Not 1/2 Way!

As some of you know, Annie had the distinct honor of having a paper published in Cell on Friday. She was first author. It is hard to put this in context for those not in science, but getting published is the name of the game in academic science. Over the course of grad school, Annie was published numerous times and twice as a first author. These publications helped Annie to develop her thesis, prove to her thesis committee that she was ready to receive her PhD and also obtain a position in the lab she is currently a postdoctoral fellow in. That is what publications do for a graduate student.

Much the same, publications help progress the career of scientists and ensure that they are able to receive funding, institutional support and invitations to collaborate on other research projects (like laying a foundation for a house). In less than 2 years, Annie has not only been able to get a publication or even a first author publication but a publication with Cell! Cell is on top of the pyramid along with Nature and having a publication with either of these journals puts Annie among a very select group of scientists (like laying a bomb shelter as a basement to build your house on).

As the title of this post implies, by no means has Annie done this 1/2 way. Every step has been with purpose and determination and she has earned every word that got published. Annie has not only maximized the opportunity given to her here at Vanderbilt but has established a new par level of achievement that the scientific community is realizing and allowing her to work in. As has always been the case but now more defined, the sky is the limit for Annie and opportunities will be easier to find based on her extremely diligent work.

Here are links to the online version of the Cell paper as well as an article from the Vanderbilt newspaper. The write up in the Vanderbilt newspaper is extremely good for us non-scientists to be able to wrap our heads around the work she is doing.