What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned?

Learning when and how to say “No”. At first, I was thrilled to be recognized but when there are few women or scientists available, the burden can be onerous, especially early in my career. Weighing which were best for me and when to pass was critical.

What do you consider to be your most important career achievement or milestone?

So many! My research was gratifying, challenging, and successful. I chaired the NYU Arts and Science Equity committee from 2000 to 2020. I was a co-PI for the NIH-funded mentoring program for grad students and postdocs, and a journal editor. I enjoyed being a mentor, role model, and sponsor.

What do you aspire to accomplish in your career and why? What obstacles will you overcome?

When I started, there were few women in science. I was the first doctoral student for my faculty mentor. In the 1970s and 1980s the environment was hostile for women faculty at Harvard Medical School, but that did not deter me.

Describe an amazing opportunity in your STEM career.

Because there were no professional conferences dedicated to viral immunology, I organized three colleagues and we started the Keystone conference on Molecular Aspects of Viral Immunity. I was asked to participate in the DARPA Molecular Pathogenesis panel.

How was AWIS helped you professionally and/or personally?

AWIS has been with throughout my career. I joined AWIS as a doctoral student at Mt. Sinai which provided an important community. I brought this with me to Harvard Medical School and joined the women’s faculty group. At NYU I joined the women’s faculty caucus and went on to lead the Equity initiative. The sisterhood was my community.

What is your favorite word? (only one word)

Research.

How do you define it?

Developing an idea into an hypothesis, designing experiments to test it, hands on or mentored experimentation, analyzing the data, following the threads, and communicating the findings.

How has this word influenced or inspired your career?

From day one, my academic research career followed those steps.

How does AWIS impact your career journey?

The community of the sisterhood that I found in AWIS has always been supportive. I have found role models, advisors, mentors, sponsors, and reciprocated that since I joined AWIS as a doctoral student in 1975.

What are you currently reading or listening to?

I have much more time now that I am retired and can pursue many of my science and non-science interests. I listed to too many podcasts. I am enrolled in 4 courses in two different adult lifelong learning programs including espionage, history, and cinema.

What do you consider the best professional or personal advice you’ve ever received?

Follow your passions and find an environment (lab, department, peer support group) that is both challenging and collegial (not competitive or hostile).

Carol Shoshkes Reiss, PhD, is the oldest daughter of a first-generation American. She graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1972 and earned her PhD from Mt Sinai/CUNY in 1978. She was an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School/Dana Farber Cancer Institute and a full professor at NYA. Reiss is a viral immunologist who has studied respiratory and neurotropic viral infections. She has two sons and eight grandchildren. She have been a student, mentee, mentor, role model and sponsor in her career, a peer review at every level, and is still learning, still curious.