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Crystal  Harrison

Crystal Harrison

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Career Roadmap

Crystal 's work combines: Science, Engineering, and Problem Solving

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Day In The Life

Research Scientist

I work with MRIs to improve diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Physics, General

    The University of Texas at Austin

  • Graduate Degree

    Physics, General

    The University of Texas at Dallas

  • Doctorate

    Physics, General

    The University of Texas at Dallas

  • Certification

    Postdoctoral fellowship

    University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Medical Scientists:

Bachelor's Degree: Computer Science

Bachelor's Degree: Molecular Biology

Bachelor's Degree: Mathematics, General

Bachelor's Degree: Chemistry, General

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    After college I didn’t have a plan. I started substitute teaching at a local middle school.

  • 2.

    A year after I graduated from college I applied to graduate school. Still didn’t have a plan.

  • 3.

    After I finished my masters degree I met a professor who worked with MRI and he offered me a research assistant position.

  • 4.

    I finished my PhD working with MRI and my boss asked me to stay on for a postdoctoral fellowship.

  • 5.

    I moved around within the university in job title and departments and I’m still working my way up.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Teachers:

    You don’t seem ambitious enough to be successful.

  • How I responded:

    I use it as fuel and as a mirror to let me know how I was perceived. I realized that my quietness was coming across as un-ambitious.