Thread by @ravenscimaven

I'm crying. This is from someone in the biology department at UB. The dept. didn't want to accept me as a PhD because I was passionate about education just as much as I was passionate about being a molecular biologist. This is one person in that department who supported me. 1/

I had went through an entire PhD interview process all the way to the end. I had almost two years of working as a corporate scientist under my belt period and a master's degree. The reason for not accepting me? They didn't think that I cared for the program. About science. 2/

They thought that because I was passionate about serving the public and informing the public about science that I did not qualify to be a PhD scientist. They LITERALLY told me that they did not think that I would be interested in the program. I have the email.

I am literally just crying my ass off right now. Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hard

This is the stuff that I don't talk about when I say why I don't talk about my doctoral experience. I've been through a lot

You can be a scientist that cares about the public. You don't have to choose one over the other. I hate that these programs make people value research over humanity and learning and teaching. I hate it so much.

Looking back I wouldn't change anything because I'm happy where I am

But if you are under the sound of my voice on this internet, and you are in charge of a biology PhD program, you need to provide opportunities for people like me who are experts in biology to also teach others and care for others while doing research. We don't want to be robots.

Y'all are losing a lot of talent because you don't want to open your mind to people who are willing to educate and create more scientists in future generations. We still deserve a seat at the table!!

I'm obviously very sensitive about this but this is a real issue. I have to talk about it. this is a gigantic issue in science culture and this is something that I want to change for future generations.

But after they sent me that rejection letter and told me why they thought I wouldn't be interested in the program, I sent an email back saying I would have been a phenomenal student in their program. Now they have to see me in the newspaper and on TV. Doing science. 💀💀💀💀💀💀

Now y'all understand a little bit more when I say "I'm doing ________ for my haters". "Haters" is my figurative term for people who tell me "no" and deny me opportunities to achieve my dreams. I had to forge my own way to where I am. Haters are my motivators.

please forgive these voice text errors. I am almost legally blind and my voice to text puts periods in full text instead of punctuation

And y'all will see me use the word "hate" very rarely if ever. This is something I truly do hate.

GATEKEEPING.

YOU CAN DO BOTH! You can do biology research and be passionate about education. I literally have spent 8 years of my life literally doing that as a corporate scientist and graduate student... I was teaching at a community college while I was a drug discovery researcher.

And for those of you who don't know, I AM in a PhD program right now, hoping to finish this year. I'm in a science education PhD program that can barely support my level of expertise and experience as a molecular biologist. Education programs are not equipped for people like me

Most education PhD programs are focused on K-12 teaching experiences. I am not a K-12 teacher or researcher. I am molecular biologist that wants to serve the public as a science communicator.

Interdisciplinary PhD programs in STEM are the future.

Y'all I was doing cell transfections, protein purification, CRISPR experiments, high-throughput assays, etc. for big pharma by day, and teaching at a community college by night. Guess what??? THE WORLD DIDN'T END. You can do BOTH!