“Go for It” Dr. Julie Claycomb Encourages the Next Generation of Women in Science

In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, I had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Julie Claycomb, Associate Professor and Vice Chair for the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto, to discuss her journey, the challenges and triumphs of being a woman in academia, and her hopes for the next generation of scientists.

Dr. Julie Claycomb’s research focuses on small RNA biology, gene regulation, fertility, and stress responses, using C. elegans as a model system to uncover fundamental mechanisms with implications for human disease. Over the years, Dr. Claycomb has built a research program centredcentered on curiosity-driven biology, while also becoming known in the department for her strong commitment to mentorship, community building, and supporting trainees at every stage of their development.

A Gradual Passion for Science

Unlike the common narrative of having a single defining moment, Dr. Claycomb describes her passion for science as something that developed gradually over time. Growing up on a farm, she spent much of her childhood outdoors, surrounded by plants, animals, and the rhythms of living systems. “I was always kind of outdoors and playing in the mud and the hay and the barn,” she recalls. Looking back, she sees those early experiences as the beginning of a lasting appreciation for biology.

Science was also present in her home life in different ways. Her mother was a nurse, and her father, in addition to farmingbeing a farmer, worked as a food safety inspector. Conversations about health, microbiology, and how living systems work were part of her world long before she imagined herself becoming a scientist.

Still, her path was not straightforward. She entered university thinking she might become either a lawyer or a doctor, majoring in both biology and political science. It was only later, after joining a research lab as an undergraduate, that she realized how much she loved discovery-based science. “When I started doing that, I was really excited about it. I thought, wow, this is really cool.” She credits both a supportive undergraduate mentor and a close friend who had already set her sights on graduate school with helping her better understand what a research career could look like.

“I’ve always taken the approach of, let’s do this next step in the career and see how it goes,” she says. “I’ve never really thought, oh yeah, I’m going to rock this and I know what I’m going to do next.” That openness to trying the next step, rather than needing to see the entire path all at once, became a defining part of her journey.

Research That Stays Close to the Heart

Reflecting on the projects that have meant the most to her, Dr. Claycomb speaks less about a single accomplishment and more about a consistent love of fundamental biological questions. At every stage of her career, she has found meaning in managing taking a projects and following theirits logic deeply. “I’ve always felt like this is my project. I am taking ownership over this. I want to drive it.”

One project that has stayed especially meaningful began during her postdoctoral work, when she started studying a particular Argonaute protein involved in small RNA pathways. Although others in the lab had looked at it briefly and moved on, she stayed with it. “I just stuck with it, and it’s a really cool protein,” she says. That decision opened the door to years of mechanistic work and helped define the trajectory of her research program.

Today, her lab has expanded into several exciting areas, including stress-induced phenotypes, communication between tissues and organisms, viral biology, and the role of small RNA pathways in helping worms survive. More recently, her group has also become interested in disease-relevant mutations in Argonaute proteins linked to a rare neurodevelopmental disorder called Argonaute syndrome. “There are less than 200 little kids around the world with this syndrome, and we’re using worms to understand the effects of these mutations at the molecular level.” For her, that connection between basic biology and human disease has made the work especially meaningful.

Challenges in STEM

When reflecting on her experiences as a woman in STEM, Dr. Claycomb notes that while progress has certainly been made, many of the underlying challenges remain familiar. “Sometimes it’s challenging to speak the same language as people,” she says, referring to the difficulty of navigating spaces that have historically been shaped by male-dominated norms. She points out that if you are not the loudest person in the room, you are not always heard, and learning how to navigate those systems can take time.

Another challenge was simply knowing whether or not that this kind of career was even possible. Coming from a farming community, Dr. Claycomb  she did not grow up seeing academic science as an accessible path. It was only through exposure to mentors and peers that she began to realize that a life in research could be hers too.

From her perspective now as a mentor, one of the most significant barriers young women still face is confidence. “One of the things that I often encounter with young women is that lack of confidence,” she says. “There are so many wonderful young women in our program, and to see them come in and be like, oh, I don’t know if I can do it, is like, no, you can do it. Go do the thing.”

