In this episode, I speak with Alexis Katsis, an infectious disease expert working freelance as a Relationship Manager. From an early age, Alexis wanted to be a scientist, and in college studied biology, earning a BS in biotechnology from Rutgers University. After working for two years, she decided to get a MS in public health microbiology to access jobs having a greater impact. Afterwards, she worked at the Centers for Disease Control, but again returned to school, this time to earn a PhD in microbiology and immunology so she could take on positions with greater responsibility. This led to jobs at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, where, among other things, she led teams investing in projects to improve child health, and to ensure the quality of laboratory data from clinical trials for HIV/AIDS and COVID19. She has recently begun working freelance to have more time to pursue creative endeavors, such as hosting a podcast called LuxeSci, which explores the science of luxury. We’ll hear about all these experiences and of course find out about what her job is like.