Lori Palen
BIO
Behavioural health researcher, science communicator and owner of Data Soapbox. Mom of two boys, age 6 and 9. Child with medical and educational challenges.
Twitter: @LoriPalenPhD
Lori palen
“It’s taken support from all levels, from my spouse through public policy, to keep my career moving forward.”
When I first graduated from college, I thought that I eventually wanted to be a therapist. I spent a couple of years working in various human service jobs, but I burned out on trying to address problems like substance abuse and childhood trauma after they’d already happened. (To be clear, behavioural health treatment is *really* important, and many professionals are great at it. I wasn’t.)
In 2003, I went back to school at Penn State’s Prevention Research Center, to learn more about preventing problems like substance abuse, sexual risk behaviour, and violence before they started. I spent five years in school, and 12 years beyond, as a behavioural health researcher studying prevention efforts in communities and schools.
Although I worked on all parts of the research process (study design, data collection, data analysis, reporting), I got more and more interested in effectively communicating research findings. Developing attractive reports and compelling presentations tapped into my lifelong interests in writing and art, as well as my undergraduate training in marketing.
So, in March 2021, I left my research job to start Data Soapbox, a firm focused on the effective communication of scientific findings (and other types of data). We help our clients develop products like reports, infographics, and presentation slides, and also host training on research communication skills.
I’m mom to two boys, currently ages 6 and 9.
My older son has extensive medical and educational challenges. So, on top of the usual demands of parenthood, my husband and I have all sorts of extra appointments and meetings, both planned and unplanned.
And then the COVID-19 pandemic threw in the bonus challenge of doing remote schooling with two kids. All of this has definitely limited the time and energy I can put toward my career. Since my older son was born, I’ve never worked more than 75% time, and sometimes it’s been half-time.
I had to shift away from research projects that required frequent travel or had tight timelines and schedules. But, honestly, after spending the first three decades of my life focused on the next academic or career achievement, it’s nice to spend time just living and enjoying what I have.
There are several supports that have been essential in allowing me to maintain a career in STEMM. First, I have a co-parent who is willing and able to take on an equal share of kid-related responsibilities.
My husband shuttles my son to about half of his medical appointments, and he takes on primary responsibility for tasks like bedtime routine and keeping medications filled.
Second, and related, my husband and I have both had very supportive employers and managers. They’ve allowed us to have flexible schedules, and we’ve never gotten pushback for taking time off to address family needs.
Third, our older son is the beneficiary of a Medicaid waiver program that funds medical caregivers in the home. It allows us to work during normal business hours while knowing that our son is getting the support he needs to stay healthy and safe. We’re also fortunate to have all four of our parents, and one of my sisters, living close by. They’ve been able to fill in with childcare and errands, as well as provide up-close-and-personal emotional support.
In short, it’s taken support from all levels of my social environment, from my spouse through public policy, to keep my career moving forward.