Tammi Taylor
BIO
Assistant Professor studying neuroscience at Jackson State University (US). Solo mom of two girls, aged 9 and 10.
Instagram: @drtamtaylo
Twitter: @HairLuxuryCo
Tammi Taylor
“Becoming a mother has challenged me to be the opposite of what they expect in the field.”
I’m a tenure track Assistant Professor at Jackson State University (US) and co-CEO and Lead Scientist at Hair Luxury Company, LLC. I got a Masters in Biology from Jackson State University and was the 5th African-American to receive a PhD in Microbiology from Indiana University School of Medicine.
I started my postdoc at Emory University while I was pregnant with my first child. I was able to take full maternity leave and made my schedule as I desired. While having a newborn, I taught in various institutions as a volunteer to gain teaching experience. In the second year of my postdoc I had my second child. I stayed longer and longer in the lab and my life revolved around late nights writing grants.
The lab work became very stressful because it was difficult to juggle research and caring for two children, but I had an understanding supervisor with whom I could speak about everything, and she made sure I had everything I needed from students to supplies and time off for doctors appointments.
I stayed dedicated to getting my papers out, working late or coming in early to train students, finish projects, help others with their projects, and get my work done by any means. I was able to continue to publish, do major presentations for the field of neuroscience and travel the world presenting my research.
Becoming a mother has challenged me to be the opposite of what they expect in the field. I often get asked about my kids as they are always with me, in my office, and in the audience of my meetings.
Now that I am a tenure track Assistant Professor, my daily life is writing grants, organising my lab, teaching courses, mentoring and advising students and training graduate students.
My kids are growing, they need me and want more attention. My responsibilities of trying to obtain tenure make it hard for me to be part of their day and to be involved in their extracurricular activities. But I always put my kids first, I make sure I schedule time with them on my days with a lighter course load and maneuver their school programs if in the morning or evening.
I had a lot of help, my older sister was the biggest help. I couldn’t have asked for a better person in my life during that time, as well as my mom, their dad and nanny. It takes a village, great communication, prayer, and trusting of others but it’s doable. I’m a witness.