Graduate Archer Fellowship Program Alumni Profiles
Jolie Schafer
Summer 2017 Archer Fellow
Internship: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
Education
Houston Baptist University
B.S. Biology; May 2012
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Ph.D. Immunology; August 2018
Career
Medical Science Liaison at Teva Pharmaceuticals
Summer 2017 Archer Fellow
Internship: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
Education
Houston Baptist University
B.S. Biology; May 2012
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Ph.D. Immunology; August 2018
Career
Medical Science Liaison at Teva Pharmaceuticals
“As a Fellow, you will have doors open to you that other D.C. interns will not. I will forever treasure the months I spent in D.C. learning about policy and gaining new perspectives on how important it is for scientists to be involved in the U.S. government."
Q & A with Jolie
Please tell us more about your current position.
I am a scientific expert on headache/ migraine. I provide educational information to physicians and researchers on the headache disease state and a soon to be Food and Drug Administration-approved migraine drug. I am a remote employee, so I work from home and travel within my territory to meet with physicians.
What has been your general career path?
After I received my undergraduate degree, I worked in a breast cancer lab at MD Anderson Cancer Center for a year. I then attended graduate school at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center where I studied natural killer cells and their use as a cancer therapy. During my last summer of graduate school, I was an Archer Fellow and interned with ASPR/BARDA within HHS. Upon return to graduate school, I defended my dissertation and started working with Teva the next month as a Medical Science Liaison! I have my dream job and I know that my experience as an Archer Fellow helped prepare me even more.
How has being an Archer Fellow influenced your professional path and goals?
As an Archer Fellow I was able to gain real world work experience at a highly respected US government agency. As an Archer Fellow I solidified my interests in moving away from the lab and to start a career either within the government or industry. My goal is always to help people through science and the Archer program opened my eyes to so many scientific career paths I never knew existed. I am grateful for the valuable relationships I made in D.C. that helped me refine my career goals and get me to where I am today.
What do you value the most about your experience as an Archer Fellow?
As a trained scientist, I came into the Archer Program with a different perspective. Scientists aren't the best at having conversations with individuals with differing perspectives. I value the relationships I made and the conversations skills I gained with people who held very different opinions and beliefs than I have. I believe this skill is tremendously valuable in my current position where I interact with physicians everyday who have varying opinions.
What was the most important thing you learned as an Archer Fellow?
The most important thing I learned during my time as an Archer Fellow would be how the US government interacts with scientists in multiple ways. My goal starting the program was to do just that. I was able to meet many former scientists who now work in different capacities with the US government. I wholeheartedly believe scientists should take a more active role in learning about public policy and how we as scientists can help shape the funding landscape and decisions that impact scientists starting in Washington.
What do you value the most about being an Archer Alumna?
I value the network and support I have with the Archer Alumni. I am excited to help future Archer Fellows in any way that I can. The Archer family is an amazing support system that continues to cheer me on post Archer Fellow.
What is your favorite memory from the program?
My favorite Graduate Program in Public Policy memory was getting to tour the Eisenhower executive office building with one a GSBS alumna. She prepared a private tour for my roommate Jessica and I. We were able to view the White House from the Vice President's office deck- which was pretty cool. (Also, my roommate Jessica made the most amazing cakes).
Do you have advice for prospective students?
100% go for it. There are only a few times in your life where you have the luxury to take big risks and try new things. As a Fellow you will have doors open to you that other D.C. interns will not. I will forever treasure the months I spent in D.C. learning about policy and gaining new perspectives on how important it is for scientists to be involved in the U.S. government. More scientists are needed in Washington!!
Please tell us more about your current position.
I am a scientific expert on headache/ migraine. I provide educational information to physicians and researchers on the headache disease state and a soon to be Food and Drug Administration-approved migraine drug. I am a remote employee, so I work from home and travel within my territory to meet with physicians.
What has been your general career path?
After I received my undergraduate degree, I worked in a breast cancer lab at MD Anderson Cancer Center for a year. I then attended graduate school at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center where I studied natural killer cells and their use as a cancer therapy. During my last summer of graduate school, I was an Archer Fellow and interned with ASPR/BARDA within HHS. Upon return to graduate school, I defended my dissertation and started working with Teva the next month as a Medical Science Liaison! I have my dream job and I know that my experience as an Archer Fellow helped prepare me even more.
How has being an Archer Fellow influenced your professional path and goals?
As an Archer Fellow I was able to gain real world work experience at a highly respected US government agency. As an Archer Fellow I solidified my interests in moving away from the lab and to start a career either within the government or industry. My goal is always to help people through science and the Archer program opened my eyes to so many scientific career paths I never knew existed. I am grateful for the valuable relationships I made in D.C. that helped me refine my career goals and get me to where I am today.
What do you value the most about your experience as an Archer Fellow?
As a trained scientist, I came into the Archer Program with a different perspective. Scientists aren't the best at having conversations with individuals with differing perspectives. I value the relationships I made and the conversations skills I gained with people who held very different opinions and beliefs than I have. I believe this skill is tremendously valuable in my current position where I interact with physicians everyday who have varying opinions.
What was the most important thing you learned as an Archer Fellow?
The most important thing I learned during my time as an Archer Fellow would be how the US government interacts with scientists in multiple ways. My goal starting the program was to do just that. I was able to meet many former scientists who now work in different capacities with the US government. I wholeheartedly believe scientists should take a more active role in learning about public policy and how we as scientists can help shape the funding landscape and decisions that impact scientists starting in Washington.
What do you value the most about being an Archer Alumna?
I value the network and support I have with the Archer Alumni. I am excited to help future Archer Fellows in any way that I can. The Archer family is an amazing support system that continues to cheer me on post Archer Fellow.
What is your favorite memory from the program?
My favorite Graduate Program in Public Policy memory was getting to tour the Eisenhower executive office building with one a GSBS alumna. She prepared a private tour for my roommate Jessica and I. We were able to view the White House from the Vice President's office deck- which was pretty cool. (Also, my roommate Jessica made the most amazing cakes).
Do you have advice for prospective students?
100% go for it. There are only a few times in your life where you have the luxury to take big risks and try new things. As a Fellow you will have doors open to you that other D.C. interns will not. I will forever treasure the months I spent in D.C. learning about policy and gaining new perspectives on how important it is for scientists to be involved in the U.S. government. More scientists are needed in Washington!!
