Tell us about your time in Europe and how you arrived at Illinois.
I went to Sweden for grad school where I studied DNA, lipid membranes, and how systems work in cells. I realized during this time I wasn’t interested in biology. From Sweden I discovered a program in Santa Barbara that focused on the properties of molecules, DNA, cell membranes, and how living things operate in living systems. I always thought I’d go back to Europe. However, in 2012 Illinois offered me the opportunity to form my own research group and study more independently than anywhere in Europe offered. At Illinois they invested in me. It’s also the top school in engineering and materials. I loved the work environment at Illinois, it’s very stimulating, there’s beautiful research, and I love my colleagues. I also have a husband and two kids, so Champaign-Urbana seemed like a great place to raise a family. Lastly, I realized you can’t just be smart. You need a supporting environment and no one can beat Illinois with that environment.
Tell us about the Leal Research Lab and how it was started.
The Leal Research Lab is for PhD students to study simple physical interactions of molecules and how it impacts their biological function.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
A pediatrician.
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What does success mean to you?
Success is where I can provide an environment for my students to be successful and happy in the lab. When students write papers, and find careers that proves I am a good scientist, professor, and is an inspiration to others.
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What’s your biggest fear or professional challenge?
My professional challenge is dealing with insecurity. I never know if I am good enough and I need validation from students. My biggest fear is balance. To be good at what I do I need to put in enough energy. However, I don’t want to jeopardize my personal life and put it off-balance.
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Has learning from a mistake led you to success?
Yes, once a student wrote a paper about an important discovery. However, I felt the student got there from a shortcut and was incorrect with the results. I realized that even if a student is wrong, there is something there that can lead to a result.
What is you personal or professional motto?
“Stay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution.” - Albert Einstein
Name a woman who has inspired you from the past or the present.
Rosalind Franklin, because she determined the DNA structure and never received credit. Also, Nancy Sottos who is a professor in the same department and is always so smart and kind.
Anything else?
I live by the phrase a professor in Santa Barbara told me, “There should always be a human prefactor to every scientific achievement.” This means that everyone should live humane and real.
Cecilia Leal
