Minel Arinel

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

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about creating space for others to grow. As a first-generation woman in science, I’ve seen how transformative it can be when someone believes in you. That’s why I lead by listening first, advocating consistently, and lifting others as I climb.

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

I don’t consider my most important career achievement to be scientific. Rather, it’s mentoring three undergrads at once, supporting their growth and confidence, and seeing them present their work. It affirmed my purpose as a mentor and made me realize I want to lead a diverse lab of my own someday.

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

I aspire to lead a lab that advances neuroscience while mentoring people from all backgrounds, especially those underrepresented in STEM. Having navigated the challenges of being an international student, I want to make that path easier for the next generation.

Describe an amazing opportunity in your STEM career.

Receiving the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds PhD Fellowship was an incredible opportunity. Finding funding as an international student can feel impossible, but this fellowship supports European researchers worldwide. It’s not just funding, it’s a supportive, global community I highly recommend!

How was AWIS helped you professionally and/or personally?

AWIS has connected me with a broader network of women in science who inspire me and remind me I’m not alone. Being part of this community has helped me grow professionally while reinforcing the importance of mentorship, advocacy, and representation, values I carry into every part of my work.

What is your favorite word? (only one word)

Kismet

How do you define it?

“Kismet” is a Turkish word for fate, but not in a passive sense. It reflects my culture and the belief that what’s meant for you will find you through patience, effort, and trust. It’s how I’ve learned to embrace uncertainty in science, life, and the winding path of discovery.

How has this word influenced or inspired your career?

“Kismet” reminds me to trust the path, especially when it doesn’t lead where I expected. I didn’t get into my top college, but that led me to experiences and mentors that shaped who I am. Now I’m a PhD student in the US, a place I once only dreamed of reaching. It was all meant to be.

How does AWIS impact your career journey?

AWIS reminds me that I’m part of something bigger, a community of women supporting each other through science and beyond. It has helped me find resources, share my story, and stay committed to lifting others as I grow. That sense of solidarity is invaluable in my career journey.

What are you currently reading or listening to?

Lately, I’ve been constantly listening to Bad Bunny’s DeBí TiRAR MáS FOToS and Doechii’s Alligator Bites Never Heal albums. They’ve been the perfect soundtrack for writing my thesis and plotting my life.

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

The best advice I’ve received came from my mentor Dr. Diego Bohórquez: always create value. Whether in work or daily interactions, the goal is to contribute meaningfully. He often says what separates leaders from managers is just that—leaders create value. I carry this with me every day.

Minel Arinel is a sixth-year PhD student in Neurobiology at Duke University, passionate about developing alternative therapeutics for psychiatric disorders. She explores the potential of psychedelics and the gut-brain axis to treat the mind through the body. A first-generation graduate student from Turkey, she has mentored students from diverse backgrounds and led various outreach programs. Her long-term goal is to lead an inclusive neuroscience lab that advances discovery while fostering belonging.