1. What is your current role at the Children’s Mercy Research Institute?

I am currently a postdoctoral research scholar in the Varberg Lab, which is housed in the Fetal Health Center. Our team’s research focuses on what it takes to sustain a successful pregnancy, specifically how the placenta facilitates the growth, development and outcomes of pregnancy.

As a postdoctoral research scholar, I am in the final stages of training to become an independent research investigator. My role encompasses experiments at the lab bench (or cell culture hood), analysis of experimental data, writing manuscripts and grants and thinking of new ideas for future projects. Most importantly, my job is to learn and absorb as much as I possibly can from those around me.

It is so difficult to pick a specific project as a favorite because every project is a team effort and holds a special place in my heart. We currently work under three different project "umbrellas" to answer questions like the following:

• Recurrent pregnancy loss: Why is loss occurring? Does the placenta hold a molecular signature that might direct us to that answer?
• Gestational environmental exposures: How does the environment we live in and molecules we are exposed to impact the development of the placenta and pregnancy outcomes?
• Fetal congenital heart disease: Did you know that the fetal heart and placenta develop on the same timeline during pregnancy? How cool!

2. What drew you to a career at the Children’s Mercy Research Institute?

While I am a human physiologist with a PhD in Integrative Physiology, I have always had a love for women's health research. As a woman, it is a blessing every day to work toward making an impact in a field that will directly benefit me in the future.

I like to think that the Children’s Mercy Research Institute choose me. I was born and raised in the Kansas City area, left to complete both of my degrees and had no concrete plans when I started applying for jobs after graduate school. My PhD mentor was a professor to my current mentor, Dr. Kaela Varberg, in graduate school. My interests fit seamlessly within the research program Dr. Varberg was building at the Children’s Mercy Research Institute, so I came for a visit and the rest is history!

3. What are your research/career goals?

As a trainee I am actively working toward securing myself a faculty appointment where I can craft my own research program and team. I work toward this every day by improving my writing and grantsmanship, expanding my experimental technical tool kit and formulating what my little niche of the research world will look like.

4. What is your favorite thing about working at the Children’s Mercy Research Institute?

I have an endless list of favorite things when it comes to working at the Children’s Mercy Research Institute, but I have to say that my team in the Varberg Lab and Fetal Health Center takes the top spot. I have felt so supported and encouraged throughout my entire time here. I feel like my goals are the shared goals of the team. When you boil down the job description of a postdoctoral research scholar it comes down to learning, and who doesn't love having a job where you get to learn something new every single day?

5. What is on your bucket list?

• Experience a Formula 1 race at every active track.
• Be on Jeopardy.
• Visit all seven continents.
• Ride in or drive the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.