Dionne Williams: I attended a small private college in Delaware, which has since become part of Delaware State University. My academic background is in neuroscience and biochemistry. During graduate school, I focused on neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Parkinson’s disease.

This sparked my interest in understanding the complexities of the brain. We conducted numerous research studies exploring potential therapeutic agents to alleviate Parkinsonism symptoms in animal models. That experience was my first real introduction to research, and it inspired me to want to make a greater impact on patients by transitioning into clinical research. However, I wasn’t initially sure how to pursue that path.

Eventually, I was introduced to the pharmaceutical industry and the role of clinical scientists in that environment. That exposure led me to apply for opportunities, and I landed my first internship during my PhD studies at Bristol Myers Squibb.

I continued to build on that foundation with another internship at Johnson & Johnson in their oncology unit, again as a clinical scientist intern. That led me to join the Janssen-Drexel Fellowship in Psychiatric Drug Development.

Bridget Kajs: I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in biology with a concentration in neuroscience. I’ve always had a passion for neuroscience, especially the study of behavior.

My first research experience came during my undergraduate years, working at Johns Hopkins University on research involving immune factors during pregnancy and the resulting behavioral manifestations in offspring. That experience solidified my interest in research.

Back at UT Austin, I continued working in a social neuroscience lab, where I was involved in functional neuroimaging and EEG studies. After graduating, I took a gap year to continue research at UT. Having completed several research experiences, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in research. I went on to earn my PhD in neuroscience from the University of California, San Francisco. My dissertation focused on the neural circuits underlying fear and avoidance behaviors.

While I loved the field of psychiatry and wanted to stay in it, I realized I wanted to move closer to the clinical research side, but wasn’t sure whether I wanted to pursue this in an academic or industry setting. I joined the Janssen-Drexel Fellowship in 2022. During the fellowship, I worked at Janssen as a clinical scientist, contributing to protocol development, amendments and informed consent documents. I also worked on projects at Drexel’s Medical Cannabis Research Center.

That experience confirmed for me that I wanted to stay in academia. After the fellowship, I accepted a position as an instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at Drexel. I continue to be involved in the Medical Cannabis Research Center, including a project with Dionne, and several others.

Why did you end up pursuing the fellowship at Drexel?

BK: As I mentioned earlier, after spending time on the basic science side during my PhD, I really wanted to see the impact of research on patient populations. The limitations of animal models in psychiatric research made me want to move into a more clinical setting. Since I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to go into pharma or academia, it was ideal that this fellowship sits right at that intersection.

The experience helped me gain clarity about my career path. Seeing both settings and understanding the different roles helped solidify my decision to stay in academia. I was drawn to the intellectual freedom that academia offers — being able to choose the direction of your work and be more involved in study design.

DW: What drew me to the Janssen-Drexel Fellowship was the opportunity to pivot from my background in neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases into neuropsychiatry trials. This fellowship gave me valuable experience in patient-reported outcome assessments in clinical trials, which is crucial for assessing treatment efficacy. It helped me understand how treatments affect different subtypes of patients and how to incorporate patient voices into the research process.

Like Bridget mentioned, the fellowship also provided exposure to various roles within the pharmaceutical industry. I supported the clinical development functional group as a clinical scientist, but I also learned about other functional areas like medical affairs, clinical operations and regulatory affairs. Understanding how these areas collaborate and contribute to the success of a drug pipeline was incredibly valuable.

On the academic side at Drexel, I enjoyed working on clinical trial design and applying critical thinking to develop protocols. I also appreciated the opportunity for patient interaction — meeting with patients and conducting assessments gave me a deeper appreciation for the impact of our work. I wish there had been more opportunities for direct interaction, but I did get to shadow Bridget during one of her visits, which was a meaningful experience.

Overall, the fellowship solidified my decision to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry. The exposure to different roles helped me recognize where my strengths lie and how I can contribute.

What is the research project you are working on together now?

DW: The research study we’re conducting at the Medical Cannabis Research Center is a six-month observational study assessing the impact of medical cannabis on the quality of life in people living with HIV who also experience PTSD and/or pain. We use a variety of quality-of-life assessments to track changes from baseline to six months. We’re also conducting neurocognitive testing to see whether medical cannabis has any effect on cognitive function over time.

BK: Our primary endpoint is quality of life, but we’re also examining several other factors. Since our participants may have comorbid PTSD or chronic pain, we’re tracking pain ratings and PTSD symptomatology over time using validated questionnaires.

In addition to behavioral assessments, we’re collecting blood samples to measure circulating concentrations of THC, as well as CD4 counts and viral loads. We’re also analyzing the concentrations of various HIV medications in the blood. This allows us to explore whether there’s any interaction between THC levels and HIV medication concentrations, and how that might affect treatment outcomes.

What advice do you have for young people interested in STEM fields, particularly those who are currently underrepresented in those industries?

DW: My advice to aspiring scientists — especially women in STEM — is to find mentors. Early in my PhD journey, I knew I wanted to transition from academia into industry, so I reached out to people in my community. I leaned on their expertise and advice to understand how they navigated their career paths. I’ve maintained those relationships, and they’ve been incredibly valuable — not just for career insights, but also for sharing opportunities and making connections within the industry.

So, my biggest piece of advice is to build your community and network around the career you want to pursue.

BK: I agree with Dionne — community is so important. My advice is more general, not necessarily specific to women, but I think one of the most important things is getting hands-on experience in the field that interests you. Find mentors and look for opportunities to shadow other professionals, especially during transition points in your career.

For example, before starting a PhD, it’s important to get experience in research labs that align with your interests. If someone was considering a move into clinical work, they should seek out clinical research opportunities, even as a volunteer. That kind of exposure helps you figure out whether you actually enjoy the work, and it also gives you a leg up when applying for positions. It helps differentiate you as a candidate.

DW: I’d just like to echo what Bridget said about gaining experience. I think it’s so important for aspiring scientists to be proactive and take initiative. These opportunities are incredibly valuable and rewarding. Reach out to people, ask for shadowing opportunities, apply for internships — just put yourself out there.

What are your thoughts on building and maintaining successful mentor/mentee relationships?

BK: It’s important to recognize that mentoring isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Being a mentor really requires understanding the mentee as an individual. When you’re first establishing that relationship, take the time to understand the person’s strengths, areas for growth, what motivates them and what would be meaningful for them. That way, you can guide them toward opportunities that align with their goals and help them grow.

DW: When I look for mentors, I try to find people with similar backgrounds — maybe they have a PhD in neuroscience or have made the transition into industry. But in the mentor-mentee relationship, I believe the mentee has to put in the work. A mentor can’t read your mind, so you need to clearly express your goals and what you hope to gain from the relationship.

It’s also important to be vulnerable and open in those conversations, while maintaining professionalism. Be clear about your needs and how you plan to achieve your goals. Then, leverage your mentor’s expertise to help you get there. Ultimately, the relationship is mentee-driven.