Hello Bridge!

I didn’t realize I wanted to pursue a PhD until my junior year of college, and by then I already felt behind. I loved Neuroscience and Music, but I didn’t know what you could do with degrees in either field. A PhD seemed like the logical next step, though I didn’t fully understand what graduate school involved. My advisor did her best to set my expectations and explained what programs would be looking for, especially research experience, which I didn’t have much of. Still, I applied during my senior year. I only got one interview, felt completely out of my depth, and ultimately didn’t get in.

After that, I knew I needed more research experience if I ever wanted another shot. Around that time, the PI of a lab at Carnegie Mellon reached out to my undergraduate advisor asking if she had any students looking for a job. My advisor knew exactly what I needed and connected us and just like that, the door opened. It felt a little like fate, but really it was the power of having someone in my corner who believed in me.

That first summer was rough and I cried on the bus ride home more than once; despite that, I knew my mentor was pushing me because she believed I could grow. Over two years, I built technical skills, learned the language of science, and slowly started to find my footing. Eventually, my PI told me that she thought I was ready to apply for graduate school again. After many interviews, I had to choose between staying in the lab I loved at CMU or stepping beyond what was familiar to see what else was possible. It was a hard choice because I adored my lab mates and PI, but I knew I needed to really feel the difference between being a technician and being a graduate student.

When I arrived at Michigan, I knew mentorship would matter most. I was lucky enough to connect with the first PI I rotated with, and long before it was over, I knew she was someone whose mentorship would shape me for the rest of my life. She was the kind of mentor who saw the best version of me and helped me rise toward it, all while reminding me I was more than just my science. The research itself was exciting, and she encouraged me to explore new ideas, but honestly, I would have joined her lab even if that hadn’t been the case.

Looking back, my path has had moments of uncertainty, but it was shaped at every turn by mentors who believed in me before I fully believed in myself. The Bridge Mentoring Initiative feels like a way of paying that forward. It’s about honoring the people who lit the way for me by making sure others don’t have to walk this road alone. No matter where your beginnings are, there are mentors who can meet you where you are and help shed light on the paths ahead. And if the path isn’t clear, we’ll build one together. Because science has space for all of us, and every student deserves the chance to see themselves succeed.

Here to help,

Christen

Vice President, Bridge Mentoring Initiative