Avanti Dey
Current affiliations: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Center for Vital Longevity, University of Texas at Dallas
Educational path:
- BA (Hons) in Psychology, Queen’s University
- MSc in Psychology, Washington University in Saint Louis
- PhD in Psychology, Washington University in Saint Louis
Why is aging important or meaningful to you?
Being a very future-oriented person, the study of aging has always been fascinating to me. We are always in the process of aging, and the idea that there are different pathways within the process that not only lead to different outcomes but can also be affected by a multitude of factors, presents an incredible multitude of possibilities for exploration. In particular, focusing on the positive aspects of aging such as expertise and engagement, in contrast to the more well-known negative aspects like memory decline, provides a distinct and much-needed avenue for research exploration that benefits both research and the target population alike. Understanding the factors that lead to promoting and maintaining a healthy mind is increasingly important in a rapidly changing world, and I am very proud to be contributing to this field.
In what areas of aging work are you involved (research, teaching, clinical, leadership etc.) and how much time/effort do you devote to each?
I devote half of my time to research, which focuses on how expertise, knowledge, and engagement contribute to benefits in aging. This largely involves analyzing both cognitive and neuroimaging data from a longitudinal database (The Dallas Lifespan Brain Study) which has collected a vast amount of data on hundreds of healthy older adults. I am also currently coordinating a long-term study examining the effects of mental effort and engagement on cognition. It is my first foray into managing a study of this scope and size, and has taught me a great deal about research studies from both a scientific and logistic perspective.
What resources (including people, books, web sites, etc.) have been the most useful in developing your career, and why?
During my undergraduate and graduate careers, the importance of networking became immediately apparent to me, and I was very fortunate to have met a variety of researchers at meetings, conferences, and institutions, many of whom I have gone on to collaborate with. These collaboration opportunities have given me a wider perspective on the field, allowing me to approach my own work with heightened perspicacity and rigour.
Within the past couple years, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has been an incredible resource as I have progressed through my postdoctoral career. The resources, support, and opportunities it provides in terms of encouraging fellowship and collaboration with fellow postdocs has been invaluable.
What has been a challenge (academic, clinical or research-based) you faced and how did you overcome it?
The greatest challenge I have experienced is the realisation of how long academic processes take in general – from the inception of a project, to the preparation, logistics, execution, and wrap-up. In this regard, my time management and organisation skills have been exceptionally exercised! In addition, it has made me realise the importance of balancing a detail-oriented approach with a more general, future-oriented view of research. Overcoming the challenges of overseeing such a project involved a combination of patience, commitment, and instrumental input and collaboration from colleagues. Allowing myself to make mistakes and learn from them was also exceptionally important during this process, and taught me a great deal about how to deal with the multiple challenging aspects of managing research studies.
What is one bit of advice you would give to students entering the field?
Be totally and completely committed and passionate about what you're doing. Persistence is key in academia, and you truly have to love what you do. Academia isn't always the easiest field, and the rewards are not always immediately apparent. Depending on the research question, failures can be common. However, the payoffs can be immense, and if you are not discouraged by small disappointments along the way, the relief and wonder that comes with a new scientific discovery is priceless.
What's next for you?
After I complete my postdoctoral research at UTD, I will be looking for a job in scientific editing or publishing. As much as I love the hands-on approach with research, I often miss the broader view of the field and science and general that can often go overlooked when focusing on a specific topic for so long. I hope that I will be able to accomplish this in editing and publishing, while also helping to contribute to and shape the output of scientific knowledge.