There are so many people who are rooting for you to succeed. Find a group of people who support you and love you for your strengths. There are thousands of roles within STEM so there is certainly room for you to thrive. It is a fun career path, and you will constantly be learning and exploring.
I work at Illumina with a team of interdisciplinary scientists and engineers, designing and building gene-sequencing instruments. These are used by doctors and researchers to decode DNA so that they can better understand diseases like cancer. We color code the DNA base pairs, take millions of images, and then “read” the sequence by interpreting these images.
I design cameras and LED light sources for the instruments. Illumina’s design cycle is typically three years from concept to customership, and the time goes quickly: we fit in several prototype builds and design iterations within that window. Every day is different and includes exciting challenges and opportunities. I spend half my time working in the lab, testing and building prototypes. The rest of my time is spent discussing new ideas, finding suppliers, and analyzing data. I enjoy the independence, flexibility, and diversity of my projects. Seeing people using the products I designed keeps me striving to innovate and create better products every day.
Every career has unique obstacles and challenges. These are especially complex when interpersonal issues are tied to technical challenges. I am currently working to trust my intuition, knowledge, and experiences. When I present ideas, the team might not be ready to discuss them. Earlier in my career, I took a lack of enthusiasm on the part of others to mean I was incorrect or didn’t have useful input. I have since learned that lack of engagement does not mean my ideas are not strong or relevant. Now I keep these ideas in mind and make sure to bring them up again when they are pertinent—and when the team is receptive.
I wish I had been told earlier in my career that it is much easier to be critical of ideas than it is to be constructive.
There are too many wonderful people who have inspired and encouraged me to call out just one or two. Sometimes, it can be hard to find them in the moment, but I’ve found there are always people supporting me and helping me find opportunities to grow.
Alexa Hudnut
Staff Optical Systems Engineer, Illumina, United States
Born in United States / Resides in United States
Educational Background: BS, MS, and PhD in Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, United States
