Dr. Jen Heemstra: Uncommon Scientist, Academic and Leader

Regardless of your career path, or lack thereof, you will enjoy this. Scientists aren’t taught how to be leaders. Dr. Jen Heemstra is a chemist, professor, and uncommon leader. Anyone in academia, as well as in business, could learn a great deal from her and her career path. Unpretentious, candid, and passionate about making the world a better place. A human for our times.  Join me, Genius Podcast Host and peak performance coach Diane Wilson for this last interview of 2021. Yes, our 2022 Reflections Planner is done and ready! 

Biography:

Jen Heemstra received her B.S. in Chemistry from the University of California, Irvine, in 2000. At Irvine, she performed undergraduate research investigating the folding of synthetic beta-sheet mimics, which instilled in her a love of supramolecular chemistry. She then moved to the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where she completed her Ph.D. in 2005 studying the reactivity of pyridine-functionalized phenylene ethynylene cavitands. After a brief time in industry as a medicinal chemist, she moved to Harvard University to pursue postdoctoral research exploring mechanisms for templated nucleic acid synthesis. Jen began her independent career in 2010 and is currently a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Emory University. Research in the Heemstra lab is focused on harnessing the molecular recognition and self-assembly properties of nucleic acids and proteins for applications in biosensing and bioimaging. In addition to her research, Jen is also actively engaged in science communication, outreach, and advocacy via her social media presence, monthly column in Chemical & Engineering News, and professional development seminars and workshops. Outside of work, Jen enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, as well as rock climbing, cycling, and running.

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Jennifer M. Heemstra (she/her/hers)
Director of Faculty Recruiting and Development

Emory University 

www.heemstralab.com; @jenheemstra (Twitter)