Karmella Haynes, PhD •  Synthetic Biologist

Section Styles spotlight-header

 

I am a

Synthetic Biologist

Karmella Haynes, PhD

Presented by superhuman body + if/then
MY PATH

how i became an oil painter, community builder & Synthetic Biologist.

MAJOR INFLUENCES

  • My Dad

    The passion my dad had for his work as an electrical engineer and love of STEM really inspired me. Being able to go to MIT, the place he’d dreamed of attending, was an accomplishment for both of us.

  • My Mom

    My mom is so brave and capable. She used to tell me math was her worst subject, but she was writing up budget descriptions at work that nobody else could come close to. She had her own "hidden figure" story of being overlooked for a raise she deserved.

  • Teachers

    My high school biology teacher organized someone to show us how to do yeast colony plates and DNA gel electrophoresis, a lab that uses an electric field to separate DNA fragments by size. And I was like … I love this. I wanted to learn more.

  • My Mentors

    My research mentors, like Mary Lou Purdue at MIT and Malcolm Campbell at Davidson College, had a profound impact on my career path. One introduces me to model systems like fruit flies, the other got me on NPR’s Science Friday!

  • My Post-Doc Advisor

    I loved working with Pam Silver and the team at Harvard Medical School. They were doing so much creative stuff in their (very productive) lab. We worked hard, but also played hard. It was a lot of fun!

Sometimes demanding space for yourself also makes space for others.

Throughout my career, I’ve seen how important it is to speak up for what you need—whether it’s recognition, rest, or just room to do your best work. It’s not always easy, but by standing your ground, you show others they can do the same. Demanding space for yourself isn’t selfish—it opens doors and shifts the culture, creating a place where everyone can succeed. When we make space for ourselves, we make space for others to feel seen, heard, and valued too.

Major Milestones

HBCU Tour.

I went on a historic black college and university tour in high school with a bunch of at-risk kids, black and Latino kids. We got handed applications and they waived the application fee.

MIT Research Program.

I was selected for a summer research program at MIT as an undergraduate, which gave me valuable research experience. I participated for two summers.

Getting my PhD

I earned my PhD in Molecular Genetics at Washington University in St. Louis, where I studied how proteins interact with DNA to control gene activity in cells.

Pursuing Post-Doc & Faculty.

I pursued my postdoc at Davidson College, where I worked on using DNA to model a computer processor. Later, I joined Arizona State University and then Emory as a faculty member, teaching and continuing my research on synthetic biology and gene regulation.

Things I learned

along the way:

  • It is important to set good boundaries to protect yourself.

    This isn’t something I was born knowing how to do, and it wasn’t a skill I picked up at home. I had to actually learn what healthy boundaries look like, and how to draw them. Having boundaries doesn't mean you can’t still be empathetic and care about other people. But protecting your boundaries is a critical component of self care.

  • You don’t know what you don’t know.

    Science has a way of surprising you—what seems straightforward can turn out to be much more complex. I’ve learned that it’s okay not to have all the answers right away. The important thing is staying curious, asking good questions, and being open to feedback and new ideas. That’s how you grow, and it’s also how breakthroughs happen.

  • It takes a village.

    Watching my parents—and even myself—get boxed into stereotypes taught me early on how important it is to find the right people. I needed teammates and mentors who would advocate for me and have my back. Surrounding myself with people who believe in me has been, and still is, one of my top priorities.

  • Collaboration and cooperation are key.

    There’s this saying that a rising tide raises all boats, and it is so true. If the lab next to me is doing well, I'm going to do well. They're going to be able to buy new instruments that I might be able to borrow. In the academic environment, it helps to be a good neighbor.

  • You need to seek out the people who value and build you up.

    You need to seek out the people who value and build you up. Imposter syndrome is real, and I truly believe much of it stems from a lack of validation. While it’s essential to believe in yourself and be your own best cheerleader, external validation also plays a crucial role. Surrounding yourself with supportive people who recognize your worth can make all the difference in overcoming self-doubt.

Looking for teacher resources?

PHOTOGRAPHER: Crystal Uqdah • Illustrator: Ekaterina Kuleva

© 2024 THE PLENARY, CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. TERMS. PRIVACY.

This is a brand new site! See an issue? Let us know.