In this Careers in Neuroscience profile, meet Mathew Birdsall Abrams, PhD, director of science and training at the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF) and operations director at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. In both roles, Abrams blends over 25 years of experience in both experimental neuroscience and clinical psychiatry, as well as 12 years of experience in community coordination, community building, and product development in neuroinformatics. Learn more about his journey as a neuroscientist and what skills are necessary to follow a similar career trajectory.
What initially drew you to neuroscience? How did you discover your particular interest within the field?
During my master's studies, I worked with patients with different types of mental health disorders at an in-patient mental health facility. Within a few months of working, I noticed the variability in responses to treatments (behavioral and pharmacological) from individuals with the same diagnosis, so I began reading more about the different mental health conditions and treatment options and actively questioned the physicians, nurses, and therapists about the rationale for treatments and the mechanisms underlying the conditions. Little did I know that the quest to understand the mechanisms of the disorders would lead me down the path to a PhD in neuroscience.
What resources, experiences, or conversations helped you clarify your direction?
While my conversations with the staff members at the in-patient mental health facility were very informative and put things into perspective, they were not enough for me, so I contacted the director of the neuroscience training at my university and asked if he would recommend a course that would help me to better understand mental health disorders from a biological perspective. I guess he was intrigued that a master's student in health systems management wanted to learn about the brain, so he took me under his wings. Also, this was the same year that SfN’s annual meeting was in the city in which I lived. I registered for a day pass just to see "what I could see"—it was transformative and solidified that I was going to leave health systems management and become a neuroscientist.
Describe your current role. What are the most common skills you use on a weekly basis? Is your role "typical" to the industry?
As the director of science and training at INCF, I am responsible for co-developing and implementing the organization’s strategy for science, training, and infrastructure. I also serve as a project coordinator and co-lead the organization's secretariat. The soft skills that I developed during my doctoral studies are the skills that I use the most in my career. INCF is a volunteer organization, so being adaptable with strong communication, project management, and time management skills are critical. As one of the public faces of the organization, communication skills are also important; and just like many others working in the nonprofit sector, accelerated learning and the ability to collaborate also plays a role in my day-to-day activities.
What educational background and training are required for your role? What other types of experiences are helpful to have?
I believe that my success in the nonprofit sector is due to the soft skills we acquire during our doctoral studies and research—critical thinking and analysis, time management, project management, and communication skills to name a few. In addition to these skills, knowledge and expertise in computer science and/or data science would definitely be beneficial foundational knowledge to have to work in neuroinformatics. I would also recommend that individuals looking to work in the nonprofit sector volunteer in organizations like INCF and SfN. They offer many opportunities for individuals regardless of level to work on councils and committees to develop leadership, communication, and collaboration skills, as well as build a professional network.
If you were a hiring manager, what experiences or skills would stand out to you on a resume for a role in your field?
Volunteer experiences. Many nonprofits in my field are volunteer organizations with a limited number of paid staff members, so it is important for the paid staff to understand what it means to be a volunteer and the sacrifices that volunteers make in order to serve the organization.
What advice would you give to students or early-career professionals interested in this path? Are there opportunities for people to find jobs in your industry with a variety of degrees (bachelor's, master's, PhD)?
If you would like to work in the nonprofit sector, find an organization with a mission that aligns with your passion and seek volunteer experiences. It is an important way to build your professional network and find opportunities within that organization or others with similar missions. There are opportunities in the nonprofit sector for all degrees.
About the Contributor
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