Erica Iris Williams, PhD

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

My dad always tells me, “focus on your goals and everything else will fall into place.” This has allowed me to lead by example and reminds me not to get distracted by the trivial.

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

Getting my PhD was a goal I set as a child; it is my most important career milestone thus far. Completing that training taught me what it means to stay focused, work hard, and execute.

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

It is my work’s mission to drive positive change for patients in need, particularly women and underserved communities. I look to be a tool in this industry to bring life changing therapies to people who need it the most. My lived experience as a Black woman in the pursuit of this career has primed me for some of the challenges I will face. I am equipped to be an agent of change in the biotech industry.

Describe an amazing opportunity in your STEM career.

Earning an NIH fellowship for my graduate training was one of the most rewarding, yet challenging opportunities I’ve had in my career thus far. Maintaining that award taught me how to be an adaptive decision-maker, how to advocate for myself, and how to be a better mentor. After earning that award, I became a writing consultant for other graduate students who were working on their own grants. This allowed me to grow as a teacher and mentor.

How was AWIS helped you professionally and/or personally?

AWIS has fostered community with like-minded women and serves as a resource for career enrichment.

What is your favorite word? (only one word)

Elevate

How do you define it?

To raise or lift to a higher position. Whether it be rising to the occasion, uplifting others, or boosting knowledge through study or experience we can always elevate ourselves and those around us through positive action.

How has this word influenced or inspired your career?

From an early age, I’ve consistently raised the bar for my personal standard of success. My mom says, at age 11 I declared that I would one day be Dr. Erica Iris Williams. Now I look to the future and ask myself what new levels can I reach? What new challenges will I embrace?

How does AWIS impact your career journey?

Being part of AWIS has expanded my network and opened new opportunities through meaningful connections. There’s a wealth of content offered through the website that I take advantage of.

What are you currently reading or listening to?

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

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

The future favors the prepared.

Erica Iris Williams, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow at BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. In the Neuroscience department at BioMarin, she researches drug delivery strategies targeted to the brain. She earned her PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Arizona College of Medicine, where she studied sex differences in blood-brain barrier transporters and their role in drug delivery to the ischemic brain. She is an advocate for women and minorities in STEM. When she isn’t working, Erica enjoys mentoring, reading, food, wine, and travel.