Meet Dr. Heather Beasley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Heather Beasley.

Hi Dr. Beasley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hi, I’m Dr. Heather Kennedy Beasley. I’m a cancer biologist and clinical researcher currently completing my postdoctoral training. I began my training by earning a Bachelor of Science degree, in Animal Sciences, at Auburn University. After graduation, I worked in a small animal medicine clinic for two years, which is where I fell in love with research. Anyone that has taken their dog/cat to the Vet clinic knows they run fecal and urine tests, which require the technician to look in the microscope. I fell in love with research behind the lends of that microscope. That is when the vet told me I should really consider a Ph.D. As a Black female, I really hadn’t ever met any Black scientists outside of one professor I had in undergrad. Long story short, I continued my education, where I earned a Master of Science in Biology and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences last year. The best part of becoming a scientist was shortly after starting my Ph.D., my husband and I gave birth to our beautiful daughter, and that’s when my best experiment yet was born! LOL.

I started a small academic LL.C. in 2021 called The Motherhood Experiment which provides tips, tricks, facts, and evidence-based education for parents. I use this platform to help moms like me that are raising budding scientists, but it also connects me to the broader research community. I hope to inspire not only Black girls like myself but all students that are interested in a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Lately, my Instagram has seen a lot of growth which is truly mind-blowing. I hope to continue my social media journey to enhance my resources through The Motherhood Experiment while advocating for and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
OMG, no! It has been terribly difficult. I took three years off after undergrad and worked before starting school. I got waitlisted from all of my top choice schools for graduate school and felt like maybe science wasn’t for me. There are still rough patches even though I have now earned the Ph.D. Did I mention I had a whole kid during my Ph.D.? Well, that has its own set of woes.

I was breastfeeding in between experiments and was on a 12-month waitlist for daycare, so I had to work at night, when my husband got off work, until the wee hours of the morning sometimes. Then the Covid pandemic happened, and all of the labs shut down. Even my dissertation defense was via Zoom because of covid protocols.  It has been hectic, but I’m all the better for it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a scientist! I specialize in cancer research. Moreover, I also specialize in health disparity research. I investigate molecular subtypes of cancer that disproportionally affect Black women. I have 20 peer-reviewed research publications that span breast cancer research, microscopic techniques, and STEM education. I’m most well-known for calcium signaling. I study how calcium affects how cancer cells grow and thrive, and migrate to distant organs.

It’s very important because you can’t stop calcium signaling. Calcium works as an important messenger in your body beyond just helping your bones to be strong. Calcium allows your heart to beat and your brain to function, and it also affects how effective your immune cells are. Therefore it is both unfortunate and complex that calcium signaling helps breast cancer cells grow better.

I also love talking about my research. I’m highly sought after in my field as a scientific communicator, panelist, podcaster, and social media influencer. I want to build my community as well. I want to continue to positively impact young girls and redefine for them what a scientist looks like.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is playing the organ at my grandmother’s church in my hometown of Montgomery, AL. I have a very musical family, and my grandmother is the matriarch. She has owned a music studio for over 60 years and still takes a few private lessons from time to time. My grandmother (Althea Thomas) was the hand-picked organist for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for several years and has played the organ at that church since 1955.

My grandmother’s organ shoes are on permanent display at the Smithsonian She’s such a rockstar. Anywho, she taught me to play when I was about 3 years old, and on special occasions, she would allow me to get down into the organ pit and play with her on Sundays. Those will always be special moments for me. During Christmas, we still crowd around the piano at my parent’s house and sing carols while my grandmother plays. I’m super close to my grandma, as you can tell. I’m actually named after my grandmother, but I dropped my middle name when I got married in 2017.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.heatherkbeasley.com
• Instagram: @dr.heatherkbeasley
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/heatherkbeasley
• Twitter: @hkbeasley

Image Credits
Heather Beasley, Bryan Beasley, and their daughter. Heather Beasley, Linda Quinones, Ky’Era Actkins, and Ireti EniAganga