Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz
University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ USA
"I’m so proud to be a nerd."
Career Roadmap
Melissa's work combines: Science, Medicine, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Reach out for mentorships, internships, and volunteer opportunities to gain experience. When doing so, be very thoughtful in how you're crafting your request. Craft it in a way that the person receiving it feels like they can't say no to you. And if they do say no, don't let that discourage you. It's likely that they're saying no because they already have a full load of trainees and can't give you the attention you deserve. There are other opportunities out there to learn—just try again.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Biology and Chemistry
Colorado Mesa University
Doctorate
Biomedical Sciences/Experimental Pathology
The University of Texas Medical Branch
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I always knew I wanted to go into biology—I grew up loving reading, playing in the dirt, catching lizards, and dissecting things.
2.
After earning my bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry, I went to the University of Texas Medical Branch for graduate school, initially thinking I wanted to study BSL-3 pathogens.
3.
As I rotated through labs, I realized that I wanted to study the immune response to emerging pathogens, which wasn’t possible with viruses that kill a person that quickly—I knew I needed to shift.
4.
I landed in a women’s health lab, which was a great fit for me because I was able to study the immune response to a virus over a few years while pursuing my Ph.D.
5.
I earned my Ph.D. and went on to do postdoctoral research in the Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University.
6.
I became an assistant research professor at Arizona State University, where I stayed for a few years before joining the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix as an assistant professor.
7.
I now work as an associate professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, where I teach basic medical sciences, obstetrics, and gynecology.
8.
Additionally, I’m the director of the Women’s Health Microbiome Initiative.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Family:
When are you going to finish school and get a real job?
How I responded:
While going through this scientific trajectory, I'd constantly educate my family about what I was doing—especially as I am the first in my family to go to college. Doctoral and post-doctoral work is basically a job, yet people will ask when you're going to get a real job. Just have patience with them and trust that you're working towards something. Eventually, you'll get to be the first person in your family with a Ph.D. and you'll get to educate and inspire other young people to earn theirs.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I am the first in my family to go to college. Not having a support system of others who have been there and done that in my family was difficult. I sought support from mentors outside my family to help me navigate this space.