Julia Omotade, PhD, AAMC senior science policy specialist, is a “scientist beyond the bench” who has used her experience as a cellular and molecular neuroscientist to make advances in research.
Her experiences as a Nigerian-American, coupled with the systemic barriers that contribute to underrepresentation of Black women in research and academic medicine, motivated her to create the AAMC Black Women in Scientific Research (BWiSR) project. The BWiSR is a storytelling initiative that spotlights Black women researchers as the authors of their own narratives.
Jasmine Lopez, first-year medical student and former AAMC Biomedical Research Workforce Specialist, recently sat down with Dr. Omotade to learn more about her career and her inspiration for BWiSR. Disclaimer: The interview with Dr. Omotade has been edited for clarity and length.
How did you first gain exposure to a research career, and how did you learn what the pathway to a research career would consist of?
“During an undergraduate biochemistry class, I learned about research techniques, which ignited my curiosity in scientific investigation,” said Dr. Omotade. “Once I learned about molecular techniques, I thought, ‘How do you do this in real life? Oh — through research!”
Dr. Omotade then gained her first research experience in her biochemistry professor’s lab. In the lab, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars exposed Dr. Omotade to different research career stages. After she completed her undergraduate studies, she participated in a two-year, NIH-funded, extramural postbaccalaureate program. This program motivated her to pursue a PhD program in Biochemistry, Cellular and Developmental Biology at Emory University. During her PhD program, she joined a neuroscience lab, which ultimately solidified her drive to become a neuroscientist.
What advice would you give to students interested in science and research?
“Just get started anywhere. It sounds counterintuitive, but fundamentally, you begin thinking about complex problems by learning the scientific method (the process of transforming questions and predictions about a topic into experiments to find the answers),” said Dr. Omotade.
When choosing a research experience, Dr. Omotade recommends that students reflect on their experiences, interests, and research techniques of interest to them. She advises students:
- Be curious about the questions you have always thought about.
- Don’t be afraid of emailing professors about your research interests.
- Get involved in any research opportunities you can.
Similar to Dr. Omotade’s experiences leading up to her PhD program, Karol Watson, MD, PhD, a UCLA physician-scientist featured in the AAMC’s BWiSR project, found supportive research mentors who encouraged her to explore the path of scientific discovery. “My mentor was phenomenal, [she was] a physician-scientist who stayed connected to the patients, and every single thing we did in the lab was connected back to the patients.” For the next generation of aspiring researchers, Dr. Watson advises that, “Whatever your path is, it doesn’t have to be straight — but it does have to be steady.”
Looking back on all your accomplishments as a scientist and advocate, is there anything you would tell your younger self to encourage or affirm her?
“You may be the only one or one of the few people that look like you. But don't get discouraged. Continue to push through,” said Dr. Omotade. “Imposter syndrome is so real, and it's not real because you're not good enough. It's real because there might be systems and institutions that weren't necessarily set up to accommodate the inclusive excellence that you contribute.”
“Recognize imposter syndrome,” she continued. “You can feel that it's there. Listen to it. What is it trying to tell you? What are those distortions? What are those fears? You can own it. You can write it down. But at the end of the day, find a way to recognize that those [fears] aren't real. Those are just perceptions, and you actually do belong.”
During Dr. Omotade’s interview with Heather Beasley, PhD, MS, a postdoctoral researcher at Vanderbilt University also featured in the BWiSR project, Dr. Beasley likewise stressed the importance of rising above the challenges inherent to a lack of representation. “The further you go into the faculty ranks”, said Dr. Beasley, “the fewer Black women that you see...being the first in a space comes with opposition ... but it’s also an opportunity to find your tribe and find your culture.”
How did you come up with the idea for the Black Women in Scientific Research Initiative, and why is it important to highlight the intersecting identities of Black women?
“The idea is really from my own lived experiences,” said Dr. Omotade. My parents immigrated from Nigeria to the U.S. in the 1980s. Their resilience, hard work, and sacrifices instilled in me a drive to succeed.”
“When I think about my Nigerian background, it’s about recognizing your strength and legacy and harnessing that power to move forward despite any obstacles or hurdles,” Dr. Omotade continued. “Regarding science, my background is crucial because it empowers me to not let a challenging, isolating, or unfavorable biomedical research ecosystem stop me.”
“For example, of the ten biology majors in my undergraduate cohort, nine were women, and I was the only woman of color. In my PhD program, I noticed that although there was significant representation of women, I found myself again being one of few Black women in the entire graduate program. Even within the phrase ‘women in science,’ I found that I don’t always necessarily see myself. That's why I really value intersectionality, because it gives both of my dominant identities — as a woman and as a Nigerian-American — a voice. This is really a project to say to Black women who fall at the intersection of different identities, ‘You are here, and we see you, the academic medicine community sees you, the AAMC sees you.’ There are many narratives — and they are all valuable. It's time to start uplifting that.”
What do you hope that those interested or involved in research can learn from the Black Women in Scientific Research Initiative?
“It would be a success if someone were to say, ‘I stumbled across the Black Women in Scientific Research Initiative, and that's the moment I recognized I could finally do [a particular] project that I wanted to do, or that is the moment that I realized that I could tell my story and be vulnerable,” said Dr. Omotade. A major goal of this initiative is sharing not only stories — which are powerful — but also strategies and interventions that Black women themselves have used to mitigate the lack of representation in research spaces.”
“Fundamentally, it's about empowerment, awareness, and community. We are out here. We are all rooting for you. You're not out here alone.”
“I [also] hope support and allyship for Black women researchers grows through spreading awareness of different lived experiences. It’s not ‘one-size-fits-all.’ When you talk about gender equity for women in science, one must recognize there's still a lot of people who might not relate to seemingly all-encompassing phrases. One must be open-minded to the fact that they can meet ten Black women, and they're going to have ten different stories and perspectives on the same topic. That's what allyship is about. It's listening. It's saying, ‘I hear you. I'm listening to your suggestion as a community partner in terms of how to make this problem a little bit lighter for you.’”
The BWiSR is a resource for students, including those from underrepresented backgrounds, to learn more about the importance of diverse representation in research and the wide range of opportunities research careers can provide.
For more information, students can also review the following resources on aamc.org:
- Medical Research
Learn about important science policy and advocacy topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the research field.
- PhD in Biomedical Science
Learn more about what biomedical PhD programs consist of and the career pathway to becoming a biomedical scientist.
- Why Pursue an MD-PhD?
Learn what pursuing a dual MD-PhD degree looks like, and why the careers of physician-scientists are important to directly bridge the gap between medicine and science.