Graduate Archer Fellowship Program Alumni Profiles
Christopher Peña
Summer 2014 Archer Fellow
Internship: League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Education
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Ph.D. Cancer Biology; April 2015
The University of Texas at San Antonio
B.S. Biology; December 2007
Career
Biomedical Education and Research Postdoctoral Fellow at UT Health San Antonio
Summer 2014 Archer Fellow
Internship: League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Education
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Ph.D. Cancer Biology; April 2015
The University of Texas at San Antonio
B.S. Biology; December 2007
Career
Biomedical Education and Research Postdoctoral Fellow at UT Health San Antonio
“My internship experience gave me a unique skill set I couldn't really develop in the clinical laboratory. Writing op-ed pieces, white papers and managing a large symposium were things I had never been exposed to in my line of work. I've since leveraged these skills in my current position to help recruit and retain young individuals in biomedical research."
Q & A with Christopher
Please give us a snapshot of your current position.
My work involves performing prostate cancer research and advancing STEM education, curricula and programs for minority serving undergraduate institutions. In the laboratory, I analyze DNA sequences from prostate biopsies and look for special regions that have the potential to show how severe the cancer will get and any treatments it may be susceptible to. When not in the lab, I work closely with colleges in the San Antonio community, helping teach, design science curriculum, and recruit undergraduate students to biomedical research or medical careers.
What has been your general career path?
I have worked in biomedical research since completing undergrad. As I earned my doctorate, I quickly became interested in science policy. Science and government are tightly linked---funding for science research (especially for cancer and other diseases) primarily comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Congress appropriates how much money the NIH gets. Moreover, the court of public opinion influences Congress. Therefore, my career path has been centered on becoming an ambassador for science, helping familiarize young and old minds in the importance and levity of biomedical research to bring much needed support and funding to it.
How has being an Archer Fellow influenced your professional path and goals?
My internship experience gave me a unique skill set I couldn't really develop in the clinical laboratory. Writing op-ed pieces, white papers and managing a large symposium were things I had never been exposed to in my line of work. I've since leveraged these skills in my current position to help recruit and retain young individuals in biomedical research. By helping to teach and develop programs that make science more accessible to these students, especially underrepresented minorities, I hope to bring more support, appreciation, and funding to the sciences throughout my career.
What do you value the most about your experience as an Archer Fellow?
I value the long-lasting friendships I made in my cohort and the diverse perspectives we all shared. Before I began my fellowship, I was a graduate student doing biomedical research in a clinical laboratory. While that was enjoyable, it was a breath of fresh air to leave behind science for a bit to spend quality time with individuals who wanted to influence and shape their world through working in the policy arena. Sharing my background and expertise with theirs provided a unique experience that I continue to hold in high regard to this very day.
What do you value the most about your experience as an Archer Fellow?
Give and take--our government is set up such that to make any sort of progress, concessions always have to be made. I quickly learned that can be why government is a slow, frustrating process. However, even if the end result takes a while, it is always worth the work that is put in by diverse groups of people.
What do you value the most about being an Archer Alumnus?
The alumni network has been remarkably supportive in helping me identify career opportunities right after graduate school. To this day, I still converse with Archer Alumni for career advice as well as to uncover opportunities to go back to D.C. and participate in advocacy events.
What is your favorite memory from the program?
Interns at my organization were invited for a Department of Education press conference. As I took my seat in the East Room of the White House, an older woman sitting a row ahead turned around, extended her hand, and introduced herself as Senator Elizabeth Warren. I immediately geeked out and had no idea what to say to her. My attention quickly was taken away by President Obama as he entered the room and made eye contact with me. I hardly remember what his speech was about, but it was still awesome sitting five feet away from the Commander in Chief.
Do you have advice for prospective students?
Don't hold back, even if you have little experience in public policy. Apply for the fellowship and take advantage of every opportunity that's given to you while in D.C. Go to the dinners, the networking events, press conferences, seminars—anything where you have the opportunity to meet new people. The connections and experiences you make as an Archer Fellow will follow you throughout your career and may be the next stepping stone towards your next major position.
Please give us a snapshot of your current position.
My work involves performing prostate cancer research and advancing STEM education, curricula and programs for minority serving undergraduate institutions. In the laboratory, I analyze DNA sequences from prostate biopsies and look for special regions that have the potential to show how severe the cancer will get and any treatments it may be susceptible to. When not in the lab, I work closely with colleges in the San Antonio community, helping teach, design science curriculum, and recruit undergraduate students to biomedical research or medical careers.
What has been your general career path?
I have worked in biomedical research since completing undergrad. As I earned my doctorate, I quickly became interested in science policy. Science and government are tightly linked---funding for science research (especially for cancer and other diseases) primarily comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Congress appropriates how much money the NIH gets. Moreover, the court of public opinion influences Congress. Therefore, my career path has been centered on becoming an ambassador for science, helping familiarize young and old minds in the importance and levity of biomedical research to bring much needed support and funding to it.
How has being an Archer Fellow influenced your professional path and goals?
My internship experience gave me a unique skill set I couldn't really develop in the clinical laboratory. Writing op-ed pieces, white papers and managing a large symposium were things I had never been exposed to in my line of work. I've since leveraged these skills in my current position to help recruit and retain young individuals in biomedical research. By helping to teach and develop programs that make science more accessible to these students, especially underrepresented minorities, I hope to bring more support, appreciation, and funding to the sciences throughout my career.
What do you value the most about your experience as an Archer Fellow?
I value the long-lasting friendships I made in my cohort and the diverse perspectives we all shared. Before I began my fellowship, I was a graduate student doing biomedical research in a clinical laboratory. While that was enjoyable, it was a breath of fresh air to leave behind science for a bit to spend quality time with individuals who wanted to influence and shape their world through working in the policy arena. Sharing my background and expertise with theirs provided a unique experience that I continue to hold in high regard to this very day.
What do you value the most about your experience as an Archer Fellow?
Give and take--our government is set up such that to make any sort of progress, concessions always have to be made. I quickly learned that can be why government is a slow, frustrating process. However, even if the end result takes a while, it is always worth the work that is put in by diverse groups of people.
What do you value the most about being an Archer Alumnus?
The alumni network has been remarkably supportive in helping me identify career opportunities right after graduate school. To this day, I still converse with Archer Alumni for career advice as well as to uncover opportunities to go back to D.C. and participate in advocacy events.
What is your favorite memory from the program?
Interns at my organization were invited for a Department of Education press conference. As I took my seat in the East Room of the White House, an older woman sitting a row ahead turned around, extended her hand, and introduced herself as Senator Elizabeth Warren. I immediately geeked out and had no idea what to say to her. My attention quickly was taken away by President Obama as he entered the room and made eye contact with me. I hardly remember what his speech was about, but it was still awesome sitting five feet away from the Commander in Chief.
Do you have advice for prospective students?
Don't hold back, even if you have little experience in public policy. Apply for the fellowship and take advantage of every opportunity that's given to you while in D.C. Go to the dinners, the networking events, press conferences, seminars—anything where you have the opportunity to meet new people. The connections and experiences you make as an Archer Fellow will follow you throughout your career and may be the next stepping stone towards your next major position.
