Cellos, t-shirts, and squid all lead to...a neuroscience institute
Dr. Diana Li was an accomplished cellist in high school. And she loved – and still loves – artwork. But it was a t-shirt sported by a concert goer at an event featuring the Shins – an Indie, alternative band she enjoyed when she was in high school – that led to her love of biology and eventually to a doctorate degree in biology. At a recent session with Sandra Lee Heyman STEM career awareness fellows, Li explained that the path from music and art to her current position as Associate Director of Education & Training Initiatives at Columbia University’s Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute was neither obvious nor planned.
Li described herself as a highly ranked cellist while growing up in Virginia who did well in a prestigious private middle school. But she asked her parents to allow her to return to a public high school because she wanted to participate in the Virginia Governor's School for the Arts, an afterschool program to focus on the cello. Li credits the move as helping her to pursue her musical interests and to be part of a diverse student population, something that she especially has valued.
It wasn’t just the cello that interested Li; she also likes to create art. But science began to really interest her...and pointed to the image displayed on that t-shirt: a squid. Li said that she didn’t know anything about squid, but for whatever reason, that’s exactly what intrigued her about the animal. That helped to drive her interest in science; it was something she hadn’t had the chance to try out yet. Li decided to explore science seriously before dedicating herself to music or art – even as she continued to play in the orchestra as an undergraduate at Princeton University. Up against a deadline to declare her major, a friend in the orchestra suggested that she check out the ecology and evolutionary biology program. That led to internships in Bermuda and Greece, where she spent time onshore and on the water studying squid, despite the fact that she didn’t really love the outdoors in high school. Li befriended a teaching assistant who connected her with the Stanford Squid research lab.
Li told the fellows that during her senior year of college she still wasn't sure what she wanted to do. Even though she majored in ecology and evolutionary biology, since many of her friends were interviewing with consulting firms, Li decided to follow suit. “I didn't really understand what consulting firms do. But I decided to dye my rainbow hair black for the interviews.” She confessed that “The interviews were no fun at all, and I knew that consulting would not be my path after graduation.” But all was not lost. “I learned an important lesson that I always share: don’t change who you are for a potential job.”
Deciding to lean fully into the person she was – someone who always found squid fascinating – she realized the best fit for her after college was to continue studying them. Pursuing the connection with the Stanford Squid lab, she joined as a graduate student researching the neuroscience and fluid mechanics behind their swimming. After receiving her Ph.D. in biology at Stanford University, Li’s first job came from the spouse of one of her advisors. This woman ran a science education foundation and needed assistance writing lesson plans that would take place on a research ship; Dr. Li took the job, demonstrating that she could craft creative lesson plans and come up with curriculum, which is what she decided that she really wanted to do.
In her current position at the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Dr. Li loves engaging with high school students and with teachers who want to incorporate neuroscience into their curriculum or to make science more exciting for their students. She loves making science seem approachable and exciting and helping teachers do the same.
Though it is not her full-time focus, Li still enjoys sharing her knowledge of squid, which she did with the fellows, walking through the basic anatomy of squids. She maintains an online presence and speaks about squid with the news media – such as National Public Radio's “Science Friday” and their Cephalopod Week. She also continues to enjoy music and art, saying “I use these skills when I feel stuck at work, like playing the piano when I need a break.”
“It’s never too late to find your passion and you never know where it is going to come from,” she told the fellows, pointing not only to the squid t-shirt but also to the introductory ecology course she took in her junior year, which in turn led her to the connections that made her PhD possible.
Li offered advice about careers in biology. She said that although a doctoral student usually earns only about $30,000-$50,000 a year, they are basically being paid to go to school and do not pay tuition, “so it's a pretty good deal.” Li said that for those drawn to work in industry, they can earn over $100,000 at the entry-level. Dr. Li said the hot areas in biology right now include disease treatment and environmental conservation. She advised the Fellows to ask as many scientists as possible in detail about the sector they are interested in, what areas might be a good focus, and to gather as much information as possible.
Other practical advice she gave to the fellows while answering their questions included:
When applying for an internship or a job, always draft a cover letter that brings a resume to life. Li selects applicants in her role, and always puts those with cover letters on top. “Cover letters should explain why you want to apply for the job and describe your accomplishments. Write it the way you would brag about your best friend.” Give concrete examples.
If applying for a doctoral program, it is critical to really ask yourself why you want to go this route. “PhD programs are rewarding, but they are also long and demanding. You may be able to accomplish your goals by getting a master’s degree or by going straight into a job after undergraduate studies. Take the time to research what education you really need for the job you want,” she advised.
A first research internship is probably not very glamorous or exciting. It might be just cleaning beakers. But Li urged the fellows to be open to learning whatever they can during the experience. Enthusiasm goes a long way when you are just starting out.
Students interested in PhD programs should talk to students enrolled in that program to gain an understanding of the program's culture.
“Nothing motivates me more than seeing people feel like they belong in science, and I love finding new ways to spark that excitement.”
Photo credit: Joost Daniels, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (2019)
The Sandra Lee Heyman Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in memory of Sandra Lee Heyman, a long-time mathematics teacher at the elementary, middle school, high school, and community college levels. The 18-month long Fellowship is aimed at promising high school students who have the opportunity to meet with STEM leaders, visit prominent institutions in the Washington, D.C., area, and access peers and mentors to support career exploration in STEM fields. There are multiple ways to support the Fellowship program, and donations to the Foundation are tax deductible.