Melanie Morrison, PhD •  Neuroimaging Scientist

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I am a

Neuroimaging Scientist

Melanie Morrison, PhD

Presented by Superhuman Body + IF/THEN

MY PATH

How I became a poet, surfer & Neuroimaging Scientist.

MAJOR INFLUENCES

  • My Sister

    She really was the one who introduced me to the idea of going to university and shepherded me through the process. Without her, college might not have even been on my radar.

  • Amazing Mentors

    At key points in my career, someone took a chance on me—even when I wasn’t the obvious pick. That experience drives me to pay it forward and help others find their way, just like my mentors did for me.

  • My Dad's Health

    My neurosurgery research mentor introduced me to the groundbreaking brain research at UCSF. Years later, when my dad had a serious health crisis that affected his brain, my mentor became my dad’s neurosurgeon.

Success isn’t about being fearless; it’s about being willing to try anyway.

I’ve learned that the things that scare you the most are often the ones that open the biggest doors. Physics once terrified me, but trying it again sparked my love for science. Cold-emailing researchers felt intimidating, but it led to life-changing opportunities. This skill has shown up in other parts of my life too—like surfing unfamiliar waves or moving to new places. Over time, I’ve realized that fear is just part of growth, and every time I push through it, I grow a little more confident.

Major Milestones

Leeds University Exchange Program.

My time at Leeds gave me my first hands-on experience with research and showed me how much I loved scientific discovery.

Summer Research at a Cancer Hospital.

This project opened the door to graduate school and became a turning point in my career.

Postdoc at UCSF.

A postdoc is a research position you take after earning your PhD to gain more experience. I sent cold emails to UCSF researchers, hoping for a chance, and ended up getting a fellowship and spending six years building the foundation for my faculty role.

Things I learned

along the way:

  • Don’t worry about other people’s expectations.

    Early in my career, I felt pressure to fit the mold of what others thought a successful scientist should be. But over time, I realized that the most important thing is to stay true to myself. A mentor once asked me, “What do you want to do?” and it stuck with me. Now, my focus is simple: live my life and do good science. Your path doesn’t need to match anyone else’s.

  • Put yourself out there.

    Throughout my career, I’ve learned that putting yourself out there—like sending an unsolicited email—can open doors you didn’t even know existed. It’s not always easy, but what do you have to lose? Some of the biggest opportunities I’ve had came from getting outside my comfort zone and taking a chance. Every time I took a risk—whether it was switching fields, moving to a new place, or cold-emailing a researcher—it set me apart and moved me closer to where I wanted to be.

  • Your challenges can become your strengths.

    Looking back, it’s hard to believe how far I’ve come. Growing up wasn’t easy, and I’ve had to figure a lot of things out on my own. But those experiences taught me resourcefulness and persistence. It hasn’t always been a straight path, but each step has brought me closer to building a life and career that feel right for me.

  • Fancy words don’t make you smart or qualified.

    There are moments when I sit in rooms full of people from long academic traditions, and it can feel like we’re not even speaking the same language. I’ve had times where I questioned if I belonged. With enough time, anyone can learn the language. The more important thing is that you’re curious, determined, and put in the work to know what you’re talking about.

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Zinah Abraha • Illustrator: Erik Suswanto

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