One thing I wish I would have known is get more statistical background skills. I think in this area, you have to get a very strong quantitative and design methods, design background so that was one. I think good writing skills. I would have taken a lot more writing skills, workshops and things like that before I went on, but I think the other thing I didn't expect is how much research requires you to be flexible and move outside your comfort zone. I think when you do research, you have to be learning all the time and not assume, "Well, I finished my PhD, now I'm done." It's like a work in progress.

When I got this first job, they told me, "Well, you're going to do the data analysis." And I said, "You're kidding me. I've never taken even an SPSS course." They said, "Well, here's the manual, and we're sure you're going to move through it." And it really required to be willing to say, "Well, I'm going to learn this, and I'm going to try to get the best possible consultants I can."

And I think that that's been my path. Ive really gotten very good consultants or collaborators that taught me a lot, and I'm very grateful to them because I wouldn't be where I am unless someone had the patience to say, "Well, don't worry about it, I'll try to work you through it."