March 30, 2020
When Dr. Bell isn't doing what she does best as a Scientist, she enjoys volunteering at church, "slow running", and spending time with her family.
Introducing Dr. Cheryl Bell
Tell us what do you do?
I am a field applications scientist at Molecular Devices. In a nutshell, our company sells scientific research equipment to advance health through drug discovery. The product that I cover is a high-end microscope that can reduce the time it takes a scientist to generate data from days to minutes. I support the sales team by demoing, training, and providing seminars on our products.
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What is your educational background?
I have a BS in Biology from Jackson State University; a MS and PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology with a focus in Genetics and Genomics from the University of Connecticut; and I completed postdoctoral training at the University of Pittsburgh.
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Why a STEM major?
As a child, I was fascinated by how the body works. Specifically, how a person could be healthy one minute, and chronically sick the next morning. When I started undergrad as a Biology/Pre-med major, I planned to become a medical doctor to help people combat disease. After graduating, I decided to pursue graduate school with the intent of making a more profound impact on the health field by becoming a scientist who could pinpoint the cause and cure for disease.
Can you briefly explain the importance of a higher education?
ย For me, higher education has been the alternative to the bootstraps that I never inherited from my ancestors. When you leave an institution of higher learning, you should not only leave with knowledge and expertise in a particular subject, but you should also take with you a community/village of those who supported you in launching yourself to a new state a being: being in new rooms that were previously inaccessible, being in new tax brackets, being the head and not the tail, being held to a higher level of respect. Education can open doors for you that you never new existed.
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Heroes: Who else deserves credit and has played a meaningful role in your life and/or career?
Naming every individual who has touched my life in a meaningful way could not be contained in a newsletter, it requires its own book(s). If I had a top 3 pick of naming names:
- My mother, Lillian Howell Bell-White, who champions education to this day. She has never missed a beat in encouraging and supporting her children (which is every child in the world) to be the greatest that they can imagine.
- Dr. Ruth Washington, a mentor and a friend, who since the day that I met her in 2006 has walked by my side from graduate school to my postdoc to my first “real job” providing wisdom, writing letters of recommendation, and being a sounding board when times got tough.
- The late Dr. Lee Aggison Jr., to whom I owe my Ph.D., as he stood in the gap for me when I didn’t even know that my options were divided. For that I’m forever grateful.
Skills from childhood: What are some important skill-sets to develop that you think is necessary to have in life??
Reading: I have always been an avid reader. This has helped me tremendously in growing my vocabulary, helping me to tease out important facts quickly, and figuring out the meaning in messages through context clues. All are important skills for a scientist.
Socialization: As a child, my mother made sure that my siblings and I were always occupied in some activity or another. Being socialized from an early age meant that I do not fear public speaking, I network naturally, and I am not afraid to speak up for what I want and need.
Being inquisitive: Kids are always asking, “Why?” I was no exception and continue to probe until this day. Can you guess why I am really good at being a scientist? (*Hint: Scientific Method)
Staying Motivated: How do you stay motivated when times get tough?
My children are my major motivators. My children have been by my side throughout my academics and my career, watching every moment unfold. I know that I am an in-house role model and that they will remember what I did more than what I said. I want them to remember me as being built Ford-tough and that they have the same DNA inside of them to be the same way.
What is your definition of success?
Success to me is waking up every morning and being completely fulfilled with your life in its current state.
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Any major accomplishments you would like to share?
My biggest accomplishment was earning a Ph.D. as a single mother of 3. ย I achieved this goal while putting forth maximum effort, which resulted in an award for the best 3-minute thesis and the honor of sharing my research on national and international platforms, while simultaneously maintaining a teaching load throughout my academic career.
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If you could tell your younger self ONE thing, what would it be?
Shoot for the stars and you’ll always surpass the moon!
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One piece of advice you would give to up and coming aspiring students majoring in STEM?
Write the vision, make it plain, and never lose sight of your goals!
This blog post is dedicated to highlighting some amazing women in STEM who are trailblazers in their respective professions.ย From scientists, to professors, and biomedical engineers, these women bring in fresh perspectives, talent, and creativity.ย They continue to break barriers even till this day, which serves as a reminder that women and girls play a critical role in science and technology.
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Maryann chizoba
I want to learn and grow more