Women in STEM 2024: Ashlee Yates Flanagan, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Autism Research

I'm a licensed psychologist and I'm currently a postdoc at CHOP's Center for Autism Research. Regarding my research, I identify as a qualitative researcher, and that means a number of different things, but for me specifically, it really reflects the type of methods that I use to make sense of people's experiences as a qualitative researcher. My research covers a number of different areas underneath the umbrella of Black developmental experiences.

Specifically, I look at things like policing specifically with Black autistic youth, as well as at the mothering experiences of Black mothers and what that looks like in different context. Additionally, I also look specifically at what are the methods that we can use that are most culturally responsive and anti-racist and culturally sensitive so that we can improve our research. I enjoy doing this research and part of why I enjoyed this because in Black culture, storytelling is so pertinent to the fabric of the Black diaspora.

And so, I embed that in my own journey as a researcher and understanding the impact of the environment on Black psychological development across mothers and across other things like policing.

Regarding some advice that I would share with women in STEM or who are interested in working in STEM, I think there’s so many ways to go about this but I’m just going to share what’s been working for me. The first is mentorship. So, identify a mentor or mentors that have experience doing exactly what you want to do and that can explicitly do what you’re trying to do. That’s incredibly important - someone who’s going to take the veil off and not gatekeep and be really honest in what steps you need to take in your journey.

Secondly, I would say identify opportunities where you are invested in. Groups, and grants, and awards that want to invest in you or someone like you. For me specifically at CHOP, I have been honored and so grateful to be awarded an academic fellowship in diversity. This particular award has provided me mentorship opportunities as well as provided an infrastructure where I can pursue my research meaningfully and it is for scholars from diverse backgrounds and it really helps to diversify the CHOP and Penn communities and research. I strongly recommend for women with diverse backgrounds that are interested in institutions like CHOP or Penn to consider the fellowship in academic diversity. 

In addition to putting yourself in positions where you are challenged so that you can grow, also be mindful to put yourself in positions that are aligned with your strengths, and to lean into your strengths. I think it's incredibly important when thinking about persistence, which is necessary in STEM, and when you are a woman in STEM. That can make the battle a little easier, make the journey a little bit more easier, when we have things on our plate that are less effortful. Things that come more natural and more easy to us. And so lean into your strengths.