Members in the News
January Member of the Month - Jenny Luray
January 2025Jennifer Luray, senior vice president of Research!America, is our first member profile of 2025. We loved learning about Jenny's enjoyment of our IWF meetings and conferences. A great new year's resolution to make attending the IWF conferences in Seattle and Cape Town, South Africa, a priority this year!
Q&A with Jenny Luray
Q: Tell us about your background and where you currently work.
I have spent most of my career in the public policy world including the House and Senate, the Clinton White House, the corporate sector and non-profits. Currently, I work at Research!America, a non-profit alliance representing approximately 300 universities, patient groups, companies and scientific societies. We advocate for strong federal medical research funding and policies to support a thriving pipeline of innovation. We are also concerned about declines in the public's trust in science and provide opportunities for scientists to learn to communicate more effectively.
Q: How long have you been an IWF member?
I've been an IWF member since 2020.
Q: How has your career benefited from being an IWF member?
I'm so inspired when I return home from IWF conferences I bring that energy into my work. I try to attend every U.S. and global conference I can fit into my schedule.
Q: What excites you the most right now?
I've worked on women's health issues much of my career and the attention finally being paid to the gaps in our knowledge is so heartening and potentially transformative. It's women scientists, women investors and women policymakers who are making this happen.
Q: What are you reading or listening to?
My leisure reading is mainly fiction but I'm in the middle of Erik Larson's book about the beginning of the Civil War. I also love music, getting recommendations from my 23-year-old daughter (Raye, Maggie Rogers, etc.) and all things Jon Batiste.
Q: Any tips or advice for new members?
Attend the conferences! They were a mystery to me at first because I joined IWF at the start of the pandemic. I went to Colorado Springs, IWF's first post-pandemic gathering and finally understood why everyone talked about them. I'm looking forward to the upcoming conferences in Seattle and Cape Town.
Q: What do you like most about being a member?
IWF members are universally friendly and open with one another. Being a member has broadened my sense of what it means to have a successful and fulfilling career. It has also made me more aware of how women have handled various transitions in their lives. I enjoy the camaraderie of the IWF-DC Forum.
Q: Who/what inspires you?
I work with early career scientists including many young women who want to learn how to better connect with their local communities. Their passion to build trust and interest in science by stepping outside of their labs inspires me. We need to make it easier for all scientists to do this.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
I make homemade cards for birthdays and holidays. It's one of the few artsy-crafty things I've been able to do! I also started a perennial garden a few years ago which is fun even when I'm failing to keep the rabbits from eating my newly planted bulbs.
Q: Favorite place you've traveled?
I love visiting major cities around the world.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish in 2025?
I have a few ideas for articles that I keep putting off. 2025 is the year to write them!
Q&A with Jenny Luray
Q: Tell us about your background and where you currently work.
I have spent most of my career in the public policy world including the House and Senate, the Clinton White House, the corporate sector and non-profits. Currently, I work at Research!America, a non-profit alliance representing approximately 300 universities, patient groups, companies and scientific societies. We advocate for strong federal medical research funding and policies to support a thriving pipeline of innovation. We are also concerned about declines in the public's trust in science and provide opportunities for scientists to learn to communicate more effectively.
Q: How long have you been an IWF member?
I've been an IWF member since 2020.
Q: How has your career benefited from being an IWF member?
I'm so inspired when I return home from IWF conferences I bring that energy into my work. I try to attend every U.S. and global conference I can fit into my schedule.
Q: What excites you the most right now?
I've worked on women's health issues much of my career and the attention finally being paid to the gaps in our knowledge is so heartening and potentially transformative. It's women scientists, women investors and women policymakers who are making this happen.
Q: What are you reading or listening to?
My leisure reading is mainly fiction but I'm in the middle of Erik Larson's book about the beginning of the Civil War. I also love music, getting recommendations from my 23-year-old daughter (Raye, Maggie Rogers, etc.) and all things Jon Batiste.
Q: Any tips or advice for new members?
Attend the conferences! They were a mystery to me at first because I joined IWF at the start of the pandemic. I went to Colorado Springs, IWF's first post-pandemic gathering and finally understood why everyone talked about them. I'm looking forward to the upcoming conferences in Seattle and Cape Town.
Q: What do you like most about being a member?
IWF members are universally friendly and open with one another. Being a member has broadened my sense of what it means to have a successful and fulfilling career. It has also made me more aware of how women have handled various transitions in their lives. I enjoy the camaraderie of the IWF-DC Forum.
Q: Who/what inspires you?
I work with early career scientists including many young women who want to learn how to better connect with their local communities. Their passion to build trust and interest in science by stepping outside of their labs inspires me. We need to make it easier for all scientists to do this.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
I make homemade cards for birthdays and holidays. It's one of the few artsy-crafty things I've been able to do! I also started a perennial garden a few years ago which is fun even when I'm failing to keep the rabbits from eating my newly planted bulbs.
