Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dalia Cabrera. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Dalia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

I remember my first research internship one summer in Michigan. I was just starting my career in science, and during a meeting, I excitedly shared with a friend that I was looking forward to returning to Mexico with hopes of applying for a year-long internship at Harvard University.

I didn’t have the GPA required for the application—just one-tenth short—and knowing my university standards, they probably wouldn’t even consider my documents or would place me at the end of their list for sending profiles to Harvard professors. That’s when my friend gave me a piece of advice that, perhaps unknowingly, changed my path. He simply said, “Why don’t you contact the professor you’re interested in directly?” It was advice I had never considered before.

That night, I followed his suggestion. Thanks to that advice, I was able to arrange an interview with the researcher I wanted to work with and secure the one spot available in his lab. A few days later, I discovered that my university had indeed never sent my documents to the professors in the initial round of selections. If it hadn’t been for that small comment, I would never have gotten that opportunity.

That same opportunity eventually led me to the job I have today, also in the Department of Medicine at Harvard University.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Growing up in Mexico, I was fortunate to be surrounded by supportive individuals who provided a safe space for me to pursue my ambitions. As a child, I often dominated conversations at the family dinner table with topics from my physics classes in middle school. This early interest evolved into advanced biology courses in high school and eventually led me to leave my hometown to earn a degree in biotechnology engineering.

My fascination with understanding how things work and applying that knowledge to improve our lives has been a driving force in my pursuit of a career in science. Today, the support and encouragement I received have brought me to a lab focused on researching and developing vaccines for various infectious diseases, including COVID-19, HIV, Zika, and influenza. My role involves studying responses from different clinical trials and exploring various strategies for these diseases.

The lab is renowned for its contributions, but I am particularly proud of our development of the J&J vaccine for the COVID-19 pandemic. This achievement is a milestone for me as the first Mexican to join the team, marking my first job after university. I currently manage several projects, with a primary focus on collaborations with MIT.

Ultimately, it’s not just about the prestige of our location but about proving to ourselves our capabilities as we continue to grow and excel in environments that challenge us to be our best.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I am a woman who studied engineering in Mexico, and I want to start by highlighting that although we have made significant progress in addressing gender biases, there is still much work to be done. Choosing this field as a woman was not always the easiest path. Additionally, I decided to move to another country—a transition that, as many people know, involves adapting to cultural changes, language barriers, new customs, and, most importantly, the loss of one’s support network and starting over, which in my case meant relocating to the bustling city of Boston, MA.

The constant question of “Was this the right decision?” often lingers as you watch time pass and miss your loved ones from afar. It’s a challenging experience, but if my story can comfort someone in a similar situation, I want to say that this feeling doesn’t last forever. You find a new family where you are, even though your heart remains divided between where your family is and the new life you built in a place far from home.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

In science, individuals are often highly intellectual, but emotional intelligence and management skills can be significant areas for improvement. Ultimately, like in any other field, you’ll encounter a team with diverse goals, learning styles, and strategies that could be shared with a healthy growth space. I’ve observed that this is not always the norm in these environments. Therefore, when stepping into a leadership role, I believe emphasizing these aspects can lead to better overall results for the team.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cvvr.hms.harvard.edu/lab-member/dalia-cabrera-barragan/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daliacabrera__/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daliacabrera/