I am passionate about building vibrant communities and don't believe in having to be serious to do seriously good work.”
Jenni Li (she/her)
PhD Student in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Jenni Li is a PhD student in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering in the McCormick School of Engineering. She is a part of The Lucks Lab, which studies how the structure of RNA plays a role in its cellular jobs to monitor the environments for health and sustainability.
Whom do you admire in your field and otherwise, and why?
I look up to Olympic medalist Molly Seidel. She has had many ups and downs in her career as a collegiate and professional athlete, and she realized that taking running too seriously in her early career severely impacted both her physical and mental health. She inspires me to stay in touch with my silly side and enjoy the ride while working, which leads to sustainable success.
What do you find both rewarding and challenging about your research and/or work?
Since synthetic biology as a field is in a high-growth phase, it is challenging in that there are always a lot of gaps to be filled in developing tools and platforms. At the same time, it feels very rewarding to contribute to the community with innovations!
Why Northwestern?
I really enjoyed talking to everyone in the Chemical Engineering department during my recruitment weekend, and I felt like a part of an amazing, supportive community. I felt like I would be able to develop meaningful relationships, challenge myself, and have fun during graduate school.
How would your closest friends describe you?
I think my closest friends would describe me as dynamic, personable, and systematic. I am passionate about building vibrant communities and don't believe in having to be serious to do seriously good work.
What did you originally want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was growing up! As an Engineering PhD student, I enjoy channeling my creativity into problem-solving and making aesthetic figures in Illustrator.
Tell us about a time when things did not go as you planned, what did you learn?
I was planning on doing a bench research internship at a biotech startup in the summer of 2020 when in-person internships were mostly canceled. Instead, I applied to a wide range of virtual opportunities and ended up working as a venture capital analyst. I absolutely loved working there and developed a passion for Biotech VC. I learned to keep an open mind about unexpected twists in life and to always make the most out of every opportunity!
Published: August 30, 2022
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