What was your first job and what did you learn from it?

An American Cancer Society Fellowship at the Molecular Biology Division, University of California, Berkeley. I learned that scientists knew very little about how or why cells become cancerous, that there was room for bold and new ideas.

What inspired you to choose your current field or the position you currently hold?

The fields have evolved throughout my career. Once I became interested in knowing how the cells "knew" to remain "normal" and tissue-specific and what goes wrong when they become malignant, I used whatever tools necessary to answer the question. I became a director when I realized that I could bring some new energy and ideas to the job that didn't quite exist before. I also have tried to make it easier for my colleagues and myself to do research in a more open and cooperative manner.

Why would you encourage other women or young women and girls to choose careers in your field? What advice would you give someone who wanted to choose your career?

Biology is the science of the 21st Century. There is much that we don't know, but then there is a lot of excitement because we have the tools to answer many questions: get in there, work hard, and keep an open mind. There are many rewards.

What motivates or inspires you on a daily basis in your field or job?

The curiosity to know. Also, I love to teach and motivate others. To show that one can be successful and remain a decent human being!

What do you see as the single most interesting element of your work?

The beauty of biology. It is intriguing, mysterious, and visually satisfying. The solution is also helpful to humanity.

Why is your field or industry important to society?

Biotechnology and biology touch every aspect of our daily life, from health, disease, aging, and mental stability to the food we eat and many things that we consume.

What is your vision for your industry's or field's future? What are some of the exciting things to watch for in your field or industry?

To be able not only to cure cancer (which is not a single disease, but many), but also to either delay significantly or at least detect it very early. To extend the length of time people could have "quality" life.

What values are the most important to you and what do you value in others? How do you prioritize these values in your daily life?

Integrity, passion, innovation, curiosity, getting the job done, courage, sense of justice--these I value and try to practice, despite the old-fashioned sound.

What do you think are the most important character traits to develop in order to succeed professionally?

Courage, self-confidence (but not arrogance!), not to expect quick rewards, satisfaction in doing a job well.

Who is your hero, mentor or person you most admire and why?

I had a math teacher in high school, an attractive and enthusiastic woman (Miss Evan) whom I admired greatly. She had tremendous positive energy and she encouraged me greatly.

Later, as a freshman at Bryn Mawr, I had a magnificent English professor (Ann Berthoff) who taught me how to write paragraphs, how to read Faulkner, and introduced me to diverse books such as "Out of Africa," "Noon Wine," and "Joy of Cooking!" She could point out why each was such a good book. She also had (and still has) tremendous energy, enthusiasm and would get so excited when we wrote well or had a good idea. We are still very good friends and she is still writing in Boston.

My childhood hero, however, was Iranian Prime Minister Mosadegh, who was a forthright, courageous man who asked Britain and the United States to help nationalize the oil. He was portrayed in the American press as pro-Communist, yet nothing was further from the truth -- he was a constitutional man. However, because of the sentiments against him, he was toppled -- a very sad event for that country. Years later, there was an admission that this was a bad mistake. I believe that had he stayed in power, the tragic events of the so called "Islamic Revolution" brought about by decades of oppression, would not have happened.

I also have great admiration for the current director of Berkeley Lab: he has a broad vision, is an extremely capable and brilliant scientist, and has a high "tolerance" for excellence in other people! I have learned a great deal from him and continue to do so.

What is your favorite book and why?

It used to be "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery because it is wondrous, touching, adventurous and shamelessly sentimental! But now it is "True North" by Jill Kerr Conway. She is self-centered, but writes very well. I identify with the writer, a historian from Australia who was at Harvard during my time and later became the first female vice-chancellor at the University of Toronto and the first woman President of Smith College.

What book would you recommend to someone who knows nothing about your field or industry but would like to know more about it?

There is really no "single" book I could recommend. But two entertaining and yet historically important books are "Double Helix" by Jim Watson and "A Feeling for the Organism: The Life and Work of Barbara McClintock" by Evelyn Fox Keller.

What technology has improved your life professionally or personally?

E-mail! It is immediate, can be shared, and it saves a tremendous amount of time.

What are your future goals?

To truly understand mammary gland biology; to find diagnostic and prognostic markers and to find therapies for breast cancer; to continue to train passionate and competent scientists and educators; to continue to speak on behalf of scientists and educators.

What do you do to relax?

Exercising; hiking; having an uninterrupted two to three hour scientific session with my graduate students and postdoctoral fellows; reading well written books; having a meal and a glass of good wine at dinner with my husband; spending quiet time (even if there is a lot of reading and writing to be done) at the weekend home we built.