Chelsea Kirkland

What is your favorite word?

Purpose

How do you define it?

Purpose is living and working with intention, ensuring  that your impact contributes to meaningful change.

How has this word influenced or inspired your career?

Purpose has guided every step of my career. It reminds me to choose work that is intentional and impact driven, not just impressive on paper. It pushes me to align my research, leadership, and service with outcomes that create meaningful change beyond myself.

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

Leadership is rooted in advocacy. It’s not just about driving results, but about speaking up for others and creating equitable opportunities. True leadership means using your voice to make spaces more inclusive and supportive.

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

To date, my most important career milestone has been becoming a PhD student and stepping into leadership within my research. In addition to contributing as a trainee, I’ve helped shift the lab’s approach toward a more precise, data-driven drug discovery in precision medicine.

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

To reshape drug discovery so precision medicine truly serves diverse communities. I want my work to connect strong science with real patient impact. I will continue to overcome challenges around representation and self-advocacy, using those experiences to grow and lead with purpose.

Describe an amazing opportunity in your STEM career.

My experience serving as a Medical Affairs intern strengthened my ability to translate complex data and deepened my understanding of how research informs patient focused decisions. I saw how science moves beyond the lab into real clinical impact.

How was AWIS  helped you professionally and/or personally?

AWIS has supported me professionally by expanding my network and connecting me with women leaders across science and industry. Personally, it has made me more confident and reinforced my commitment to creating opportunities and visibility for others in STEM.

How does AWIS impact your career journey?

As a member of AWIS, I am surrounded by women who intentionally support and elevate one another in science. It reminds me that I do not navigate this journey alone, and motivates me to grow in my field and contribute to stronger, more inclusive STEM spaces.

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

Success means little if you don’t bring others with you. Investing in community, mentoring, and creating opportunities for others is just as important as personal achievement. Giving back strengthens both the work and the people behind it.

Chelsea Kirkland is a PhD candidate in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology at Stony Brook University. Her research integrates genomics and computational biology to advance precision medicine and improve drug discovery. She has industry experience in Medical Affairs, connecting scientific innovation with clinical impact. Chelsea is committed to expanding opportunity in STEM and building work that creates meaningful, patient-centered change.