Work-Life Balance and Letting Go of Perfection

As both a scientist and a leader, Dr. Claycomb speaks honestly about the challenges of balancing work and life. For her, one of the most important lessons has been learning not to strive for perfection in every aspect of life. “We can’t strive for perfection. We just have to do our best each day,” she says.

She recalls taking a professional development course during a sabbatical where one of the key messages was to lower expectations. At first, she resisted the idea. Over time, however, she came to see its value. “A lot of times, your 80 percent or your 90 percent will be better than the rest of the world,” she explains. “You don’t have to give it 110 percent every time.” For her, giving herself permission to let go of perfectionism has been transformative.

Dr. Claycomb also emphasizes the importance of building systems, routines, and support structures. Having a child forced her to refine those habits more intentionally, and she credits both organization and leaning on others as essential strategies. Whether through help at home, support in the lab, or simply giving herself grace, she believes balance depends on recognizing that no one can do everything alone.

Building a Culture of Mentorship and Community

Within the department, Dr. Claycomb is widely recognized for fostering a supportive and thoughtful lab culture. When asked what contributes to that environment, her answer is simple: “I care. I care a lot about the people who come through this door.”

Her mentorship philosophy is rooted in open communication, empathy, and a strong sense of shared purpose. She sees the lab as a team where everyone is valued and everyone has a role. “We’re all part of a community. We’re all working on this together,” she says.

She has also implemented practical systems to help her trainees succeed. Each lab meeting begins with an accountability exercise in which every member sets three goals for the coming week and shares any barriers they are facing. That structure gives the lab a chance to troubleshoot together, encourage one another, and make challenges feel less isolating. “By saying it out loud, I think we make it more real,” she says. “And we all can support each other.”

For Dr. Claycomb, mentorship also means meeting people where they are. Not everyone wants the same career, and not everyone thrives in the same way. Rather than expecting a single path, she mentors each trainee to move toward the future that fits them best.

The Advice That Stayed With Her

Mentorship has had a profound impact on Dr. Claycomb’s own career, and she speaks highly about the guidance she received from a postdoctoral mentor during graduate school, Dr. Gio Bosco. One moment that stayed with her involved learning confocal microscopy. Nervous about using the instrument on her own, she repeatedly asked him to come with her. Eventually, he set a boundary. “He said, I’m going to do this one more time with you, and then it’s your turn to drive.” That push gave her the confidence she needed to take ownership of the skill herself.

Another piece of advice from him has stayed with her ever since. He wrote down a phrase for her on a piece of paper: “Keep them small. Do them well.” She still thinks about that advice today. For her, it captures the importance of focus, thoughtful experimental design, and doing important things properly. “If it’s worth doing, do it well,” she says. It is a message she now passes on to her own trainees.

When asked what qualities matter most in a good mentor, especially for women in science, she emphasizes patience, empathy, honesty, and sincerity. She also believes mentors need to be willing to have real conversations, including the more difficult ones about confidence, career uncertainty, and work-life balance. Above all, she wants her trainees to know that she is on their team.

A Message for the Next Generation

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Dr. Claycomb’s message is clear: “Go for it.” She believes strongly believes that young girls need to be encouraged much earlier to see science as something they can do, too. Representation, exposure, and support all matter. She often visits her son’s classroom with microscopes and model organisms, introducing children to science in ways that feel exciting and tangible. Those moments, she believes, can plant an important seed.

“We need to be role models for girls,” she says. “There are so many kids out there who just aren’t exposed to this. We need to do better, and we need to inspire.”

At the same time, she notes that support for women in science cannot stop at inspiration alone. As careers progress, the structural differences between how men and women often experience academia become more apparent, particularly around caregiving and family life. She believes institutions should do more to support scientists during those transitions, whether through childcare support, leave structures, or practical help that allows people to stay engaged in their work without being forced to choose between career and family.

Ultimately, Dr. Claycomb returns to encouragement. Women belong in science. Their ideas are needed, their contributions matter, and they deserve to see that path as possible for themselves. “Believe in yourselves,” she says. “Find people who believe in you. Just try, put yourself out there, and do it.”