Women in Science - Online Interviews

Penny Okamoto

1. Give a brief description of your job telling what you do, (a day in your life) but also what you do specifically in your position.

Two years ago, I left an exciting scientific position in Palo Alto, California, to begin a small business with my husband and pursue other interests. To me, being a scientist is not simply what one does for a living, but rather a life long journey of thought, study and discovery. I am 35 years old and graduated laude with a B.S. in Biology from Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois.
I have had several scientific positions, but my most recent, favorite and exciting was with Incyte Pharmaceuticals in Palo Alto, California, where I was the Manager of Large Scale cDNA Sequencing. Using automated DNA sequencers, we amassed an enormous database of human DNA sequences. (For more information see http://www.incyte.com) My typical day would be to start off by checking on the previous night's work and ensuring there were no current problems. Because I was a manager, I often attended meetings; barring any meetings, I would work in the lab sequencing DNA and analyzing data. My favorite time was hands on time in the lab with my coworkers. There was a lot of work to do, great energy and the best people!

2. How did you decide upon your career? When did you know you wanted to do it and how did you prepare for it?

Ever since I was a kid, I thought that being a scientist was the most noble profession possible. I was born in 1961, so I was in total awe of the NASA astronauts and the scientists who put them in space and on the moon. I wanted to be a biologist because I thought it was the most fascinating area of science.

3. What is the best thing about your job?

I have always liked the hands-on bench work in the lab the best. Experimentation is an art based on science and I loved it. I also had the fabulous opportunity to design a lab.

4. What do you like the least?

My least favorite was attending to mid level manager duties, namely, non-scientific meetings.

5. As a kid, what kinds of things did you do to prepare for this job? What books did you read or what things did you do that let you know you would like this field?

To prepare, I was simply nerdy enough as a kid to follow up on what I thought was interesting. That also meant that I studied and did well in high school. Although good grades are important to getting into college, academic success is much more likely with a solid foundation. I've seen many students aspire to be doctors or scientists who lost their dreams because they couldn't hack the tough subjects simply because they did not have the good foundation that should have been built in high school. I knew I wanted to be a biologist because I was fascinated by the field, I always wanted to know more, and I was at home with the material. When I say "at home" I don't just mean that I understood the material. I mean that it felt comfortable as if it were a favorite room or a soft pair of old blue jeans. Biology fits me and I try to wear it well.

6. Was there any person (parent, teacher, mentor, professor) you felt influenced you to pursue this field?

I was incredibly fortunate to have wonderful teachers to spark my love and guide me and I had one pivotal person to help me finish. My thanks to Virgian Hayward and Richard Cliff of Troy Junior High for making science interesting and telling me that I could do it! Also, deepest appreciation to Bill Blunk of Joliet West High School for care, kindness and brilliance. Finally to Professor Carol Crane, Dr. Peter Adragna and Dr. Craig Zimmerman of Aurora University for patience, much support and shared enthusiasm. I need to also note someone who wasn't my teacher but who was pivotal in helping me graduate college: Dr. Michael Sawdey of Aurora University. When I attended college, I had to support myself and pay my own tuition (I did not have parental assistance). Dr. Sawdey was my boss when I attended Aurora University and he was the single person who made it possible for me to attend classes and receive my degree. Without Dr. Sawdey, I wouldn't have made it. I am grateful for his help every day. Later, when people were working for me, I followed his example and made sure that their educations came first.

7. What is your favorite quote?

I have given this questions much thought. I don't really have a favorite, but I often think of "Chance favors the prepared mind" and
"If I have seen farther than others it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants."
Isaac Newton

8. What advice do you have for young women who might be interested in the field of science?

Study what you love. Don't worry about making money. If you love what you do, you'll be good at it and the money will follow. Be brave enough to acknowledge to yourself if you're afraid or intimidated. Then be even more brave and work your way through it. If someone says or does something inappropriate, immediately take that person to your supervisor and demand recourse. Be ethical in every aspect of your professional life. My last piece of advice comes from one of Dr. Richard Feynman's books. He said that when he gave a presentation, instead of insisting that he was right, he would point out what he believed were weaknesses or problems with his work and ask for assistance from the group. That immediately transformed his attackers into his helpers. Always be willing to listen to people's ideas--they might be crazy or obnoxious, but that doesn't preclude them from being right!

