Brittany Wells

I attribute my success to resilience shaped by surviving life's health challenges and undergoing life-saving gene therapy, which completely transformed my outlook on what I am capable of achieving. That experience, along with being blessed with a miracle baby, strengthened my determination to pursue and complete my goals. A major factor in my growth has also been the strong support system at Arizona State University, especially my success coach David Campbell and Dr. Jamie Ebie, who connected me with highly supportive faculty and consistently reminded me of my ability to succeed. Their guidance helped me go from struggling in science during my early academic years to graduating with distinction from a graduate program in biology. I also credit my daughter for inspiring me to model discipline and consistency, which reinforced my mindset of accountability and self-worth, along with learning to protect my peace by surrounding myself with people who believe in my work and potential.

The best career advice I’ve ever received has come through consistent mentorship and support from key individuals who helped shape my academic and professional path. The team at ASU were instrumental in transforming my trajectory by helping me stay focused, break down challenges, and build confidence in my abilities. Dr. Melissa Wilson also played a pivotal role by validating and supporting my research direction, particularly in women’s health and genomics, which strengthened my commitment to my field and helped me trust the value of my work.

I would encourage young women entering my industry to pursue work that feels meaningful, even when it requires stepping into unfamiliar or challenging environments. Progress often comes from being willing to learn while you go and continuing forward even when things feel uncertain. I also emphasize the importance of resilience and self-advocacy—knowing your worth, speaking up for your work, and trusting your instincts, especially in spaces that may not always feel supportive or inclusive.

The biggest challenge in my field is the significant lack of funding and research focused on women’s health, particularly in areas such as lactation and its link to cancer prevention, despite growing questions about its protective effects against aggressive cancers. Much of the current focus remains on general cancer treatment rather than sex-specific biology or early detection, which leaves critical gaps in understanding diseases that disproportionately or increasingly affect women, such as pancreatic and triple-negative breast cancer. At the same time, this represents a major opportunity to advance research in understudied areas like X chromosome-linked, tumor suppression and female-specific cancer pathways, which could ultimately shift the field toward earlier detection, improved prevention strategies, and more equitable healthcare outcomes.

The most important values to me are purpose, advocacy, and modeling the right behavior for my daughter. Becoming a mother reinforced that I need to lead by example and pursue work that is meaningful, not just sustainable, and that I should hold myself to the same standards I want her to learn. I also deeply value advocating for women’s health and speaking up about gaps in research and care, even when it is difficult. Alongside that, I prioritize protecting my peace, surrounding myself with supportive people, and trusting my instincts while continuing to practice perseverance and self-advocacy.