Courtney Ho
“Living your life based on what others want you to do is not sustainable. Give yourself the freedom to explore and learn what drives you.”
I was a competitive gymnast for over 15 years. I love traveling to find good food. Reality TV is my guilty pleasure. I’ve never been good at taking tests, so science didn’t come easily to me in the classroom. I love exploring and have a hard time sitting still. I support early stage biotech companies by providing resources they need to succeed. I am a Lab Operations Specialist.
Did you know that you can be involved with science even if you aren’t a scientist? For a long time, I didn’t. I liked hands-on tasks and working with people, so a lot of my early training in molecular and cell biology was a struggle. Since then, I’ve found my niche in the business side of science. Thanks to opportunities provided by my network, I am now responsible for supporting the formation of new biotech companies. I do everything from meeting with new potential companies, to pairing them with prospective investors, to helping them meet their milestones, to getting their new lab ready for inspections. I still play a critical role in scientific innovation, but in a way that makes sense for me.
I was always drawn to science. My father was a pharmacist and my parents encouraged me to pursue a related field, but many parts of the work didn’t come naturally to me. When I found out that there are a lot of jobs on the business side of biotechnology, everything clicked. I became fascinated with learning about what new companies need to succeed, and what I could do to help make that happen. By bringing my skills in operations and communications to help reduce the barriers that these companies face, I get to support the exploration of exciting new treatments, inventions, and discoveries. I focus on what I do best, so that scientists can focus on what they do best.
Hard work and discipline have been part of my life since I was young. From age 4 to 18, I was a competitive gymnast, sometimes training up to 30 hours a week. This didn’t leave much time for relaxing, playing, or building friendships. And since there wasn’t a lot of diversity in my hometown, my peers would make insensitive comments, which added to that feeling of not really belonging. Most of my youth, I was chasing high standards set for me by my parents and coaches, so when the time came to choose a university, it felt natural to follow in my dad’s footsteps. I started to pursue a pharmacy degree, but quickly realized that, as much as I loved the idea of science, I didn’t really love doing it.
I studied hard in college and I tried working in different labs, all of which showed me that, no matter how hard I worked, if I didn’t love it, I was never going to excel at it. I didn’t enjoy the nitty-gritty details that often came with working in a lab, and craved more hands-on work and interaction in the classroom. I still wanted to be involved in the world of science, but wasn’t sure where I fit in.
Fortunately, after college I got a job opportunity focused more on all of the behind-the-scenes operations, planning, and managing that make the science move forward. I uncovered a path where I didn’t have to bend myself to fit a box; I could apply all of my favorite skills to support others, while still feeding my curiosity. I am currently doing a Masters of Business Administration in the evenings to continue to grow in my role as a supporter of science, with a front row seat to exciting innovations in biotechnology. It may not have been what my family or I initially had in mind, but it’s even better, because it’s the part of science where I can make the biggest difference.
While at work I’m very structured and disciplined, my favorite way to relax is with no agenda at all, and I’m always up for the unexpected. I’m not necessarily the best cook, but I love making a huge mess of the kitchen while I try out a new recipe. I especially love sushi, and am always willing to travel to find a great meal. I recently started spending more time outdoors, and have fallen in love with hiking and camping. My guilty pleasure is watching reality TV, like The Bachelorette or Below Deck.
Throughout my life, I’ve experienced struggles related to body image and living with anxiety. Those experiences led me to become an advocate for mental health awareness and support. Since I’m personally familiar with these types of feelings, I know how important it is to stay open and support each other as we work with them, not against them.
Hard work will keep you growing, but if you don’t like what you do, it’s going to make your path a lot more difficult. Keep an open mind, let go of other people’s expectations, and don’t limit yourself to the most common job titles. Some of the coolest career paths out there are really specific niche parts of science that many students don’t even realize are options. If there’s a field you’re interested in, you don’t have to be a scientist to be an important part of it. You can be in marketing, administration, writing, mechanics. There are lots of different paths. You just have to be patient, ask questions, and look for the one that’s the best fit for you.
