Neelam Sharma-Walia, PhD

How did you get involved with RFUMS, and how did your work evolve?
I joined RFUMS in 2005 as a research faculty in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. I was a full-time researcher and was genuinely passionate about pursuing a career in academia and applying for external grant funding. With the guidance and support of my mentor at RFUMS, I wrote my first NIH exploratory/developmental grant and got funded. This was my first opportunity to work on an independent project. In 2011, I was promoted to Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. I got my lab, Ph.D. students, and a research technician. I studied inflammatory pathways of arachidonic acid (cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases), focusing on the inflammation process in herpes virus-associated Kaposi’s Sarcoma and inflammatory breast cancer. In 2016, I got funding for my projects from NIH, the American Cancer Society, and other agencies. In 2017, I got promoted to Associate Professor. At this time, I was studying how viruses try to evade the immune response and how the host adapts. 

Wherever I am, it’s because of my mentors and students. I evolved with all my interactions with students, both professionally and personally. The students I work with, including graduate students, and students from Lake Forest College, and Chicago Medical School, have always taught me something new and valuable. 

How has your upbringing and education impacted you?
I received my Ph.D. in India. Growing up with brothers and a sister, I felt that my entire family always supported me. I learned early that hard work was the only way to succeed. I was also greatly influenced by my teachers, who were always engaging, humble, and compassionate. They were always ready to devote extra time to explain something to me that I didn’t understand in the classroom. I give all the credit [success in early education] to my teachers and family. Grades used to be posted publicly [which I think should be confidential] in India for everyone to see, and I was always at the top. However, I felt that book smarts weren’t everything. There are other important talents. I felt that my brother was more talented than me, but I had better grades, so I was expected to go to medical school. Everyone expected me to be a “doctor doctor.” 

How did you choose to go the PhD route?
My mom died when I was 19 years old, and it was extremely difficult for me to see her in the hospital. I also did not want to be a financial burden on my family by going to medical school. I enjoyed the Science outside of the hospital [clinical setting]. This also significantly impacted me when I became a mom to my daughter. I wanted to spend that precious time with her. 

How do you balance research and teaching?
It is always challenging to balance research and teaching in an academic career. Teaching had been a challenge for me, but it evolved over time. Sometimes you are an excellent researcher, and you know all the details and the methods, but you may not be a good presenter. Being involved in ‘teaching’ adds to your growth and development as a presenter and stimulates you to get organized and present topics difficult to comprehend more effortlessly and effectively. In addition, it is beneficial to get student feedback, address their concerns, and continue to evolve. 

What role did mentorship play in your career?
I was lucky to have great mentors throughout my career. There were always good people around me. Many women faculty from the university and outside the university have been supportive of me. I want to make sure that other women are supported by me. Unfortunately, things are not always flowery and pleasant. As I progressed in my career, I’d see less and less of my female friends and students as they would give up on their careers despite coming so far. Being a woman and a person of color, I felt demotivated at times. So, I consciously participated in mentoring in STEM, the ‘INSPIRE program’, and opened my lab on ‘Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day’. I deeply care to have representation from WIMS that can motivate girls and women to feel inspired and choose science and academia as a career path.

What advice would you give to women and girls interested in STEM?
Create your path and neglect the negativity. Be prepared to persevere. 

What advice would you give to women in STEM balancing motherhood and their career?
Learn to say NO. Also, block time on your calendar for your family. 

What is your next career goal?
I want to get more research grants and empower more students. I want to continue evolving to be a better human being by learning from my mistakes.