I& #39;m crying. This is from someone in the biology department at UB. The dept. didn& #39;t want to accept me as a PhD because I was passionate about education just as much as I was passionate about being a molecular biologist. This is one person in that department who supported me. 1/

I had went through an entire PhD interview process all the way to the end. I had almost two years of working as a corporate scientist under my belt period and a master& #39;s degree. The reason for not accepting me? They didn& #39;t think that I cared for the program. About science. 2/

They thought that because I was passionate about serving the public and informing the public about science that I did not qualify to be a PhD scientist. They LITERALLY told me that they did not think that I would be interested in the program. I have the email.

I am literally just crying my ass off right now. Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hard

This is the stuff that I don& #39;t talk about when I say why I don& #39;t talk about my doctoral experience. I& #39;ve been through a lot

You can be a scientist that cares about the public. You don& #39;t have to choose one over the other. I hate that these programs make people value research over humanity and learning and teaching. I hate it so much.

Looking back I wouldn& #39;t change anything because I& #39;m happy where I am

But if you are under the sound of my voice on this internet, and you are in charge of a biology PhD program, you need to provide opportunities for people like me who are experts in biology to also teach others and care for others while doing research. We don& #39;t want to be robots.

Y& #39;all are losing a lot of talent because you don& #39;t want to open your mind to people who are willing to educate and create more scientists in future generations. We still deserve a seat at the table!!

I& #39;m obviously very sensitive about this but this is a real issue. I have to talk about it. this is a gigantic issue in science culture and this is something that I want to change for future generations.

But after they sent me that rejection letter and told me why they thought I wouldn& #39;t be interested in the program, I sent an email back saying I would have been a phenomenal student in their program. Now they have to see me in the newspaper and on TV. Doing science. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💀" title="Schädel" aria-label="Emoji: Schädel">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💀" title="Schädel" aria-label="Emoji: Schädel">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💀" title="Schädel" aria-label="Emoji: Schädel">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💀" title="Schädel" aria-label="Emoji: Schädel">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💀" title="Schädel" aria-label="Emoji: Schädel">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💀" title="Schädel" aria-label="Emoji: Schädel">

Now y& #39;all understand a little bit more when I say "I& #39;m doing ________ for my haters". "Haters" is my figurative term for people who tell me "no" and deny me opportunities to achieve my dreams. I had to forge my own way to where I am. Haters are my motivators.

GATEKEEPING.

YOU CAN DO BOTH! You can do biology research and be passionate about education. I literally have spent 8 years of my life literally doing that as a corporate scientist and graduate student... I was teaching at a community college while I was a drug discovery researcher.