Mira Chaurushiya
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 Claremont, CA, always interested in Biology and computers. Went to Carleton College and majored in Biology. Every summer I did something related to biology and computers and in junior/senior years was a TA for Immunology. I think those experiences were key because science is ultimately about doing experiments and thinking for yourself. Then I spent three years as a lab technician after which I got a PhD from UCSD, and another 4 years as a postdoc at Genentech, a biotech company. In sum, I spent about 15 years in a lab doing research before "leaving the bench."
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
I don't work in a lab generating data any more but I spend a lot of time looking at data. I work in venture capital; we invest in companies that are developing new therapeutics, or companies developing new technologies that enable researchers to generate new types of data.
3. How does STEM relate to your job?How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
Given the above - I wouldn't be able to do my job without my degree!
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?
Not overtly, I'd say it's probably tougher to navigate having and raising a family than being a woman per se - at least in my experience.
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 - I work with great people and scientists, learn new things every day, including what the next new drug or technology could be.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
I have more balance now than I used to, but that said I think it's all relative. It's definitely not a 9-5 job but there is flexibility on when you work, if you plan your time right.
7. What do you define success as?
If you have a job you enjoy and have good friends and family around you, that's pretty great!
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
In science: curiosity, creativity and perseverance. You don't necessarily have to be book smart, though it helps. What helps the most is being comfortable NOT knowing the answer, and then having the resources within yourself to design projects and experiments to find out answers without much guidance. This is why curiosity, creativity and perseverance count most.
9. Who was a mentor to you throughout your career? (can be more than one!) What did they teach you? How did they impact your life?
Undergrad Biology professor, and graduate advisor, plus two additional professors I worked with during my graduate career. They were my cheerleaders and believed I could do things when I didn't, which made me keep going.
10. What do you think is the best advice you've ever received ? What advice would you give your younger self if you had the chance? What’s one piece of advice you can pass on to us?
The best advice I ever received was to keep going. Science is a long road and you need to stay motivated and excited. Having someone there to push me a little when I needed it, particularly people who I really respected and looked up to, made all the difference.
Grew up in Claremont, CA, always interested in Biology and computers. Went to Carleton College and majored in Biology. Every summer I did something related to biology and computers and in junior/senior years was a TA for Immunology. I think those experiences were key because science is ultimately about doing experiments and thinking for yourself. Then I spent three years as a lab technician after which I got a PhD from UCSD, and another 4 years as a postdoc at Genentech, a biotech company. In sum, I spent about 15 years in a lab doing research before "leaving the bench."
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
I don't work in a lab generating data any more but I spend a lot of time looking at data. I work in venture capital; we invest in companies that are developing new therapeutics, or companies developing new technologies that enable researchers to generate new types of data.
3. How does STEM relate to your job?How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
Given the above - I wouldn't be able to do my job without my degree!
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?
Not overtly, I'd say it's probably tougher to navigate having and raising a family than being a woman per se - at least in my experience.
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 - I work with great people and scientists, learn new things every day, including what the next new drug or technology could be.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
I have more balance now than I used to, but that said I think it's all relative. It's definitely not a 9-5 job but there is flexibility on when you work, if you plan your time right.
7. What do you define success as?
If you have a job you enjoy and have good friends and family around you, that's pretty great!
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
In science: curiosity, creativity and perseverance. You don't necessarily have to be book smart, though it helps. What helps the most is being comfortable NOT knowing the answer, and then having the resources within yourself to design projects and experiments to find out answers without much guidance. This is why curiosity, creativity and perseverance count most.
9. Who was a mentor to you throughout your career? (can be more than one!) What did they teach you? How did they impact your life?
Undergrad Biology professor, and graduate advisor, plus two additional professors I worked with during my graduate career. They were my cheerleaders and believed I could do things when I didn't, which made me keep going.
10. What do you think is the best advice you've ever received ? What advice would you give your younger self if you had the chance? What’s one piece of advice you can pass on to us?
The best advice I ever received was to keep going. Science is a long road and you need to stay motivated and excited. Having someone there to push me a little when I needed it, particularly people who I really respected and looked up to, made all the difference.
