What are your primary job responsibilities?

As Interim Dean, I oversee the departments in the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering. In addition, I maintain a research group at UNC-Greensboro where we are studying new methods in organic chemistry.

What is a typical work day-in-your-life like?

As an Interim Dean, I have several meetings during my day (~4-5 hours each day on average) and I lead about half of those meetings. This means a portion of my day is preparing for meetings and communicating the results of those meetings to others. I spend about an hour a day working on various research projects, manuscript preparations/reviews, and grant preparations/reviews.

How did you find your first job?

Applied for about 50 academic positions at universities around the US and was given the offer at UNC-Greensboro.

What level of education (Bachelor's, Masters, PhD, etc.) is required to do your job? 

PhD

What is your work schedule like? Do you ever work weekends or nights?

Yes, I often work nights and sometimes weekends. That said, I have also been coaching my daughters' MS or HS softball team, which means that I leave work early most days in the Spring, but I need to make up outside of the regular workday.

Do you travel for work? If so, in what capacity, and how often?

When I was a regular faculty member, I usually gave 5 or so talks at universities around the US during the academic year and then a weeklong conference in the summer. As Interim Dean I don't travel as much, but still usually travel 2-3 times throughout the year.

What is your work environment like? Do you work mostly with a team or mostly independently? Do you stand, sit, or move most of the day?

I have a standing desk that I use so that I am not sitting down for most of the day. I lead several teams and touch base with them to make sure that we are making progress toward specific goals.

What do you like most about your job?

I love being a positive impact on others' careers. I love giving my research group life-changing experiences like that afforded to me at the U of M. As an administrator I like having a voice at the table to influence the direction of a school.

What are some tools or skills that you can't live without? These can be technologies, soft skills, hardware, or anything else you can think of.

Communication is critical, both verbal and written. Leadership and taking positive criticism has also been key to what I do. With respect to academic leadership, I strongly recommend doing professional development workshops.

What skills, traits, talents do you have that you think make you a good fit for your job?

I think that my creativity and willingness to speak up and propose ideas has been beneficial to me.

What's your best productivity trick?

Have short term (daily or weekly), mid-term (annual), and long-term (5+ year) goals. Write them down and refer to these goals. You can adjust the goals, but make sure that you are taking actions to move in the direction of your goals.

Do you have any habits that are essential to your professional success that you wish you started earlier?

Gratitude is free and an extremely powerful leadership tool. If people feel that they are a valued member of the team, they will work harder and the team has bigger and better successes.

What's the best career advice you've ever received? What career advice would you give to someone starting out in your field?

Being curious and asking questions is much more important than knowing all the information (especially in the age of smart phones and generative AI). Advice that I would give is to don't be afraid to ask for help and assistance. There is a saying, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go as a team."

How do you build community in your career field? Are you part of any professional organizations?

Attending conferences is great, but don't just sit in the back and talk with people you know. Ask questions and talk with people during informal interaction events. When possible, go to smaller conferences, especially Gordon Conference if you can. Realize that most of us are introverts, but you must step out of your comfort zone and talk with others in the field. It'll be tough as first, but it gets easier as you get to know people.

Do you have a favorite memory from your time at the University of Minnesota?

Doing undergraduate research was amazing. I was exposed to the excitement of running a reaction that nobody ever ran before and making compounds that have never been made. The thrill of those moments have never left me.

Do you know where undergraduate students or recent grads can find more information about internships and opportunities at your company/institution?

We have an REU where undergraduate students go to the UK (University of Bath) for the summer. Recent graduates can apply for PhD programs in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UNCG or a PhD in Nanoscience or Nanoengineering at JSNN.