We are back today with Ariel Parker, Director of Partnerships and Legacy at the Center for Engineering MechanoBiology (CEMB) to learn about her career journey. As a child, her science spark was ignited by a combination of playing with a toy microscope, an inspirational physics teacher, and the board game Life. In high school, Ariel was especially fortunate to attend a private school in the suburbs of Philadelphia and encountered fantastic teachers, many of whom were women with PhDs, who inspired her with stories from their time in academia and industry. Her teachers not only taught her the basics of STEM, but encouraged her to pursue opportunities outside of the classroom like summer research programs. Ariel’s journey through science in her youth was almost a fairy-tale-like experience guided by mentors, teachers, and experiences that set the foundation for her future. “I was solidifying the desire to be a scientist. . . I was definitely being prepared for a career there by the best,” she remembers. As an undergraduate at Swarthmore College, she contemplated becoming teaching faculty, or working in science outreach before a career assessment surprised her with options like diplomat and school principal. Ariel was at a bit of crossroad--how could she keep her interest in science yet find intersections with areas such as diplomacy? While attending Johns Hopkins University for her doctorate, Ariel reflected on her cv and let it “speak to her,” leading to a position as a public school biology teacher. Her intentional decision making at this step was rooted in her own personal experiences as a high school student, having exposure and access to great teachers and mentors. Currently, Ariel keeps herself busy with many hobbies outside of work–reading, learning, eating out, and passion projects. Check out the previous episode here.

Tune into this episode to hear Ariel share:

• How a career assessment almost derailed her science career goals
• The importance of finding a group of people who will fight for you, in rooms you are not in
• The importance of exposure, equity, and access in guiding her career choice

Reach out to Ariel:

• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariel-parker/
• Email: pariel@seas.upenn.edu

If you enjoyed this episode, also listen to:

Ep 52: How Science and Philosophy Intertwine - The Journey

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