Amy Freeland
Interview Posted By: Ashley Smith
1. Can you tell us a little about your background? i.e. Where you grew up, what education do you have, a summary of your resume, did you always want to do what you are doing now, when did you start to become interested in STEM, what internships/ volunteering
Grew up in Buffalo NY. I have a BS major in Biology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Employed for 2 years after college as a Clinical Lab Tech for a cytogenetics lab. Employed 15 as a Research Assistant at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Always intereseted in science took AP classes in high school.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
Basically I conduct any experiments that my PI is interested in. We are funded by 2 NIH grants so that gives us general aims that must be accomplished but we also spend time developing new grants and publishing our work. Day to I do mouse tail prep for genotyping by PCR and cell culture are the staples. Current new experiments include fractionation of mouse blood for isolation of DNA for qPCR and whole genome sequencing. Mouse blood micronucleus analysis by flow cytometry. Help train new employees and students and prepare solutions as needed.
3. How does STEM relate to your job?How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
Alot of what is taught is basically the foundation for how I can understand my job and understand how biology works. Without understanding DNA replication I couldn't design experiments to look for mechanisms of DNA damage and origin of replication usage. If you don't know how transcription and translation work you can't do molecular biology.
4. Have you faced any discrimination/ challenges being a woman in a stem field? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you have any advice for up and coming women in STEM?
I have not experienced any discrimination as a woman. Challenges for many women come with raising children and still maintaining your professional responsibilities. I have reduced my hours to have more time with my children but most of my coworkers that are mothers have not done that. I am lucky to have a great boss and great flexibility. My work doesn't have to be done Mon- Fri 9-5. I can work weekends and often do. My advice is take every opportunity that may come your way, it is very competitive and you will need to do some volunteering to get your foot in the door. You will need to work long hours but it does get better.
5. What is the best and worst part of your job? What do you look forward to in your job on a day to day basis? What do you wish you could change?
Best part doing things that no one else has ever done. day to day I look forward to seeing how things are turning out, did that experiment work? How can it be done better next time. I wish I could change the uncertainty of knowing if you will be funded to do the research. Money goes fast in research and so does time, we always need to write grants to get the funding, you never know when you could be out of funds.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
Work hard when you are young so you will have a reputation of being dedicated, priceless.
7. What do you define success as?
Being able to do what you enjoy and not thinking of it as "work".
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Persistence
Grew up in Buffalo NY. I have a BS major in Biology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Employed for 2 years after college as a Clinical Lab Tech for a cytogenetics lab. Employed 15 as a Research Assistant at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Always intereseted in science took AP classes in high school.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
Basically I conduct any experiments that my PI is interested in. We are funded by 2 NIH grants so that gives us general aims that must be accomplished but we also spend time developing new grants and publishing our work. Day to I do mouse tail prep for genotyping by PCR and cell culture are the staples. Current new experiments include fractionation of mouse blood for isolation of DNA for qPCR and whole genome sequencing. Mouse blood micronucleus analysis by flow cytometry. Help train new employees and students and prepare solutions as needed.
3. How does STEM relate to your job?How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
Alot of what is taught is basically the foundation for how I can understand my job and understand how biology works. Without understanding DNA replication I couldn't design experiments to look for mechanisms of DNA damage and origin of replication usage. If you don't know how transcription and translation work you can't do molecular biology.
4. Have you faced any discrimination/ challenges being a woman in a stem field? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you have any advice for up and coming women in STEM?
I have not experienced any discrimination as a woman. Challenges for many women come with raising children and still maintaining your professional responsibilities. I have reduced my hours to have more time with my children but most of my coworkers that are mothers have not done that. I am lucky to have a great boss and great flexibility. My work doesn't have to be done Mon- Fri 9-5. I can work weekends and often do. My advice is take every opportunity that may come your way, it is very competitive and you will need to do some volunteering to get your foot in the door. You will need to work long hours but it does get better.
5. What is the best and worst part of your job? What do you look forward to in your job on a day to day basis? What do you wish you could change?
Best part doing things that no one else has ever done. day to day I look forward to seeing how things are turning out, did that experiment work? How can it be done better next time. I wish I could change the uncertainty of knowing if you will be funded to do the research. Money goes fast in research and so does time, we always need to write grants to get the funding, you never know when you could be out of funds.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
Work hard when you are young so you will have a reputation of being dedicated, priceless.
7. What do you define success as?
Being able to do what you enjoy and not thinking of it as "work".
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Persistence
