Having benefited from a lot of great science and research programs, Paige Cooper has now become an instrumental part of building out and maintaining these programs in different locations around the United States.
Some of the information and resources Paige Cooper shared can be found on the following websites:
I'm definitely looking for more impressive women to interview! If you are that woman or you know someone, check my calendar for available dates https://calendly.com/shenan-toote/science-sisters.
So that this information has a better chance of getting to the people who REALLY need to hear it, please support the show by commenting, rating, and subscribing. Because iTunes can make that process a little complicated, I'm including some directions to help below:
It would mean a ton if you could take 2-3 minutes out of your busy day to do this for me!
Shenandoa Toote Copyright 2019, Science Sisters
Shenandoa: Originally you were considering medicine but then you landed into research.
Paige: Yes. I mean like the part of the reason why? I would be like I guess will come out some of the questions. But essentially I really appreciated the logic of science. And so with research you know every step being very calculated and that is how I kind of conduct my life so that I really took to that and went on to grad school University in St. Louis where I got my Ph.D. in cell biology and from there. I was kind of debating about whether or not I want to elaborate do that you know do that kind of route of research. And when I went off to do a postdoc to kind of clarify that for myself and I did a postdoc at University of Colorado and Shoots medical campus. I did it for just a year and essentially there I kind of realized I have other passions and drives that motivate me a little more than you know writing grants and the day to day of life.
So I kind of switched gears and moved to more administrative position. And so for a year I worked with a mentoring network for STEM students that are committed to increasing diversity. The National Research mentoring network and I worked there for a year first with recruitment and then with evaluation of our program and then I just now. So and I have recently left and taken a position at Duke University to be the director of a program called Bio core which is for undergrad and graduate students in STEM. And essentially my role will be supporting them and essentially for the focus is for increasing diversity but it's not limited to just diversity. So everyone on campus has access.
But the idea is to be part of the support mechanism that helps students figure out what they want to do with their science training and then help them get there. That's where I'm at currently.
Shenandoa: Ok that's fantastic my brother is actually at Duke. Are you currently in North Carolina?
Paige: Yes I am.
Shenandoa: Oh great. I’m going to be there for his graduation. It's good to be in May I think.
Paige: Oh cool very cool. Ok we'll have to remain connected. I'm going to meet you in person.
Shah: Sure that would be great. So I'm just going to go ahead and go through the questions that you chose now. So what was one of your most defining moments in life and why?
Paige: Ok I can pick this one so I'll pick two but I'll be brief. So a life moment I would say that kind of change is a big part of the trajectory that I'm on was going to Stallman. I grew up going to predominately white schools. And so it was rare for me to be around people of color and so when I took honors courses etc. I was normally the only black student in the class. So I ended up going to Spelman. And that was the first time or opportunity where I got to be surrounded by black women who were extremely intelligent. And so there was a lot of positive peer pressure to be the biggest and baddest whatever we wanted to be. And that that has definitely first was a big part of shaping my mindset in terms of where I can go and what I can accomplish professionally.
And then also just being able to be in that environment is very unique and definitely was kind of a once in a lifetime kind of thing. So just very much shaped who I am as a person and like where I'm headed professionally. And then in terms of a science moment, I said I initially want to do medicine in the summer. I did a summer program called SMDP you know summer medical dental-- Summer Medical and Dental enrichment Program. I believe is what it stands for. And that is where I kind of realized oh you know what I'm good at math and science and everyone just told me I should do medicine because I'm good at math and science and that's not really where my passion is. So that's who I am. And there I met someone who was doing Ph.D. and they have expressed some concerns and he showed me his lab and that's kind of my first introduction to research. So that was that was a defining science moment.
Shenandoa: Perfect so then what has been your biggest challenge? And how have you overcome it?
Paige: So I went from this high as some like the biggest baddest black lady you know and no one can hold me down all this and when I went out to grad school I majored in biochemistry which was more of a chemistry slant and a biologist slant and then I decided I was going to go off and get my Ph.D. in biology and needless to say that was a rough transition and I failed my qualifying exams which was a huge step in terms of moving forward for your Ph.D. The way that I overcame that was essentially kind of getting over that fear of what people think whatever it asking for help and practicing my talk and being with anyone and everyone who will listen so that I could be well-prepared for the next round. And sure enough with all that practice I was all the more confident and sure of my answers to the questions was able to pass. The second time but that was that was a big challenge for me.
Shah: And when you say you're talking you mean kind of just your preparation for that next day.
Paige: Yes. So a part of the qualifying exam for us was to give a talk about the research that we would or a research project that we had essentially made up. Not completely made up based on previous studies whatnot. But we had to prepare a talk about what we would play in those experiments while we planned them what we would expect that outcome. So there is a talk portion of it as well as the kind of verbal examination.
Shah: Gotcha. So when going from kind of a low moment to a high one what's your biggest success to date?
Paige: So because of all of the challenges that came with kind of going from basically chemistry to biology. Finishing my Ph.D. was a huge success. Partially because of the all the things that had to be overcome to get there in terms of the training experience. But the other part is you know once I finish realizing that there are a whole bunch of people in the world running around with my Ph.D. I guess kind of wow this is the big thing that I've done. And sometimes I really still don't. The guy I fully grasped all that's been done but that that I would say. That's been my biggest accomplishment.
Shah: So then if you had to change anything, if you had to do it all over again. What would that be?
