Alyssa Juergens
Research Technologist - LEAH Laboratories
“You can’t control the direction of the wind, but you can adjust the sails.”
Watch the video below to learn what inspires Alyssa
Read Alyssa’s full profile below
Where did you grow up?
Upstate New York
Who was your favorite teacher, and why?
My favorite teacher was my junior year chemistry class. He always made the labs fun and interactive and connected them to real-world situations. I always leaned more toward biology, but he made chemistry more enjoyable.
What inspired you to pursue a career in STEM/Healthcare?
During my sophomore year biology course, we learned about stem cells. The video we watched showed the possibility of stem cells as a therapy for fixing paralysis. As an athlete and someone who loves to exercise, the thought of being able to give someone that back who has suffered an injury would be an amazing medical feat.
What do you do in your current role/career?
I work in a lab creating gene-edited therapies for pets and their people at a biotechnology start-up company.
What were your moments of fear/challenges in your career?
A challenge I faced was deciding where to go for undergrad and then what to do after college. I wasn’t sure what choice to make, and it was important that I talked it through with many of my family and friends. The choice between going straight to graduate school or working for a few years was a hard debate, but I believe I made the right choice.
What are some of the innovations in science that you are most excited about?
I am super interested in cell therapies for all health implications, from cancer to autoimmune diseases. It is cool to see our understanding of cells increase year after year, and then take that knowledge to translate into medicine.
What’s next for you?/What would you like to do when you “grow up’? (retire, etc.)/ what is something you hope to accomplish in the future?
I am in the process of applying to graduate school for a Ph.D. I want to gain a full scope of immunology and use that to create something that can help people. When I “grow up” I hope to be an effective science communicator and support the next generation to advance society.
Personal style/fashion tip?
I would say my personal style is athleisure. I prioritize comfort over style for sure!
Current book/book you love?
I have been big into non-fiction science books recently. I love the 3-book series by Siddharth Mukherjee that includes “The Emperor of All Maladies”, “The Gene”, and “The Song of the Cell”.