Back to Online Interviews Menu

1.	Give a brief description of your job telling what you do, (a day in your life) but also what you do specifically in your position.
	Two years ago, I left an exciting scientific position in Palo Alto, California, to begin a small business with my husband and pursue other interests. To me, being a scientist is not simply what one does for a living, but rather a life long journey of thought, study and discovery. I am 35 years old and graduated laude with a B.S. in Biology from Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois. I have had several scientific positions, but my most recent, favorite and exciting was with Incyte Pharmaceuticals in Palo Alto, California, where I was the Manager of Large Scale cDNA Sequencing. Using automated DNA sequencers, we amassed an enormous database of human DNA sequences. (For more information see http://www.incyte.com) My typical day would be to start off by checking on the previous night's work and ensuring there were no current problems. Because I was a manager, I often attended meetings; barring any meetings, I would work in the lab sequencing DNA and analyzing data. My favorite time was hands on time in the lab with my coworkers. There was a lot of work to do, great energy and the best people!
2.	How did you decide upon your career? When did you know you wanted to do it and how did you prepare for it?
	Ever since I was a kid, I thought that being a scientist was the most noble profession possible. I was born in 1961, so I was in total awe of the NASA astronauts and the scientists who put them in space and on the moon. I wanted to be a biologist because I thought it was the most fascinating area of science.
3.	What is the best thing about your job?
	I have always liked the hands-on bench work in the lab the best. Experimentation is an art based on science and I loved it. I also had the fabulous opportunity to design a lab.
4.	What do you like the least?
	My least favorite was attending to mid level manager duties, namely, non-scientific meetings.
5.	As a kid, what kinds of things did you do to prepare for this job? What books did you read or what things did you do that let you know you would like this field?
	To prepare, I was simply nerdy enough as a kid to follow up on what I thought was interesting. That also meant that I studied and did well in high school. Although good grades are important to getting into college, academic success is much more likely with a solid foundation. I've seen many students aspire to be doctors or scientists who lost their dreams because they couldn't hack the tough subjects simply because they did not have the good foundation that should have been built in high school. I knew I wanted to be a biologist because I was fascinated by the field, I always wanted to know more, and I was at home with the material. When I say "at home" I don't just mean that I understood the material. I mean that it felt comfortable as if it were a favorite room or a soft pair of old blue jeans. Biology fits me and I try to wear it well.
6.	Was there any person (parent, teacher, mentor, professor) you felt influenced you to pursue this field?
	I was incredibly fortunate to have wonderful teachers to spark my love and guide me and I had one pivotal person to help me finish. My thanks to Virgian Hayward and Richard Cliff of Troy Junior High for making science interesting and telling me that I could do it! Also, deepest appreciation to Bill Blunk of Joliet West High School for care, kindness and brilliance. Finally to Professor Carol Crane, Dr. Peter Adragna and Dr. Craig Zimmerman of Aurora University for patience, much support and shared enthusiasm. I need to also note someone who wasn't my teacher but who was pivotal in helping me graduate college: Dr. Michael Sawdey of Aurora University. When I attended college, I had to support myself and pay my own tuition (I did not have parental assistance). Dr. Sawdey was my boss when I attended Aurora University and he was the single person who made it possible for me to attend classes and receive my degree. Without Dr. Sawdey, I wouldn't have made it. I am grateful for his help every day. Later, when people were working for me, I followed his example and made sure that their educations came first.
7.	What is your favorite quote?
	I have given this questions much thought. I don't really have a favorite, but I often think of "Chance favors the prepared mind" and "If I have seen farther than others it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants." Isaac Newton
8.	What advice do you have for young women who might be interested in the field of science?
	Study what you love. Don't worry about making money. If you love what you do, you'll be good at it and the money will follow. Be brave enough to acknowledge to yourself if you're afraid or intimidated. Then be even more brave and work your way through it. If someone says or does something inappropriate, immediately take that person to your supervisor and demand recourse. Be ethical in every aspect of your professional life. My last piece of advice comes from one of Dr. Richard Feynman's books. He said that when he gave a presentation, instead of insisting that he was right, he would point out what he believed were weaknesses or problems with his work and ask for assistance from the group. That immediately transformed his attackers into his helpers. Always be willing to listen to people's ideas--they might be crazy or obnoxious, but that doesn't preclude them from being right!