Paige: Ask more questions and not be too proud to ask for more help or I guess being bold and I guess the other side of that is being bold enough to speak up and say where I didn't understand things or where I need a little more help because it was a training base. But yet somehow I had the mentality that I was supposed to know it all. But that's the point of training. And so I really wish I would have spoken up more when I needed help or didn't understand--
Shenandoa: Do you mean like at a certain stage or is that throughout the whole--
Paige: No throughout I mean and even now it's still learning and practicing this. But when there are moments when I don't understand or when I need a little more clarity could use some help. Not worrying about what people how people respond to that but just going ahead and asking for it. Because at the end I'll be better for it and I'll get the help I need. And so a lesson learned the hard way. But that that's if I had the same thing I think we should be asking for help when I needed it.
Shenandoa: So most of the questions you say like if you're going to ask questions they would be around areas that you were unsure about or you felt that maybe if you'd asked for help you could have done better. Is that kind of what I understand?
Paige: So yes, that could be you know how to do a fun experiment that could be you know understanding the particular exam or how to take the process for that. From the smallest thing to the biggest thing yeah just getting clarity around anything I was unclear about whether that is for an exam or for doing an experiment.
Shenandoa: Okay So then which experience have you learned from the most and what would that-- what was that take away lesson?
Paige: So during my postdoc and the year that I spent working with the mentoring network. I think I learned a lot about who I am and what I mean by that is, what I learned was basically figuring out what I like to do and what motivates me as a scientist. And from there being able to figure out positions that would allow me to be the best version of myself and be motivated to do it well.
Shenandoa: So what in that experience led to that realization?
Paige: So I did the postdoc because I wasn't sure about whether or not I wanted to you know continue in terms of being a professor and starting a lab. And so during that experience I didn't enjoy it. I mean I could do the work. And it was something I was accustomed to in terms of the hard work and the hours that you put into the lab. But I didn't enjoy it. And that's something I wouldn't have learned had without having those experiences. And then with the mentoring network I was a step removed from working with students and I have since realized that's what I really wanted to do. So I guess through experiencing things that were not ideal in terms of what I wanted to pursue professionally I had a better idea of what I do want to do.
Shenandoa: Right gotcha so then for you. What would you feel your role in STEM has been?
Paige: So as an undergrad and a grad student I'd say we're just learning as much as I could about the particular area focus that I was in. Now so and then finishing Ph.D. now I'd say it has been about finding the version of a scientist that it's for me, so that I can now encourage students behind to do the same and find their version of what a scientist is to them.
Shenandoa: Great so then if you were picking one of those people at you you're inspiring another young lady who is at a roadblock that seems insurmountable? What would you say?
Paige: Take it one day at a time one moment at a time. And find help and use it whether that be someone you know in your department whether that be someone you found on LinkedIn that's doing something that you want to do go people are more generous than you might imagine in terms of being helpful to a person who aspires to be where they are. And so yeah one day at a time for sure because you're normally at least for me the reason I would get so worked up is because I was thinking about all the things that had to be done in order to get to the last step of whatever it is I was undergoing grad school what have you. Taking it one day at a time and making sure that you have done what you needed to do to get through that day and then the next day the next day the next day and not trying to kind of do it all in one day because it's not going to happen. But yeah one day at a time and find help wherever you wherever you can.
Shenandoa: Fantastic anything else you'd like to cover any closing words.
Paige: I think that’s it. But I mean it’s safe to say but I kind of said this like, truly seeking out people who are doing what you want to do and just asking them their story is powerful and you never know the doors that it would open in doing that. And I can truly attest to that is part of the reason where I have, how I've gotten to where I am is not like you know being bold enough to go and ask somebody their story and learn from their mistakes from their successes and yeah go from there.
Shah: So then that brings the question to mind. So what would a good story gathering's scenario look like? A model for getting a good story--
Paige: In this day and age so LinkedIn. I don't really don't do social media like at all. And you can cause this social media like LinkedIn it's like the only thing that I am actively a part of and this is true story. So there is a lady. I had gotten exposed to the field of evaluation which is simply taking programs and looking at what they're doing how they're doing who they're impacting and reporting on them. And I find it very fascinating but I didn't know how I how do I grow in this field do. Like whom do I talk to like what do I need to be learning? I didn't know and so I went on LinkedIn and I happened to find a lady who went to Spelman and is doing evaluation for the National Science Foundation.
I sent her an email and said Hi you know I went to Spelman. I found you on LinkedIn and I just want to hear your story and get some advice about how to you know learn more about this field. She responded back. We had a conversation and I'm still in touch with her and plan to stay in touch with her because that's a field that I'm still intrigued by. But yeah I mean literally just reaching out because there's really there's really no downside. If she doesn't email me back. I mean it's OK like you know she didn't. You have nothing to lose I guess what I'm trying to say and she ended up being very receptive and I mean people love them so all mine and so when you can appeal to just hearing their story rather than to me is that it definitely goes off go over a lot better and you have one more contact who you can reach out to when you're making big decisions about the next step in your career.
What have you particularly that are an area that you can have continued interest in? Now I have another resource that you can reach out to. Not to say everyone responds but more often than not people will surprise you.
Shenandoa: Fantastic thank you so much. This has really been fantastic. I just I wanted you know definitely focused on the fact that I'm truly grateful for you spending the time to get together and share all of this information. Be willing to be a part of this project. That's really great.
Paige: No problem.