Joseph Rodriguez
Power Words
Where were you born?
New York
What school did you attend?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (S.B.), Boston University (M.S.), Brandeis University (Ph.D)
What gained you interest in the NIH?
The opportunity to work in live cell imaging within the context of a cancer cell. It gives me a unique perspective into how fundamental processes such as transcription vary from cell to cell.
What kind of work do you do at the NIH?
I work on chromosome organization, a field of intense scientific research. I try to understand how the spatial organization of chromosomes affects transcription. We are using live cell imaging to look at the transcription of endogenous genes in breast cancer cell lines.
What message would you like to send to young Hispanics who are considering going to college?
College life can be a very difficult period of your life. It is however a first important step in your journey. I have achieved various education levels, leading up to my current postdoctoral work. Each level has taken me to a newer challenge a crossroad in my career. My advice to you is to have the open mind, evolve with your work and do not loose interest. Look for and get interested in the next cutting edge developments in your field. If a roadblock stops you from your current path, go around it and find another way. You can do it!