Neil Kelleher
Walter and Mary Elizabeth Glass Professor of Chemistry, Molecular Biosciences, and Medicine, Northwestern University, USA
Advice for someone starting out? When I started my career in science, I didn't necessarily have a strategic plan; I had no great advisors and no one in my family worked in science. But I did have unbridled enthusiasm and tons of raw energy. And I think that that is something people tend to forget. Be enthusiastic! Be energetic! Another hugely important trait for people starting out is self-belief. There are many things that erode your self-efficacy and career persistence. We have set up a system of peer review that is not always constructively critical; sometimes it’s just critical. But that’s just the way it is, so don’t let it get you down!
