For research scientist Ida Su, the educational journey is more like a marathon than a sprint—a mindset she’s cultivated as a long-distance runner with seven half-marathons under her belt. This philosophy of slow, steady progress carried her from earning a Ph.D. at the University of Washington to postdoctoral training in Gabe Kwong’s lab at Georgia Tech. Here, she focuses on groundbreaking research to treat cancer and prevent autoimmune disorders. Throughout her studies, Su has earned prestigious awards and published 24 papers in peer-reviewed journals. But like any marathon, her journey has come with its share of challenges—ones that have shaped her resilience and drive.

Overcoming Cultural and Physical Barriers

Su, born and raised in Taiwan, has worked hard to overcome cultural differences, a language barrier, and a hearing disability - all while tackling the challenges of completing a Ph.D. During her qualifying exams, Su could not hear or understand what the committee was saying to respond to their questions. At the time, she felt hopeless, but with support from her mentors, Su sought medical help for her hearing disability and her communication improved. By the time she left University of Washington, Su gained confidence in her abilities to navigate cultural and language differences.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists

Overcoming challenges contributes to Su’s strength in mentoring others. During Su’s time as a teaching assistant at the University of Washington, she realized how rewarding it is to teach and mentor students. At Tech, Su is a mentor to students like Rustin Harandi, undergraduate student at Tech.

“Dr. Su has served as a tremendous mentor to me and has poured much time and soul into mentoring the graduate and undergraduates she oversees,” said Rustin Harandi, one of Su’s mentees. “Her hard work and dedication to her students are seldom acknowledged or rewarded to the extent they deserve. Despite this, she remains tirelessly committed to our growth and success. I am incredibly fortunate to have her as a mentor."

Balancing Research and Recreation

In the lab, Su’s time is typically spent on experiment planning and execution, mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, attending lab meetings, analyzing data, and reading papers. Occasionally, she writes grant proposals for funding applications and research papers for publication.

When she’s not researching or mentoring, Su enjoys long-distance running, working out with Orangetheory, reading books, and exploring new restaurants and coffee shops with friends.

If you would like to hear more of Ida’s story, you can view her experiences in the Postdoc Visibility Project.