‘It’s a Blast!’
Gaillard Relishes Her Role Supporting Science
Dr. Shawn Drew Gaillard prides herself on being nosy. It’s a trait that propelled her toward science in the first place and, early on, literally caused an explosion.
Gaillard has devoted her entire career to NIH and has worn many hats over the years. She currently is a division director at the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), where she oversees the division’s funding of research grants and serves as a key member of the institute’s leadership team.
She started out, though, behind the bench as a scientist, motivated by her innate curiosity.
As a child, she’d conduct random experiments. “I constantly wondered what would happen if…” One day, she mixed chemicals and accidentally blew up a kitchen cabinet. Luckily, her parents were forgiving and kept encouraging her to pursue her passion for science.
Gaillard went on to study chemistry at Spelman College and earned a Ph.D. in biology from Howard University. In graduate school, she studied sickle cell anemia, inspired to learn more about the disease for which her cousin is a carrier.
“A wonderful thing about working in science is that you can really move the needle forward to help individuals,” she reflected. “This is true whether you’re in a lab doing research or working in a role that supports the research of others. It’s why we’re all here at NIH.”
Gaillard arrived at NIH nearly 30 years ago right out of college doing predoctoral and then postdoctoral research at multiple institutes. She also enjoyed leading local students on tours of her lab. She became increasingly drawn to NIH’s administrative side.
“I still get excited by the science and it’s equally exciting to be in science administration where you get to look at the landscape and say, ‘Hmm, where are the gaps? How can we broaden participation in this research area? I always like to say there’s a large table for science and there’s room for all of us.”
Her advice? Be nosy. Be inquisitive. “All of us are born scientists,” she said. “We’re all wired to wonder. That passion might even help us create a new lane [of inquiry] that doesn’t currently exist.”
Gaillard is glad to see more women entering science-related careers. When she arrived in the 1990s, “I didn’t see a lot of reflection in the mirror of women who were lab chiefs,” she said. “And as an African-American woman, it can be rather daunting.” While some hurdles remain, she appreciates seeing more women on scientific panels and in leadership roles.
As director of NIGMS’s Genetics, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Division, Gaillard works with three branch chiefs and a cadre of program officers who manage grant applications among 29 different science areas.
“It’s a blast,” she said of her job. “There are new things to discover. It’s a wonderful time to be in science.”
Of course, not every applicant gets funded. She’s glad that some principal investigators persevered, continued the dialogue with staff and others and got the award on a successive try.
“In the extramural program, we have a duty to make sure we help pull people from the brink of giving up on science or thinking they don’t belong for whatever reason,” Gaillard said. “Maybe they just needed to fine-tune [their application]. I think we’re in a position to help the science infrastructure from that standpoint. We need great minds to come in and think of new ways to solve really big problems.
“What we do at NIH is super important and it’s really a thrill to be here,” she said. “It’s still a thrill after all these years.”