Email: wmarner@morgridge.org
Tell us about your professional background, and your current role and work at UW–Madison.
I’m currently the Engagement, Education, and Equity Director at the Morgridge Institute for Research. In this role, I provide leadership to a team of amazing professionals who produce informal science education programming for K-12 students throughout Wisconsin and who build professional and career development programming for early-career scientists. We operate summer camps, field trips, afterschool activities, and other programs that serve thousands of young people each year. One of the best parts of my job is working with researchers at UW–Madison to translate their science into programs that spark STEM interest in youth. Not only is it great to be working with kids as they discover something surprising, delightful, or beautiful about science, but it’s also extremely satisfying to work with graduate students and postdocs who engage in this work as a way to build their own confidence, communication skills, and self-understanding.
I’m a chemical engineer by training and earned a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. My research background is in microbial metabolic engineering and artificial protein design. I began my career by launching a synthetic biology lab and microbial bioreactor facility at UW–Madison as part of the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. Over time, my interests shifted more toward mentorship and informal science education, and now I focus on how to expand access to STEM careers.
What are your experiences with and philosophy about mentoring?
One of the main reasons I pivoted from doing bench research and into more engagement and professional development work is because I found mentorship so rewarding. I have always enjoyed working with people as they grow in their career and experiences, and keeping track of where life takes them is a joy. I’ve also been fortunate to be on the mentee side of several mentor/mentee relationships (some better than others), which has given me a perspective on how mentorship can substantially impact one’s career.
Philosophically, I think that the most important part of being a mentor is not assuming that what worked for me will work for my mentee. While it’s super important as a mentor to provide advice, ideas, and perspectives, it’s ultimately about meeting the mentee where they’re at and helping them thrive. I’m grateful for mentors who have been invested in my growth and fulfillment, rather than my following a predetermined path, and I strive to embody that approach as a mentor myself.
Please share something important, interesting, or fun about yourself.
I’m a hobby collector! I really enjoy novel ways to stimulate my brain, so I have a low threshold for grabbing new activities. At any given time in my house, I have a woodworking project and a gardening project going, along a ton of houseplants in various states of health. I’m an adult hobbyist of the piano, and lately I’ve started dabbling in model building. (Star Trek is a lifelong interest of mine, so I’m building my own Starship Enterprise.) I also love spending time with my husband, daughter, dog, and cat. We keep busy, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
What do you enjoy most about facilitating Delta Research Mentor Learning Communities for graduate students and postdocs?
I’m new to the Research Mentor Learning Communities, but I’m most looking forward to spending time with people who are dedicated to learning about inclusive mentorship. Mentorship – like any discipline – is not a static set of skills, but rather an evolving set of practices. I’m excited by the enrichment that will come from a group of people who are bringing their own lived experiences, opinions, and perspectives to the learning community so that I can also continue learning about my own practices!