Faculty Profile

UB Flag.

Kristen Ashare

Director
Office of Postdoctoral Scholars
kmashare@buffalo.edu

Education:

  • PhD, Biomedical Sciences - Immunology, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), 2011
  • AB, Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, 2004

Professional experience:

  • Director, CIRTL and Office of Postdoctoral Scholars, Academic Affairs, University at Buffalo
  • Assistant Director, Science Outreach Initiative, Research and Grant Support/Science Communication, University of Pennsylvania

What mentoring means to me:

I have benefited from and seek to provide mentorship and advice that helps others find what works for them, rather than replicating exactly what I chose to do. I think more graduate students would benefit from this as well and I hope to provide that support to UB students, particularly those who feel unable to speak directly with their faculty mentor.
I received excellent mentorship during my graduate school experience, but graduate school was still hard in many ways. I have experience seeking mental health care, finding work life balance and pursuing an alternate career in STEM while partnered with a faculty member (two body problem job search!).

Topics I am willing to discuss with students:

Academic Culture

  • Considering a non-academic path after grad school.
  • Decoding and demystifying academic culture and norms.
  • Uncertainty about staying in grad school.

Personal Experiences

  • Caregiving for children.
  • Experiences related to being a woman.
  • Experiences related to class and/or socioeconomic status.
  • Experiences related to mental health and/or abilities.
  • Experiences related to sexual and/or gender minority status.
  • Financial stress and strain.