Dr. Ellie Aerts
Challenge Type
Entering a new field/subspecialty; Navigating department/university culture; surviving domestic violence
Body
Dr. Ellie Aerts is a postdoc in reproductive neuroendocrinology at Oregon Health and Science University. Ellie’s dissertation research focused on the neural circuitry controlling the timing of puberty onset, and her work now focuses on the connections between meal timing and fertility. In this video, Ellie shares about the really difficult experience of leaving an abusive relationship and almost failing a class during her first year of graduate school. Through various ups and downs, Ellie learned that with support and taking care of what she needed to in her personal life, she could navigate through the hurdles of the PhD.
Video reference