Kimberly R. Bennett

Lots of feelings seeing myself on the screens lining the @HHMINEWS hallways at this week's #GilliamFellow conference. The support and comfort of the Gilliam family is more than I could have asked for and I'm so grateful to have met such an inspiring group of people. 💛

Excited to announce that I have received the 2025 Harvard-MIT Roger G. Mark Outstanding Service Award alongside Diana and Davy, for our work in improving the #firstgeneration graduate experience @MIT. Grateful for everyone whose uplifted us so that we could uplift others.💛

achieved an exciting science milestone: my image is currently displayed on the walls of MIT! it feels a little surreal seeing my research and name on a wall, but I'm so thankful for my mentors, labmates, the @kochinstitute, and the patients & families that we do this work for.

Using marginalized people to recruit other marginalized people & discarding them because they expect diversity, equity, & inclusion to be a real focus in an organization is a form of academic exploitation. Marginalized people are more than optics, checklists, & convenience.

Congrats to Prof Paula Hammond ’84, PhD ’93, awarded the National Medal of Tech & Innovation! Also to Noubar Afeyan PhD ’87, who accepted a National Medal of Tech & Innovation on behalf of Moderna, which he co-founded with Prof Robert Langer. ow.ly/CyjZ50UzNxO

I’m not well-understood at the holiday family gatherings. I’m the one who moved far away from home to pursue a dream… an anomaly in our family. I know I’m not the only #firstgen who feels this. This is why having community in academia is so important - y’all get me 🩵🌞☁️

The Lego Life. With rockstar Paula Hammond. On display @kochinstitute @MITEngineering @MIT

Me too - social programs, food stamps, Pell grant, Medicaid, need-based scholarships, sliding scale health clinics, public libraries, PAID undergrad research opportunities, diversity programs. Wouldn’t be here without them.

every time someone says “you’ll figure it out, you always do :)” to me the rage burns hotter in my chest. do you know how much work goes into figuring it out???? do you know how tired I am of ALWAYS having to figure it out by myself???

Congratulations to the newly minted @SREBDocSch and @SloanFoundation PhD holders who were recognized at the #INST2024 graduation ceremony! #TheyLookLikePhDs #facultydiversity

attending my first #HHMI Science Meeting @HHMIJanelia was such a phenomenal experience - from mingling with other Gilliam Fellows to exciting conversations with Investigators in different fields (and not to mention the STUNNING campus views!!), this was one for the books 🤩🧠

Exciting news! 🎉 @HHMINEWS Gilliam Fellowship applications opened yesterday. If you're a 2nd or 3rd yr PhD student (& U.S. citizen) passionate about science & building an inclusive scientific community, check out my application guide! 🌐🔬 #HHMIGilliam yaelcourtney.com/resources-and-…

just in my feels don't mind me 🥲

i'm not sure how many other trainees have both helped set up and pack up their lab space in their phd, but seeing emptiness in where once was home feels odd. it's bittersweet bc I'm so excited for the next chapter of the lab's growth but i also can't help but miss what it was 🥲

If you apply to a program that rewards efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and you're struggling to answer the sections about your understanding/contributions to those topics, you might want to re-think whether you should be applying for that program. Tired of this.

it's a BBB takeover! my work is featured on the 2025 @HHMINEWS Gilliam program announcment alongside the @neurochemequeen!! 🧠🫶

YESSSSS 🤩 will be blasting this on the speaker while in TC 🫡

MIT PhD Student Quits Magic. Now seeking to own a @jimmyjohns franchise in Puerto Rico. Thank you to the @HHMINEWS Gilliam Fellowship for supporting my research at @ChemistryMIT and @broadinstitute. @drewbrees, @taylorswift13, @MIT, @SeinfeldTV, @CocaCola, @Pokemon, @LifeAtPurdue, @MittRomney

@neurochemequeen @HHMINEWS the "is this carrot or pumpkin" inner panic had me spiraling for sure

@KimRoseBennett @HHMINEWS They were such a cute little surprise! (especially when we couldn't tell the flavors so just HAD to try multiple 😅)🧁

will never stop dreaming of the @HHMINEWS #GilliamFellow cupcakes 🤤🧁