Aakanksha Jha, PhD

I owe much of my success to the mentors who have guided and supported me throughout my career. My PhD advisor, Dr. Stephanie Erica Moore, was instrumental in my training and played a defining role in shaping who I am as a scientist — our working relationship and compatible personalities made a tremendous difference. My current advisors at Seattle Children's Research Institute and the University of Washington, Elizabeth Lalo and Cole DeForest, are individuals I deeply admire and continue to learn from every day. Beyond these three primary mentors, I've been fortunate to have others along the way who have contributed to my journey, but these individuals have made the most profound impact on my professional development and growth.

The most transformative career advice I received came from Professor Edward Phelps at the University of Florida — he was the first person to tell me I should consider pursuing a PhD. Coming from India, where a master's degree is a prerequisite for doctoral study, I had never imagined going straight into a PhD program. At the time, I was also navigating real financial pressures, including student loans from my master's, which made the idea feel out of reach. But his encouragement prompted me to explore the possibility more seriously, and when COVID created an unexpected window of opportunity, I took it. That single piece of advice fundamentally changed the trajectory of my career.

My advice is to cultivate unwavering, blind confidence in yourself. As a woman in science — and especially as a woman of color — you will encounter environments where your voice is minimized or overlooked, particularly in spaces dominated by more established voices. There is an important distinction between assertiveness and aggression, and learning to walk that line with grace is something we navigate every single day. Science thrives on diversity of thought, background, and perspective, and your presence and your ideas matter. Be fearless, be heard, and never allow yourself to be subdued. I recently participated in an outreach event where young brown-skinned women approached me to say how inspired they felt by my story — that moment moved me deeply. If even one person walks away from an interaction with me feeling that a career in research is possible for them, that is a success story I am proud to be part of.

The most pressing challenge — and simultaneously the most meaningful opportunity — in my field is childhood cancer research, which remains severely underfunded relative to its impact. There is a critical gap in research attention and resources dedicated to pediatric cancers, many of which are extraordinarily aggressive. That gap is precisely what drew me to Seattle and to my current role. The opportunity lies in applying what we know from biomaterials science and immunology to directly address this unmet need — translating discoveries from the laboratory to the clinic through initiatives like the INVENT program at Seattle Children's Research Institute, which actively supports scientists in pursuing the entrepreneurship side of their work and even building companies from their research. That bridge between science and real-world patient impact is where I believe the most transformative work is happening.

At the core of everything I do is a commitment to living holistically — recognizing that while I am deeply passionate about my research, a fulfilling life extends well beyond the laboratory. I believe in remaining adaptive and open, values I developed early on after changing nearly a dozen schools growing up, as my father served in the Indian military. That experience taught me how to build new connections, adjust to unfamiliar environments, and approach change with curiosity rather than fear. I value creativity — I've always had a creative heart, having participated in singing, debates, writing competitions, and performing in an Indo-fusion band where my fiancé played guitar alongside me. I also value being a continuous learner — absorbing every experience, keeping an open mind, and never allowing my perspective to become rigid. Above all, I value making a meaningful impact on others. When young women — particularly women of color — tell me that my story inspired them to pursue a path in science, that is the kind of success that matters most to me.