Q: Favorite place you've traveled?
I love visiting major cities around the world.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish in 2025?
I have a few ideas for articles that I keep putting off. 2025 is the year to write them!
Q&A with Jenny Luray
Q: Tell us about your background and where you currently work.
I have spent most of my career in the public policy world including the House and Senate, the Clinton White House, the corporate sector and non-profits. Currently, I work at Research!America, a non-profit alliance representing approximately 300 universities, patient groups, companies and scientific societies. We advocate for strong federal medical research funding and policies to support a thriving pipeline of innovation. We are also concerned about declines in the public's trust in science and provide opportunities for scientists to learn to communicate more effectively.
Q: How long have you been an IWF member?
I've been an IWF member since 2020.
Q: How has your career benefited from being an IWF member?
I'm so inspired when I return home from IWF conferences I bring that energy into my work. I try to attend every U.S. and global conference I can fit into my schedule.
Q: What excites you the most right now?
I've worked on women's health issues much of my career and the attention finally being paid to the gaps in our knowledge is so heartening and potentially transformative. It's women scientists, women investors and women policymakers who are making this happen.
Q: What are you reading or listening to?
My leisure reading is mainly fiction but I'm in the middle of Erik Larson's book about the beginning of the Civil War. I also love music, getting recommendations from my 23-year-old daughter (Raye, Maggie Rogers, etc.) and all things Jon Batiste.
Q: Any tips or advice for new members?
Attend the conferences! They were a mystery to me at first because I joined IWF at the start of the pandemic. I went to Colorado Springs, IWF's first post-pandemic gathering and finally understood why everyone talked about them. I'm looking forward to the upcoming conferences in Seattle and Cape Town.
Q: What do you like most about being a member?
IWF members are universally friendly and open with one another. Being a member has broadened my sense of what it means to have a successful and fulfilling career. It has also made me more aware of how women have handled various transitions in their lives. I enjoy the camaraderie of the IWF-DC Forum.
Q: Who/what inspires you?
I work with early career scientists including many young women who want to learn how to better connect with their local communities. Their passion to build trust and interest in science by stepping outside of their labs inspires me. We need to make it easier for all scientists to do this.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
I make homemade cards for birthdays and holidays. It's one of the few artsy-crafty things I've been able to do! I also started a perennial garden a few years ago which is fun even when I'm failing to keep the rabbits from eating my newly planted bulbs.
Q: Favorite place you've traveled?
I love visiting major cities around the world.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish in 2025?
I have a few ideas for articles that I keep putting off. 2025 is the year to write them!
Q&A with Jenny Luray
Q: Tell us about your background and where you currently work.
I have spent most of my career in the public policy world including the House and Senate, the Clinton White House, the corporate sector and non-profits. Currently, I work at Research!America, a non-profit alliance representing approximately 300 universities, patient groups, companies and scientific societies. We advocate for strong federal medical research funding and policies to support a thriving pipeline of innovation. We are also concerned about declines in the public's trust in science and provide opportunities for scientists to learn to communicate more effectively.
Q: How long have you been an IWF member?
I've been an IWF member since 2020.
Q: How has your career benefited from being an IWF member?
I'm so inspired when I return home from IWF conferences I bring that energy into my work. I try to attend every U.S. and global conference I can fit into my schedule.
Q: What excites you the most right now?
I've worked on women's health issues much of my career and the attention finally being paid to the gaps in our knowledge is so heartening and potentially transformative. It's women scientists, women investors and women policymakers who are making this happen.
Q: What are you reading or listening to?
My leisure reading is mainly fiction but I'm in the middle of Erik Larson's book about the beginning of the Civil War. I also love music, getting recommendations from my 23-year-old daughter (Raye, Maggie Rogers, etc.) and all things Jon Batiste.
Q: Any tips or advice for new members?
Attend the conferences! They were a mystery to me at first because I joined IWF at the start of the pandemic. I went to Colorado Springs, IWF's first post-pandemic gathering and finally understood why everyone talked about them. I'm looking forward to the upcoming conferences in Seattle and Cape Town.
Q: What do you like most about being a member?
IWF members are universally friendly and open with one another. Being a member has broadened my sense of what it means to have a successful and fulfilling career. It has also made me more aware of how women have handled various transitions in their lives. I enjoy the camaraderie of the IWF-DC Forum.
Q: Who/what inspires you?
I work with early career scientists including many young women who want to learn how to better connect with their local communities. Their passion to build trust and interest in science by stepping outside of their labs inspires me. We need to make it easier for all scientists to do this.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
I make homemade cards for birthdays and holidays. It's one of the few artsy-crafty things I've been able to do! I also started a perennial garden a few years ago which is fun even when I'm failing to keep the rabbits from eating my newly planted bulbs.
Q: Favorite place you've traveled?
I love visiting major cities around the world.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish in 2025?
I have a few ideas for articles that I keep putting off. 2025 is the year to write them!