This week's spotlight is Dr. Sara Dolan! She is a professor in the psychology and neuroscience department and is an associate dean for professional development in the graduate school.
What interested you to pursue a career in STEM? (e.g.: Particular incident, role model, etc.)
Both of my parents suffered from medical issues which involved impaired brain functioning. Although as I grew up I wanted careers in vastly different fields, my AP Biology class in high school was "it" for me. I had a young female teacher who helped us understand that women can and should study biological science. I thought I needed to go to medical school to scientifically study the etiology of neurological disorders so I could help people like my parents, but then I learned in college that getting a PhD is a more direct route to tackling important scientific questions. How would you describe your work to the public?
The way we think influences how we behave. My work focuses on identifying how people process their thoughts and translate them into coping skills.
Outside of the lab, what do you enjoy doing?
I love to travel and to watch college sports. I especially love to travel to watch Baylor basketball games! Is there something during your research career that you have really enjoyed or want to share?
Helping non-scientists understand and use psychological science has been a very rewarding experience.
If you can give a piece of advice to the younger generation, what would it be?
Be vulnerable and open to feeback - ask for help. And be resilient. We all get feedback that is designed to improve our work. The more we can use that feedback constructively, the less we take it personally, the better our work will be.
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