuel and as a mirror to let me know how I was perceived. I realized that my quietness was coming across as un-ambitious.