Her Story
About Jyotsna
Jyotsna Godavarthi brings more than 10 years of experience to her research career in cancer genetics, molecular pharmacology, immunology, and neurodegeneration. Originally from India, she earned her B Pharmacy and M Pharmacy in pharmacology and worked for one and a half years as a validation executive at a hospital that is now part of Pfizer before moving to the United States after marriage. She pursued her PhD at Texas Southern University in cancer genetics with a molecular pharmacology focus, a process that took six years due to lab changes, and her dissertation received the Best Dissertation award. She then completed a postdoc at UT Health exploring the role of innate immune cells on neurodegeneration to shift her focus toward immunology. In her current role of nearly two years in Houston, Texas, Jyotsna performs extensive wet lab bench work, including planning and executing animal studies, in vitro experiments, surgeries, and flow cytometry, often collaborating externally at Baylor. She is a member of the Association for Women in Science, received a poster presentation award in an annual research competition, and has been the first woman in her family to complete a PhD and enter the research field. Beyond the lab, she mentors undergraduate, graduate, and medical students and volunteers with the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship on vaccine hesitancy projects and the East Harris County Empowerment Council to bring resources to communities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jyotsna
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success comes from staying curious, working consistently, and being willing to take risks even when I didn’t have all the answers. I have also been fortunate to learn from strong people around me, and I have tried to turn challenges into opportunities for growth.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t wait until you feel completely ready. Say yes to opportunities that challenge you, trust your ability to learn along the way, and never be afraid to take up space at the table. Your career doesn’t have to follow a perfect plan; you need the courage to keep moving forward.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
There is no limit to what we can achieve. To all the young women considering careers in science, I would say: stay curious, ask questions, and never be afraid to challenge yourself. There is no such thing as a perfect path or a perfect person. We all come from diverse backgrounds and bring different strengths and experiences to our work. Most importantly, seek out mentors who can guide, encourage, and support you along the way. You don’t have to navigate your career alone.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in science right now is how quickly we are learning, innovating, and turning new discoveries into solutions that can make a real difference in people’s lives. At the same time, we face challenges in ensuring that everyone has a voice and an opportunity to contribute. We need more collaboration, mentorship, and support for young scientists, especially women and people from diverse backgrounds. When we bring different perspectives together, we can ask better questions and create better solutions.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me are integrity, curiosity, kindness, and perseverance. I believe in doing the right thing, staying open to learning, and treating people with respect. I also value collaboration and mentorship because I’ve learned that we accomplish more when we support and learn from one another. Most importantly, I try to stay grounded, be authentic, and keep moving forward even when things don’t go as planned.
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