Dr. Raven the Science Maven Profile picture
Sep 15, 2020 19 tweets 3 min read Read on X
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!

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More from @ravenscimaven

Jul 29
Turns out if you casually eat about 4 cups of cherries and then go for a brisk walk around the block, you probably won’t make that very important and critical home stretch to the bathroom without projectile pooping on every fiber of fabric covering your body
A true jeopardy moment: do I completely ruin this outfit RIGHT NOW and strip butt naked outside at the front door and throw the clothes directly into the trash, or try to thug it out and risk a new paint job on the house and potential new carpet. ALL BECAUSE OF THE DAMN CHERRIES
Mind you, I WAS NOT AT HOME. I WAS AT SOMEBODY ELSE’S HOUSE!!! Literally the worst LMAOOOOO
Read 4 tweets
Jun 16
I read up on some successful uses for NAD+ in alleviating Long COVID fatigue, and I went ahead and tried it, and WOW. I've been on it for the past month and that thing has steadily been knocking out that fatigue. To the point where I have been working out AND doing a day's work.
This is what I've been taking amzn.to/4bTjDCF
Today I've done more in one day than I have done in over two years and I honestly didn't know I had it in me!! Like, at this rate I can say I'm actually REALLY feeling good on a day to day basis. Also I think my psych meds are finally stabilizing and I'm literally on cloud 9.
Read 8 tweets
May 31
Y’all can read about this absolutely distressing situation of me trying to buy a home + learning that the seller didn’t want to sell to me because I’m Black, in @nytimes. Thank you @debra_kamin for your hard work investigating this + educating people about the Fair Housing Act 1/
Image
You can read the article here. There are resources and really important things to know about the home buying process included in the article. I highly recommend you read this.
nytimes.com/2024/05/31/rea…
Thank you @Dr_Gamble21 for being such a supportive partner 😭 throughout the emotional turmoil that has resulted from this
Read 5 tweets
May 23
So um…. Soooooooooo my sourdough starter exploded out of a sealed jar in a matter of hours what do I do??? It won’t stop PLEASE HELP I’m afraid to open it and it’s flowing out like crazy
Image
Can I make the bread with it ????????
Read 23 tweets
May 18
My real estate agent's BROKER just called me at 9pm on a Friday to tell me that the seller doesn't want to sell a house to me because I am BLACK. This is after the inspection, contract agreement, down payment. Baby, I'm either buying your house or buying YOUR BLOCK. CHOOSE ONE.
We all confirmed, super illegal. My agent and the broker called and they both said in 25+ years of doing real estate they NEVER had this happen. Both are older white dudes, both pissed + sick to their stomach. My agent said he wasn't going to get sleep.
I'm up because I'm honestly livid, irate, irritated. Not the news I was expecting to receive. Image
Read 6 tweets
Apr 15
This ceremony awards millions to scientists making breakthroughs. I went last year. A lotta pomp and circumstance around science that felt performative, not educational, lacking connection, & elitist. I offered to help them bridge the HUGE gap and there was like zero interest 1/
2/ I do appreciate getting invited to stuff like this, but the entire thing felt centered around celebrities and not the scientists. There were multiple Nobel Prize winning scientists there. It was frustrating. But hey, I got to meet Danny DeVito right? He's awesome by the way.
I launched a science communication and brand strategy consulting firm and have been taking clients regularly, companies, scientists, organizations who value YOU and just need help with their messaging. Investing in your science engagement and communication strategy is PRICELESS.
Read 4 tweets

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