Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 9/1/2021 12:00:00 AM

Zachary Taylor, MS, Cincinnati Children’s, Cincinnati, Ohio

I am a 4th year PhD Candidate in the Molecular, Cellular, and Biochemical Pharmacology program at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. I am under the mentorship of Dr. Laura Ramsey at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. My thesis research focuses on (1) understanding the pharmacogenetic impact of SLCO1B1 on low-dose methotrexate pharmacokinetics and therapeutic response in a murine model of arthritis, and (2) better understanding the interindividual pharmacokinetic variability in high-dose methotrexate to improve clinical care.

What Professional Accomplishment Are You Most Proud Of?
This is a tough one to answer, but I would have to say being a recipient of the Presidential Trainee Award from ASCPT in 2021. Ever since I became a member and attended my first ASCPT meeting in 2019, the Presidential Trainee Award has been a goal of mine. So many amazing and talented trainees have received this award in the past, and to know that I am a member of this recognized group is a humbling accomplishment that highlights the invaluable mentorship and training that I have received from Dr. Ramsey and other colleagues here at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

What Is the Most Important Leadership Lesson You Have Learned the Hard Way?
Whenever I have the opportunity to mentor an undergraduate or graduate student, there are two things that I stress about: (1) communication; I try to be approachable, accessible, and understanding and in doing so, create a channel of communication that works for the student. Communication helps us stay organized and allows us to complete our work efficiently and manage our expectations and timelines accordingly. (2) Be adaptable: no two students are the same. How I mentored my previous student may not be the most effective manner for my incoming student. So learning how to tailor my mentoring to the student can greatly benefit their success.

Who Has Inspired You in Your Career?
My mentor, Dr. Ramsey, has been an invaluable inspiration for my career. When I first started in her lab back in 2016, we were a small group of three just becoming grounded in the lab space. Now, while we are still a small group of three, Dr. Ramsey has grown her lab exponentially. She is a heavily desired mentor for rotating students, is an active member in several professional organizations, and continues to have success in the many projects she is involved with. Dr. Ramsey has aided my professional development by introducing me to wonderful colleagues and encouraging me to join communities like ASCPT. The plethora of professional engagement has helped me answer: “What do you want to do when you grow up?”

What Is Your Favorite Society Memory?
My favorite Society memory comes from my first Annual Meeting with ASCPT back in 2019. I had a wonderful time taking advantage of the networking opportunities and speed mentoring program with professionals for industry and academia. I was able to meet one of the “godfathers” of my SLCO1B2 knock out mice, Dr. Joseph Ware, and casually bump into Dr. Mikko Niemi, whose work with SLCO1B1 and statins has served as a great reference for my dissertation.

When You Aren’t Working, How Do You Spend Your Free Time?
My free time is often spent with my wonderful fiance, Carly, and our two dogs, Bowie and Gracie. You’ll often find us outside working on our quarantine project – the backyard – going on walks/hikes, or enjoying the day at our favorite breweries (in a pre-pandemic world).

Zachary has been a member of ASCPT since 2018.