Now that you’ve met all our leaders for the year, we’d like to highlight some of the people who help with AWIS DC’s most successful program: our mentoring circles. Our mentoring circles are a success because of the fantastic leader who organize and keep everyone on task! Please welcome our first mentoring circle leader: Sarah Staton.
Sarah J. R. Staton, Ph.D. earned her doctorate in bioanalytical chemistry from Arizona State University. There she was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship to conduct research throughout Ecuador. Currently, she is an NRC Postdoctoral Fellow at the Naval Research Laboratory.
What do you do?
My postdoctoral research integrates optical and electrokinetic forces to generate novel biodiagnostic devices. The goal of my research is to expand the diagnostic capabilities and sensitivity for diseases like malaria by combining non-invasive separation and detection techniques. Our lab has made advances in microfluidic platforms that combine optical and electrokinetic forces to interrogate analytes from >1 µm to 10’s of nm.
Why did you want to lead a mentoring circle?
I was drawn to lead a mentoring circle in order to strengthen the community-ties of female scientists by providing them tools to enhance their success, and to promote scientific inter-generational mentorship.
What do you hope people get out of the mentoring circle you lead?
I hope that my mentoring circle members feel supported, have a free non-judgmental space to brainstorm about challenges, and come away from the experience feeling that they got something out of it.
What ideas do you have for your mentoring circle? What have you tried?
Over the last year I have tried to introduce career/personal goal making activities coupled with accountability to help members address, define, and meet their goals.
What do you get out of your mentoring circle?
Mentoring circles has been a wonderful opportunity to create an enduring support network that also pushes me to be brave enough to follow my goals.