TAGHREED AL-TURKI
BIO
Postdoc researcher in molecular biology at North Carolina University at Chapel Hill (USA). Single mother of one.
Taghreed Al-Turki
“I was advised not to disclose my single-mother status during my postdoc interview, but I decided to be upfront about my situation.”
Sailing the path of single parenthood while striving to carve an innovative career in science can be a burdensome journey with moments of grace, unwavering passion, and determination to succeed. In academia, productivity remains tightly tied to the number of publications bearing your name as a first or senior author in a high-impact factor journal. Consequently, the pressure to meet unyielding targets and deadlines leads many researchers to commit themselves to multiple projects, often translating into long, grueling hours.
For a single mother who is juggling both the rigors of research and the responsibilities of parenthood, this bar is set at a level that intensifies psychological distress.
A recent study indicated that single mothers publish on average 15.3% fewer publications throughout their careers than mothers in a relationship with a non-academic partner (Derric et al., 2022). Adding complexity to this narrative, in 2020, a report described single females without children as the ‘academic idols’ for research (Utoft, 2020).
Under the heavy weight of these views, my self-perception as a capable and qualified scientist often felt distorted, leading me to question my ability to balance the demands of parenthood with my career. Since the programs and grants that support single-parent scientists are rare, I've crafted strategies and coping mechanisms that allow me to find fulfillment in both roles.
I accepted the fact that I could not do it all alone and streamlined my life more effectively, investing in areas where I could receive assistance. I embarked on this journey as a PhD student at Colorado State University and continue to navigate and thrive as a postdoc in North Carolina, moving from the central west to the east coast, experiencing both setbacks and victorious moments.
Daycare, both before and after-school, accounted for a significant portion of my stipend. However, the deep sense of fulfillment I gained from witnessing my son’s happiness every time he made a new friend and the valuable social skills he developed made it all worthwhile.
Alongside these financial investments, my family and friends consistently stepped in to take care of my child when I had to work extra hours and over the weekends. They have been the bedrock of this journey. I was advised not to disclose my single-mother status during my postdoc interview, but I decided to be upfront about my situation.
My mentor, Jack Griffith, provided invaluable support when my son and I arrived on the East Coast, even taking us on a tour of local elementary schools. This taught me to embrace my identity as a passionate single-parent scientist, knowing that a dedicated mentor recognizes my potential and contributes to my personal and professional growth.
I established my own metrics of success. I made a conscious decision to never compare myself and my progress to other researchers who may have different life circumstances. I could not compete with my number of publications in academia, so I redefined my definition of success. Instead of working on multiple projects, I became highly selective when choosing a single project that I wanted to work on.
I took the risk to investigate an innovative hypothesis that had the potential to result in groundbreaking a long-standing dogma in the field. Also, instead of tracking the dataset and results I gathered, I tracked my progress by assessing the development of adaptability, problem-solving skills, and mental resilience. This shift in mindset not only brought me contentment and satisfaction in my role as a researcher but also allowed me to appreciate the smaller, more meaningful victories in my daily life. As a result, my son and I deeply value and celebrate our ability to maintain a normal daily schedule and our ability to overcome uncertainties, as well as celebrate milestone achievements.
Maintaining a typical work-life balance was not feasible, so I devised an approach for work-life harmony that actively involved my son in my research and career journey. I bring him to the lab when possible, actively engaging with organizing citations and references and asking for his technical revision feedback on drafts I write. When I travel for conferences to give a talk, this provides him with the live opportunity to witness his powerful role model dedicated to her roles as a scientist and a parent.
One particularly cherished memory from my PhD candidacy is participating in a research day competition, and my true achievement on that day was having my son sit in my lap when he heard my name being called for the Best Research Award.
It was a daily struggle to juggle school, sports events, creating a community for my son, and pursuing my career in science. The key to my success over the years was appreciating the struggles I faced as learning and growth opportunities.
Becoming strategic, confident, and comfortable takes time and often involves failures, but tough times shall pass. In this journey, we are not just shaping our own success; we are also molding the next generation of resilient, resourceful, and compassionate individuals who will make their own mark on the world.
Because I'm grateful for the mentors, friends, and family who have stood by me, I'm here to offer support and mentorship to others embarking on this path. Together, we can create a brighter future for single parents in science.