Today I am officially an associate professor with tenure @BCMHouston. A thread reflecting my gratitude 1/5

I am grateful to the members of my lab & collaborators ( @sromano23, many others not on twitter) who since 2012 have worked so hard to get us to this point. We made unexpected discoveries, published papers of which I am proud, earned 2 R01s & other grants and had fun doing it 2/5

I’m grateful to my mentors/supervisors/dept chairs Peter Agre, @marnieeh, Mary-Ann Bjornsti, Cheryl Walker, @Goodell_Lab & my colleagues @UABSOM and @BCMHouston for their support and encouragement at every career stage 3/5

I’m grateful to my wife and kids for their unconditional love and support. Nothing puts life in perspective like a teenage daughter telling you that your lab is less important than getting a ride to my friend’s house, or that swim team practice trumps a grant deadline 4/5

I was born in the USA to a supportive family that could afford to send me to college. I didn’t need to speak a foreign language or be separated from my family while earning tenure. I faced little or no discrimination. These advantages are 100% luck & I acknowledge that 5/5