The awards are a nice recognition, she acknowledged, but while she realizes how hard she has worked to learn about the genetics of Alzheimer's disease, there is a role for luck too, she said. So, in some ways I was lucky, and I think that has given me a perspective on science that makes me realize how much luck is involved as well as skill. At times, she laments her fate as a scientist and a woman. In some fields, a woman has the option of taking a career break to stay home when children are small. Goate doesn't believe that opportunity exists in science.
Grants dry up.
Colleagues in the lab get other jobs. I really admire him. I couldn't imagine going back and studying at this stage of my life and getting treated as medical students and interns are treated when I'm the age I am. So I have tremendous respect and admiration for him and what he's done. We have a medical school loan.