Scientific Research Liaison Solves Problems from Grad School
- ashleymo5779
- Apr 12
- 2 min read
Name: Beatriz Robinson (she/her)
PhD: Neurosciences, Stanford University, 2023
What was your main area of research?
I studied the impact of autism spectrum disorder on the enteric nervous system. I focused on investigating molecular mechanisms of ASD-associated gastrointestinal dysfunction.
What is your current job?
I am a Scientific Research Liaison at Stanford School of Medicine in Stanford, California.
I am a research administrator for the lab who helps run lab operations and manages various collaborative research programs and initiatives led by the lab. I work with the lab manager to ensure lab logistics run smoothly (i.e. equipment maintenance, purchasing, inspections, etc.) and also with the PI to prepare grants, proposals, and reports to funding sources.
I love that I get to spend time solving problems that drove me crazy in grad school but that I didn't have time to fix. I also get to try new solutions and optimize protocols to make researchers' lives easier.
How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?
I found it through the Stanford job page.
PHD graduate ➡️ Scientific Research Liaison
Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?
I knew very early on that I did not want the lifestyle of a PI or the pressure to always have to publish.
What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?
Finding out what jobs are available to PhDs is difficult, especially coming fresh out of grad school. Casting a wide net and talking to people is the best way to find out what is out there. Sometimes that means applying to jobs that seem way out of left field.
Weirdly, ZipRecruiter was more effective than LinkedIn.
Make use of all interviews you go on. Even if you know it isn't a good fit, you can still practice networking.
Are there any components of your identity you would like to share, including how they have impacted your journey?
I identify as Latinx and Neurodivergent, which are two facets of my identity that impacted my journey.