There’s something that’s been on my mind for quite a while, probably since December, when I took time to look back at 2020 and reflect on the power of coming together as a community to make it through this challenging year. The work we are doing is unique — cutting edge. But what’s it going […]
Tag Archives: Culture
Inclusivity is key to scientific advancements: Why I helped start “Out Toxicologists and Allies”
In the modern world of science, things move fast. There is always a new innovation or discovery just around the corner, ready to change the field. And it’s all the result of people working together: a combination of great dedication, rigorous research, and steadfast support from colleagues. However, diversity of thought is the silent understructure […]
Cruella’s at the door
That’s what I call her: Cruella, my inner critic, the woman who’s perched in my psyche just dying to point out how much I suck. She raised her mean head just this week after I flubbed a presentation at a critical meeting. I was mortified at my own mistake, seeing in my mind’s eye how […]
Cruella’s at the door
That’s what I call her: Cruella, my inner critic, the woman who’s perched in my psyche just dying to point out how much I suck. She raised her mean head just this week after I flubbed a presentation at a critical meeting. I was mortified at my own mistake, seeing in my mind’s eye how […]
Why a fulfilling career in science requires more than just brainpower
Fun fact: I live in a jungle. Well, not exactly – but my 450 square foot condo is home to 55 indoor plants, which is as close to a jungle as you can get in the city. My fascination with plants extends far beyond the walls of my home – it fostered within me a […]
Managing your manager –– and yourself
Brushing off a classic article to highlight strategies to improve this crucial working relationship during the age of COVID-19 We may have just irrevocably shifted into a world where we may no longer co-locate on a daily basis with the people we work with. Some of us may go into the office full-time out of […]
Humor us: Or, exercising, meditating, and having sex all at the same time
Are you craving laughter? Outright mirth and that unfettered sense of happiness? A certain quality of playful fun that you can share with trusted colleagues? Does it feel like humor is in short supply? Does it feel like it’s just now, under the pall of COVID-19, or has this forced COVID-19 lifestyle shed a light […]
You can’t yoga your way out of burnout: Reflections on keeping a team energized and productive during a pandemic
This pandemic year has been tough on all of us. But as I reflect back on 2020, I’ve realized that the strains also brought opportunity. The profound dislocations of the year prompted new ways of thinking about nurturing team culture, buoying morale and maintaining strong forward momentum as a business amid steep challenges. As chief […]
Challenging the central dogma
You may have caught Malcolm Gladwell’s The Obscure Virus Club on his Revisionist History podcast. I heard it this past year and thought of it again recently after listening to one of our internal short-course training sessions at AVROBIO on the Principles of Biology. A day later, I caught Short Wave’s podcast on Ignaz Semmelweis, […]
Nurturing a culture of “smart speed” to bring gene therapy to the world
As we approach our 5th anniversary and surpass our 125th hire, we have come to recognize that one of the most important characteristics for success at AVROBIO is a commitment to our mantra of “smart speed.” We’ve been thinking a lot about what that term means for us – and for the field of gene […]
