Sendurai Mani, Associate Director of Translational Oncology at Legorreta Cancer Center, shared Alicia Zhou’s, Chief Executive Officer of the Cancer Research Institute, post on LinkedIn, adding:
“I am deeply touched by these generous words from Alicia Zhou. It was a privilege to work with Alicia in Bob Weinberg’s lab and to see her grow into the remarkable leader she is today.
The Whitehead Institute’s amazing intellectual and nurturing environment taught us that bold science and genuine mentorship can change lives.
I am very proud of Alicia’s work, her friendship, and the work she is leading at the Cancer Research Institute (CRI).”
Quoting Alicia Zhou’s post:
“It’s a special gift to be invited to reflect on the people and experiences that shaped your path.
I recently had the opportunity to talk about my time at the Whitehead Institute, where I worked as a UROP in Bob Weinberg’s lab for four years.
I’m so deeply grateful to Bob, who took a chance on me when I was an eager and naïve Massachusetts Institute of Technology freshman and gave me the opportunity to work in his lab.
From him, I learned not only how to pursue excellent science, but also how curiosity, generosity, and a genuine investment in people can define great mentorship.
I was equally lucky to work closely with Sendurai Mani when he was a postdoc in Bob’s lab. Mani was such an amazing mentor and friend. He trusted me at the bench and made me feel like an intellectual equal in the science.
At the same time, he nurtured my growth – buying me lunch so I wasn’t just eating leftover lecture hall pizza every night, offering advice about my courses and homework, and happily listening to all the ins and outs of my undergraduate life.
His mentorship left a lasting impression. It taught me the value of what it looks like to quietly show up for people with attention and care, every day.
Those lessons continue to shape how I lead at the Cancer Research Institute (CRI). Our mission depends on investing in bold science, but it also depends on investing in the people with the curiosity and courage to pursue it. I know firsthand how transformative that kind of belief can be.”
Other articles from Alicia Zhou on OncoDaily.