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Authored by:
Seema Dhindaw
Co-editor, Catalyst
Assistant Director, Research Division
Department of Radiology
New York University Langone Medical Center

In each monthly issue of the Catalyst, the “Who is your SRA Leadership?” column introduces you to the SRAI leadership, committee members and volunteers. This virtual platform serves as a good starting base to meeting the members of the SRAI community. This is a great opportunity to get to know each other and we at the Catalyst want to hear from you! Share your story! Contact us to be featured in a future column, or nominate a co-worker or colleague to share their story.

This is the second year that I have had the honor and privilege to serve as Editor-in-Chief of the Catalyst. Katie Watkins, who you met in last month’s issue of the Catalyst, joined me as co-editor this year and she is an amazing role model! I am surrounded by a creative, diverse and enthusiastic group of SRAI members and staff who are instrumental in the day to day functioning of SRAI.

A little about me:

I have over 10 years of experience working in universities and nonprofits all over the US. While my chief ambition remains to have enough money to do anything I want, in the meantime, I busy myself administrating, managing, leading, problem solving, writing and teaching. I bring to the table my scientific background as a former biomedical scientist and the experience I have working as an administrator in universities and nonprofits. Before joining the department of radiology, research division as the assistant director, I worked in the Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology department at NYU Langone Health. Originally from sunny California, I studied at UCLA and earned a BS in Psychobiology. Little did I know that the psychology background would come in handy in research administration and management! I ran away from home to Ohio because I thought it would be an adventure to drive in the snow. I loved the snow so much that after I earned a Master’s degree in biomedical sciences from the University of Toledo Health Sciences, I relocated to Minnesota only to experience the most massive snowfalls and icy cold winters of my life! While teaching science to university students and working at the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation, I met the first love of my life-my now 10 year old, Beagle, Layla. Things were a bit rocky at first but we soon became inseparable. She moved with me from Minnesota to New York.

As a long term career goal, I hope to one day be at a high enough level to change policy to better support women and diversity in science and research, and improve administrative processes so that we can more efficiently translate what happens in research to health improvements and cures. As a research administrator and a former laboratory scientist, I appreciate the role that research administrators play in the progress of the scientific community. From daily research operations to financial processes, research administrators ensure that the various aspects of scientific research run smoothly. At SRAI, we believe that it is imperative to acknowledge and create greater awareness of the important roles that administrators have. They face challenges head on to help advance cutting edge research. We help scientists, physicians and researchers at universities advance research, improve the quality of life and in many cases, like here at NYU, build some amazing departments and institutes from the ground up.

I hope that the Catalyst continues to grow and help facilitate collaboration and professional networks. Thanks for reading and I hope to get to know you in the upcoming issues.