Marinna Madrid, John D. O’Bryant School
After hosting Dr. Annie Antonellis as a Pathfinder back in February, Amy Kowal, a 9th grade teacher at the John D. O’Bryant School, saw that the program was a great opportunity to connect her students to STEM careers. On May 20, Ms. Kowal and her students welcomed Dr. Marinna Madrid, co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Cellino.
Marinna grew up in a loving household, but finances were tight, so attending community college was the most practical option for pursuing higher education. After two years at Riverside Community College, with support and encouragement from one of her professors, she transferred to UCLA and earned a BSc in biophysics. Marinna went on to receive her PhD and MA in Applied Physics from Harvard University, and while at Harvard, she co-invented laser-based intracellular delivery techniques. Drawing on her own background and experience, Marinna is passionate about access to education and the role the community college system plays in providing upward mobility for historically underserved groups.
Ms. Kowal’s students asked Marinna about her college experience, study habits, and routines for success, and Marinna emphasized balancing fun with maintaining a regimen, asking for help when overwhelmed, and building skills like communication, teamwork, and openness to new experiences – including using artificial intelligence (AI) for increased productivity. She also discussed salary ranges for STEM careers, noting she wished she’d known more about this when younger, though she advised prioritizing growth opportunities over salary alone. When choosing a career, Marinna suggested considering your impact on the world and the type of lifestyle you want to pursue, along with trying many fields through internships and shadow opportunities.
Marinna co-founded her start-up with a fellow PhD student at Harvard in her 20s, and years later, she has found financial stability; as she shares, “The grind early on in my career has paved the way for me to enjoy my 30s.” With this financial freedom, Marinna can partake in adventurous hobbies like kitesurfing, scuba diving, and other experiences she never would have imagined while growing up, like her recent sabbatical where she spent two months traveling the world.
Pathfinders like Marinna illuminate the many pathways to achieving academic and professional success, helping students envision a future where dedication, following your passion, and putting in hard work can open doors to extraordinary opportunities.
