Ruben Baler
Power Words
Where were you born?
Buenos Aires, Argentina
What school did you attend?
University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
What gained you interest in the NIH?
When I finished my PhD studies at UM I was offered an incredible opportunity by the National Research Council to pick any federal lab to do a postdoctoral fellowship. Without any hesitation, I immediately contacted my top 3 principal investigator choices at the National Institutes of Health. I spent the best 5 years of my research life with the first senior researcher who answered my email.
What kind of work do you do at the NIH?
I currently work in the Science Policy Branch at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, where my role can be defined as that of a ""translator"" of the complex science surrounding substance abuse and addiction phenomena, so that the vast knowledge we have amassed becomes understandable and thus, useful, for lay audiences and professionals outside the field.
What message would you like to send to young Hispanics who are considering going to college?
I would agree with most people that in order to realize your dreams, you may have to overcome economic hardship, social inequalities, and even ethnic stereotype. But I also believe that one of the most damaging yet subtle barrier we need to overcome in order to thrive is the expectation gap, and not just with regards to what others expect of us, but mainly what we expect from ourselves. We have to always strive to reach our highest potential.