Mirrors: Melanie Byrd, Molecular Biology Researcher
The AdaMarie Mirrors reflect back to us the many roads (often winding, never smooth) to success! Real stories of real women to see yourself reflected in. At first, you’ll see Melanie in this mirror, but eventually, we hope you’ll see yourself.
Welcome, Melanie Byrd!
Molecular Biologist Research Assistant and Science Communicator Melanie Byrd shares her story of conquering the academic challenges she faced transitioning from a small town with limited educational opportunities to a giant state university setting.
Getting to Know You:
Field of Work: Research
Major/Minor: Biochemistry major with a certificate in forensic sciences
Expertise In: Molecular Biosciences
Current Company: Dickinson Research Lab on UT Austin Campus
Job Title: Research Assistant
One-liner about what you’re working on: I build machine learning models for biotechnology.
Currently geeking out over: How tryptophan is turned into serotonin via bodily mechanisms.
STEM Hero: Rosalind Franklin
Tell us about your professional journey – how did you get where you are now?
I originally wanted to major in music education until I discovered my immense love for science through an OnRamps Geoscience course taught by one of the best high school teachers to ever exist. Once I embraced my science geekiness, I applied to UT Austin for a B.S. in Environmental Science. Although I was accepted into the university, I was rejected from my desired major. During my freshmen year, I realized that I love handling living things and understanding the molecular makeup surrounding them. As a result, I decided to transfer internally from my Undeclared major to a B.S. in Biochemistry.
Since then, I’ve gotten really into my social media science content, building my image as a science communicator. My goal is to leverage the privilege of my higher education to make scientific information more accessible and easily understandable to the public.
We’re also curious to know your personal story and upbringing. What has made you “you”?
I was raised in a low-income household where neither of my parents graduated with a bachelors degree. My mom was a stay-at-home-mom with a part time substitute position in my school district, and has maintained that role for the past 15 years. My dad was a self-employed mechanic who focused on the resale industry as he got older. My older sister and I were raised in a small town called Boyd, TX, in which we didn't receive many educational opportunities. Despite this, we both graduated valedictorian of our respective high school classes, and attended UT Austin for our undergraduate degrees (with her graduating from college a week before I graduated high school). Coming from Boyd, neither of us were truly prepared for the academic challenges we faced at university. So, I am a first generation college student who came from a small town consisting of a small, low-income family.
We know that real life isn’t a smooth and linear journey. What was your initiating moment that led you to your calling - can you tell us about that moment, what helped you move forward, what you learned/discovered?
I am ever-evolving, especially during this transistional period in my life. My desire to pursue science, however, has remained strong since my sophomore year of high school. It is important to note that "high school Melanie" was extremely dedicated to staying valedictorian the moment she first saw her transcript. So, when past me saw that there was an advanced course (out of the very few my school offered) called OnRamps Geoscience - a class my school offered and taught through UT Austin - I wanted to take it solely to maintain my competitive standing. Little did I know just how much that class would impact my life. It taught me more about being environmentally friendly and climate change than any amount of media ever had. I learned how to read the planet, and I quickly became obsessed. By the end of the course, I had already started my own independent science projects and was dedicated to changing the world in some sort of scientific way.
You’re a working woman in a performance-driven industry. Where do you find balance?
Honestly? Balance is not something I’ve yet been able to master. Some weeks, I manage balance well; other weeks work takes priority, and then there are weeks where I prioritize everything but work. I don't actually believe that you can be a woman in STEM without the constant guilt that you’re not doing enough. It's part of being a woman in this industry, at least for me. If there is a woman who doesn't feel guilty about enjoying the rest of her life that doesn't involve her career, I greatly applaud her because it is a skill I still have yet to master.
If you were a scientific process or phenomenon, what would you be?
If I were a scientific process, I would be gluconeogenesis because I am very good at turning complex inputs that the mass public doesn't understand into a more well-known output. Just like how the process of gluconeogenesis turns pyruvate into glucose within bodily cells, I take complex scientific information and turn it into simple explanations for my audience to understand.
We’d love to feature your work! How can we spread the word about what you’re doing? Some examples you might want to share:
I have a science account on TikTok! However, due to the TikTok ban (impending doom for creators like me), I have started transferring my science content to Instagram, so go follow me on there!
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mellythesciencegeek/