Interview by Heidi Molga, CLB Undergraduate 
(under the supervision of Professor Amy Ralston)
November 22, 2013

Heidi: Would you mind starting us off with a personal introduction?

Stephane: I am forty-four. I got my Ph.D. in 1998 in experimental neuropsychology at University of Montréal. I now am a researcher here at UCSC. I am also a father of three. I have a teenaged son and two babies. I married a Californian. We just celebrated our tenth anniversary. She is also in science.

Heidi: At what stage in your career did you start having children, and did you feel as though that was the best time?

Stephane: My first son was born when I was finishing my Ph.D. At the time, my wife was also completing a master’s degree in nutrition, and the pregnancy was not planned. In retrospect, I would say it was probably not the best time, but that question to me is biased. There is never really a good time, so anytime, to me, is the right time.

Heidi: How has being a parent changed your approach to research?

Stephane: Significantly. I guess it makes me more on task, because my time is defined very differently. My families are important to me, and I try not to take time at work away from my family. My kids are a source of inspiration. The line of work I do relates to developmental neurotoxicity, so that makes me more aware of their vulnerability, and I am a psychologist as well. Having kids and a family and a long-term partner helps me to appreciate the things that are really important.

Heidi: What kind of support do you feel would be most helpful to faculty parents?

Stephane: It does take a community to raise a child, and it is the same to raise a scientist. I would say that the support from the immediate family is key, but, even to a greater extent, the community that surrounds us is important. The community of scientists, more than not, is not very sensitive when it comes to family situations. There are a lot of old school scientists who see family as an obstacle. I can speak to that as well, because it is a challenge, but I feel that it is one that makes me a better scientist, and a better parent.

Heidi: What is the best way to increase the number of women in STEM tenure positions without compromising excellence?

Stephane: I think, there needs to be a major change in the core of the community, where it is not only dominated by the white male. I think change in opinions and perception is also important. What might help women in science would be that guys have to get on board with it as well. I have witnessed a lot of beneficial changes in our society, but what I have not seen is men embracing and understanding what women want, and being supportive of their decisions when they face double standards of wanting to be a career woman and a mother.

Heidi: What is your opinion on the vast discrepancy between the number of women receiving Ph.D.s and the number of women that possess faculty positions, over 50% less than the number of women receiving Ph.D.s?

Stephane: I think it is shocking. I would say, too, it is depressing to consider those numbers, especially in a culture like America. There are so many ways that this country is not for progress. Of course these are very complex social issues, but I think that it can change. I am a product of this educational environment, I have been to grad school, post-doc, and am trying to land a faculty position, and I am struggling with certain things that I know that women struggle with in addition to many other factors. It is really unfair.

Heidi: Do you have any potential suggestions to how these issues could be remedied?

Stephane: It seems that, if you qualify it as a product of the system, you cannot change it without changing the system. The biggest hypocrisy is not bringing in the open what everyone things about privately. Everyone will discuss these forms of discrimination in closed quarters, but no one talks about it publically. Of course it is never going to be perfect. We know that this attitude exists, and we have to make a statement that this is not something we tolerate.

Heidi: What are the most important goals of graduate school and post-doc, and of being a researcher, as well?

Stephane: I would say most important goal for graduate school would be to acquire a good set of skills that you can develop a career on. For post-doc, to apply these set skills to a different field of study as a Ph.D. student. One of the goals that is not said often enough is to develop a network. It really matters who you work with. It is obvious nowadays that science is like a business. That makes it sound very competitive, and gives it a negative connotation. The goal of a business is to make money. Science should aim towards making discovery.

Heidi: What is the hardest thing about being a scientist?

Stephane: It is kind of the constant pressure to have to produce something. Again, I found it somewhat counter intuitive to the goal of science. I understand the desire to be productive, but our influence, as scientists and teachers goes beyond the mere publication of results.

Heidi: What is your next big career goal?

Stephane: To get a grant. The more immediate goal is to continue publishing on this grant. By next March, I hope to become independent as a scientist, meaning getting my own funding.

Heidi: Tell us something about yourself that would surprise others:

Stephane: I went to seminary school, believe it or not. I wanted to get a taste of private education. I was not raised very religious, but I have always been a very curious individual. I was always interested in religious studies. It was an interest that was pre-scientific. I was young, didn’t really know what I wanted to do. A lot of people are surprised because they think I wanted to be a priest, but I want to make it clear that was not the intent. It was more out of curiosity and interest. I think curiosity is one of the qualities of a great scientist.

Heidi: What is the best advice you were ever given?

Stephane: It is to love what you do. I remember when I was an undergrad, I did honors work. During that time, I had a conversation with an industrial psychologist. He told me, “You need to have a burning fire for what you do.” Nowadays, that is what I tell my own students. Know what you like, and do what you are good at.

Heidi: When you are in a rut, how do you inspire yourself?

Stephane: I just think that I cannot give up. I have made it this far, and there are reasons why, which may not be up front at the moment when you are down on yourself. It can be hard to see the positives. I think what has been keeping me going is because I just like living. I enjoy living and what I do, and I enjoy my kids and my wife. I have always been an optimist, and idealistic as well, and try to see the bright side of things.

Heidi: If you were to do it all over again, is there anything you would change?

Stephane: There is nothing. Knowing what I know now, my choices would have been different. This is the life I have, there is nothing I would change now or then.

Heidi: Is there anything you would like to add?

Stephane: I just would like to tell women in science, and in general, to not give up on their desires to succeed in what they want to do. My mother is a very strong woman who has been through hell, and the lesson I learned from her is to never give up. I think it is true. We have this one life, and we cannot waste it. Keep pushing the limits, keep shocking the world, and eventually, maybe, things will change. Just don’t ever give up.

Heidi: What are your best strategies in terms of attaining an appropriate balance between work life and home life?

Stephane: To stay organized and manage time well.

Heidi: What are your greatest weaknesses in terms of of attaining an appropriate balance between work life and home life?

Stephane: Possibly obsessing over my research and thinking it over and over wherever I am or whatever I do!

Heidi: What advice do you have for students desiring an academic career as well as a family?

Stephane: Prepare for a hell of a time that of course is completely fulfilling once you get the hang of it all.

Heidi: Would your advice differ if you were advising a male student vs. a female student?

Stephane: Most likely because there is a big gender gap here and the advices for one gender do not necessarily apply to the other gender.

Heidi: How has your approach to career-life balance evolved over the years/ through each stage of the journey?

Stephane: For the best so far! After you get the hang of balancing all spheres advices for one gender do not necessarily apply to the other gender.of life as an adult including family and a career in science you do get to a place of comfort. You can call behavioral despair to some degree where now I’m locked in doing it all day in and day out! It was not always the case and I’m aware that the comfort I’m in now might not last either. Again, bottom line it’s to keep going forward with everything my life has to offer.