1. What is your current role at CMRI?

I currently work as a biostatistician in the BCB. I love this role because I get to collaborate with research teams all across the hospital/CMRI and be involved with the research process from beginning to end. From assisting with study design to completing data analysis, it's so exciting to see how robust our research is here at Children’s Mercy!

2. What drew you to a career at CMRI?

I spent time at CM as a child due to chronic kidney stones that required a few surgeries. The nurses and physicians I interacted with were so impactful in my comfort here. Once I was in late high school/early college I learned that the CMRI was being built. At that point, I was well on my way to a Biology degree and decided I'd like to try research. I started working here right out of college as a research assistant in July 2021. My mentors, Catherine Koertje, MD, ACRP-CP, ACRP-PM, Steve Leeder, PharmD, PhD, and Brooke Fridley, PhD, have been so supportive of my professional development. I completed my MS in Data Science in 2023 and have been working as a data scientist/biostatistician since then.

3. What are your research/career goals?

I eventually want to return to school and earn a PhD somewhere in the biostatistics/computational biology/bioinformatics fields. 

4. What is your favorite thing about working at CMRI?

I really love working with so many different research teams and seeing a variety of projects!

5. What is on your bucket list?

My husband and I both love birdwatching so we want to travel to different places and see cool birds. Traveling to biodiverse countries like Costa Rica is a priority for sure!