Kara Allen
Kara spoke with Meg A. Mole about her job. This is what she said:
What made you interested in Chemistry?
My dad is a chemist! Growing up, I got to see all of his fun glue experiments all over the house and always thought it would be fun to figure out what he was really doing!
What is your favorite part of being a chemist in Memphis?
I love meeting many different people and showing them the different opportunities for scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. I also like to volunteer and teach the public about how chemistry can be down to earth and out of this world!
What can you tell us about your job?
I travel to many places trying to recruit researchers for our positions here at St. Jude. It is very important that I have a background in chemistry, because it helps me find "just the right fit" for each of my candidates! I spend a lot of time on the computer and on the phone. I recruit for many areas including Clinical Research, Therapeutics Production and Quality, Research Administration, and our newest department, Chemical Biology. I stay very busy but enjoy learning about all of the different jobs that are available to scientists and helping them find just the right one! I also spend time volunteering at the hospital and put together programs for our patients so they can learn about how fun chemistry is too!
Any advice you would give to a high school student pursuing a career in Chemistry?
It IS cool to be a scientist! There are so many opportunities in science. It is great to be a part of research where you can see first hand how the benefits of chemistry can improve and save lives.