Being at the right place at the right time

I am tremendously honored to receive the 2012 Women in Cell Biology Junior Award. In this essay, I recount my career path over the past 15 years. Although many details are specific to my own experiences, I hope that some generalizations can be made to encourage more women to pursue independent scientific careers. Mine is a story of choosing a captivating question, making the most of your opportunities, and finding a balance with life outside the lab.It is a great honor to have been awarded the 2012 Women in Cell Biology Junior Award from the ASCB. Looking back at the 15 years I have spent doing research in cell biology, my overwhelming feeling is that it has been and still is a lot of fun. I am extremely fortunate to have a job that I truly enjoy and that gives me complete intellectual freedom. My lab choices over the years were motivated by scientific curiosity and enthusiasm for new environments and topics, rather than by career building. It is thus truly amazing to be rewarded for (rather a lot of) work enjoyed.