Chloe Kirk
Patent Law Clerk at Arnold & Porter
“ I learned that science is so much more than what is taught in class; it’s about exploring the unknown but doing it in a methodical way.”
Read Chloe’s full profile below
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
What do you do in your current role/career?
I help science researchers patent their inventions.
Who was your favorite teacher, and why?
My favorite teacher by far was my Latin teacher. He knew how to get students to care about what they were learning and make it fun! I was never the best at learning languages, but I took Latin classes with the same teacher all the way up until 11th grade (when we could’ve stopped after 9th grade) because I enjoyed his classes so much.
What inspired you to pursue a career in STEM/Healthcare?
I never thought of myself as the best at science or math. I didn’t receive the top grades and had to go for after-school tutoring. Science, how it is often taught in the classrooms, from textbooks and multiple-choice exams seemed so dry. My senior year of high school, however, my school required us to do a senior thesis project. Most of my classmates chose projects to do research on at home, but our science teacher gave us the option to work in a lab at the University of Minnesota for our senior thesis projects. I chose to try working in a lab, and my life was forever changed! I learned that science is so much more than what is taught in class; it’s about exploring the unknown but doing it in a methodical way. I loved working in a lab so much I decided to apply to do my undergraduate degree anywhere that could immediately get me into a lab. And from there, I just kept going from one lab opportunity to the next.
What were your moments of fear/challenges in your career?
My biggest challenges as a scientist so far have come two-fold: academic & research. As I mentioned earlier, I was not the student getting 100% on every science test in high school, and the same was true in university. A huge point of reckoning came my sophomore year of college as I was taking Physics and Organic Chemistry in the same semester, and I failed an Organic Chemistry exam. I was devastated. I remember calling my mother and saying I needed to change majors out of a science degree, that I wasn’t cut out to be in science. But after all the emotions calmed down, I had a moment of clarity: I can only do my best and I should be proud of that. So, I went for all the tutoring and study groups I could and ended up passing the class!
Another big challenge I face daily in graduate school is my research. From the outside, research seems straightforward. You test something and you get a result. Unfortunately, what is not often talked about is how many times an experiment will fail before you get a good result, or a project may turn out to be a dead end. Through these laboratory and academic challenges, I’ve learned perseverance and how to separate my own self-worth from my research. You don’t have to be the smartest in the room, you just have to be willing to keep on trying.
What are some of the innovations in science that you are most excited about?
I am very excited about the potential for CRISPR gene editing therapy & the future of mRNA vaccines!
What’s next for you?/What would you like to do when you “grow up’? (retire, etc.)/ what is something you hope to accomplish in the future?
Currently, the biggest topic on my mind to accomplish is graduate school! Get more experiments done, publish a paper, and defend my thesis. I’m exploring my options of what to do after graduate school and haven’t narrowed much down yet. At the top of “dream careers” are science policy, science communication, teaching, and biotech/industry. I love science but I also love working with people, and my ideal career would involve both!
What is your unique talent?
I love baking! I always joke a dream of mine is to be on the Great British Bakeoff someday. I sometimes try to recreate their bakes.
Personal style/fashion tip?
Simple and classy. I love a good heel but, because I work in a lab all day, platform Superga’s have to suffice.
Current book/book you love?
Reading is a big hobby of mine, particularly Science-Fiction/Fantasy books. My all-time favorite book Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.
Favorite website/blog/”guilty pleasure”/fun?
My guilty (and not-so-guilty anymore) pleasure is the science community on Instagram! Being a part of that community reminds me of my passion for science and gets me through some of the daily challenges being in graduate school.
