Explore RTI Careers

My lab studies the neurobiological mechanisms underlying psychiatric illnesses. Our goal is to develop pharmacological treatments for substance use disorders, stress disorders, and pain disorders. I have always been curious about the structures of human and animal behavior, and I was thrilled to discover that there were biological rules guiding behavior in the brain. Developing new ideas for grants and projects is one of my favorite parts of my work. When I’m looking for inspiration, I read across multiple fields to spark ideas, explore historical literature for lost insights, dive into available datasets, chat with friends and colleagues, and then disconnect to give myself time to digest the information.

I had never expected being able to work in research – I was a parole officer with a master’s degree and a knack for data collection. Getting hired by and working for RTI changed my perception of my career potential. In my first year, I developed and contributed to multiple proposals for large federal grants, assisted in developing a novel research methodology, and contributed to projects across a variety of portfolios. Crucially, my more senior colleagues guided and mentored me throughout those processes. With their support and the array of resources embedded in RTI’s training structure, I was able to confidently transition from being a practitioner to a capable researcher. The prospect of holding new, challenging roles on projects at the forefront of my field continues to drive me. I feel privileged to be doing this work, generally, but also alongside subject matter experts under the same mission. I’m here to stay.

I would love to see RTI become synonymous with equity-centered research. I don’t want to create a new silo where equity-centered work is only done in one place within this research institute.  My ultimate vision is when clients engage with us, they are engaging with researchers that conduct equity-centered work…always. It’s our differentiator.