Divya Channappa
Divya Channappa is a Research Program Manager at Stanford University School of Medicine, where she has been contributing to groundbreaking biomedical research for more than 11 years. She works in a neurology laboratory focused on brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases, particularly the discovery and development of biomarkers related to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. Her lab is widely recognized as a pioneer in biomarker research, helping advance early detection and understanding of neurological disorders. Over the years, Divya has played an integral role in supporting large-scale studies that explore the biological mechanisms behind aging and neurodegeneration.
In her current role, Divya oversees the day-to-day operations of a highly collaborative research environment, managing a team of approximately 30 researchers and staff. She was promoted to Research Program Manager about four years ago after serving as a Research Associate in the same lab, reflecting her leadership, organizational expertise, and scientific contributions. In addition to managing laboratory operations, she works closely with her principal investigator on grant writing, grant management, budgeting, and financial oversight. Prior to joining Stanford, Divya spent six years in Los Angeles at City of Hope Cancer Research Center, where she worked on antibody engineering and cancer research. Her transition into neurology came after relocating to the Bay Area for her husband’s career, a change that introduced her to the inspiring and rapidly evolving field of brain research.
Divya holds a Master’s degree in Immunology from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from Kumaraguru College of Technology in India. Inspired by her teachers during her undergraduate studies, she developed a deep passion for science that has guided her career ever since. Throughout her research journey, she has contributed to numerous high-impact publications in leading scientific journals, including Science and several Nature publications. Among these accomplishments, her first publication in Nature in 2017 stands out as a particularly meaningful milestone, marking a significant achievement in the field she is most passionate about. Even today, she continues to find inspiration in her work, driven by the opportunity to learn something new each day while contributing to advances in neuroscience and human health.
• Certifications in molecular biology techniques related to antibody engineering from Beckman Center at City of Hope
• Certifications in grants management at Stanford
• University of Southern California - MS, Microbiology and Immunology
• Kumaraguru College of Technology - B.Tech, Biotechnology
• First publication in Nature journal in 2017
• Multiple publications in Science journal and Nature journals
• ADRC association (Alzheimer's Disease Research Center) with 35 centers across the United States
• ADPD (Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease related organizations)
• India Literacy Project - Board member serving as California Chapter Coordinator and Partners Relation Coordinator
• Stop Hunger Now
• India Literacy Project
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say my first mentor after my master's was Brian Lee. Right after my master's, I immediately had a job offer at the City of Hope in Duarte, Los Angeles. I got into this field where I was using all my knowledge from my master's, but it was my first job. Brian Lee was a senior person in the lab, and he's also in the same field now, working in a biotech industry. This person has always been my first mentor because he actually taught me a lot about how to proceed with a job in the career, and how to get better. Anything and everything that I learned from him - even till date, I use those skills that I learned from him. My teachers in India were also definitely my inspiration. They made me want to do science for my career, and that's how I got into biotechnology for my undergrad.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would just say, once you get into the field of science, it's just so vast that you should be open to learn every day. That's something I would definitely tell anybody that I'm mentoring right now - just be open to learn every day. Don't focus just on what you're doing, but try to learn more, because we don't know what is more intriguing. Go about exploring new fields. Like, I did immunology, for example, and then I just switched my career to neurology, because that kind of pulled me into where I can use my skills that I learned, but still learn something new every day. So I would like them to definitely be open to more science and learn more.