Jadiel A. Wasson

academic
Written By Joseph Gaspero
 

Assistant Professor, New York University

“You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” ~ Marcus Aurelius

Read Jadiel’s full profile below

Where did you grow up?

Augusta, GA

Who was your favorite teacher, and why?

My Calculus and Statistics teacher in High School. She was straightforward and no nonsense. She was one of the few teachers that pushed me to do better and not rely on just my smarts.

What inspired you to pursue a career in STEM/Healthcare?

I have always been very curious and inquisitive since I was a kid. I used to dig for arrowheads in my backyard and create my own science projects in the kitchen. I initially was interested in pursuing medical school but I then became interested in research during an undergraduate course where I was required to do research in a lab for one semester. The atmosphere, the people, the approach to work all really clicked with me so I decided to pursue a doctorate and research afterwards.

What do you do in your current role/career?

I currently run a research lab at NYU where I aim to understand how the environment can influence what parents pass on to their offspring. I use the model organism C. elegans to pursue this question.

What were your moments of fear/challenges in your career?

During each career transition, the fear of the next steps and whether I would be able to meet the challenge always induced fear in me. There was plenty of stumbling around and uncertainty in those transitions but what helped was always relying on my support system and network both new and old. Those moments helped me realize that most people want to help and support, they just need to be asked and know that it is needed.

What are some of the innovations in science that you are most excited about?

I am excited about the emergence of single-cell technologies that probe everything from RNA to protein to metabolic content of a single cell.

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?

The first thing I hope to accomplish is tenure 😊 But over time, my ultimately hope is that I am able to impact many of the people I mentor in a positive way and help those mentees reach their goals.

What is your unique talent?

I’m a cross-stitcher

Current book/book you love?

The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin

 
Joseph Gaspero

Joseph Gaspero is the CEO and Co-Founder of CHI. He is a healthcare executive, strategist, and researcher. He co-founded CHI in 2009 to be an independent, objective, and interdisciplinary research and education institute for healthcare. Joseph leads CHI’s research and education initiatives focusing on including patient-driven healthcare, patient engagement, clinical trials, drug pricing, and other pressing healthcare issues. He sets and executes CHI’s strategy, devises marketing tactics, leads fundraising efforts, and manages CHI’s Management team. Joseph is passionate and committed to making healthcare and our world a better place. His leadership stems from a wide array of experiences, including founding and operating several non-profit and for-profit organizations, serving in the U.S. Air Force in support of 2 foreign wars, and deriving expertise from time spent in industries such as healthcare, financial services, and marketing. Joseph’s skills include strategy, management, entrepreneurship, healthcare, clinical trials, diversity & inclusion, life sciences, research, marketing, and finance. He has lived in six countries, traveled to over 30 more, and speaks 3 languages, all which help him view business strategy through the prism of a global, interconnected 21st century. Joseph has a B.S. in Finance from the University of Illinois at Chicago. When he’s not immersed in his work at CHI, he spends his time snowboarding backcountry, skydiving, mountain biking, volunteering, engaging in MMA, and rock climbing.

http://joseph-gaspero.strikingly.com/
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