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Meet a real Scientist, Medical, Byron Ford
Interview
Byron Ford, Ph.D., Neuroscience Researcher, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
Byron Ford, Ph.D., Neuroscience Researcher, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia

1. I chose this career because...

2. My typical workday involves...

3. What I like best and least about my work …

4. My career goals are...

5. When I’m not working, I like to …


1. I chose this career because...

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Byron in the lab
Byron in the lab

I chose to become a neuroscience researcher because I’ve always liked science. After earning a biology degree, I took a year off and worked in a research lab. Until then, I thought I wanted to be a medical doctor, but I really liked the lab work. I decided to pursue a career in science research and entered graduate school instead of medical school.

My First Great Mentor

My biology instructor at Grambling State University in Grambling, La., was the first person I met who was interested in research. She spent summers working on research projects at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn. She also introduced me to the person who later became my graduate school advisor. Once I started working toward my Ph.D. at Meharry, my first mentor was still working summers there. We worked together on several projects and published two papers on our research. What’s ironic is that now, she is working on a project in my laboratory.

My Second Great Mentor

My graduate school advisor was another great mentor. He was influential to my career path, because he enjoyed neuroscience research. He also introduced me to my postdoctoral advisor. When my postdoctoral advisor accepted a position as the director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), I went with him to continue my research.

Education
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Grambling State University, Grambling, La.
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tenn.
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.

2. My typical workday involves...

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Byron using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine
Byron using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine

My typical workday revolves around my duties as a principal investigator and an assistant professor at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. In the morning, I go to the lab and review everyone’s progress. Currently, I supervise four undergraduate students, one research assistant, three Ph.D. students, and a postdoctoral fellow. We discuss things like experimental results, problems, changes, and next steps. I assist with experiments when necessary, and I spend a lot of time in the office taking care of management-related activities.

My major duties are:
  • Researching, including performing experiments and analyzing data. About 90% of my day is spent doing research-related activities.
  • Managing, including writing grants and preparing manuscripts of research results for publication.
  • Reading scientific literature to keep up-to-date on advances in my field. At least a quarter of my day is spent reading.
  • Lecturing for about 6 hours per year at the college (three 2-hour lectures). I searched for a position with minimal teaching responsibilities, because I wanted more time for research.
  • Speaking, by invitation, at major national science meetings and seminars at universities. Recently, I’ve traveled to some cool places like New Orleans, New York, Washington, D.C., Nashville, and Honolulu.




3. What I like best and least about my work …

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Byron giving a presentation about his research
Byron giving a presentation about his research

What I like best about my work is the independence and the flexible schedule. I get to choose what, when, and how I want to study something. I also appreciate what we’re doing for minority students at Morehouse School of Medicine, which is a historically black college. We train a lot of minority students and focus on research involving diseases that disproportionately affect minorities.

What I like least about my work is the administrative tasks involving lots of paperwork. I prefer to spend more time in the lab.

4. My career goals are...

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Byron using a DNA microarray system
Byron using a DNA microarray system

My career goals are to contribute to our understanding of the brain during stroke. Through research, I hope we can learn ways to protect the brain from stroke, repair the brain following stroke, and develop effective treatments. I plan to continue my research and expect to retire at Morehouse School of Medicine.

5. When I’m not working, I like to …

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Byron on vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Byron on vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

When I’m not working, I like to hang-out with friends, travel, and shop. I also love watching sports live and on television, especially NFL football.

Byron riding horseback on vacation


















































     
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