Meet the Staff: Natalie Sirisaengtaksin

Natalie Sirisaengtaksin, PhD, is the director of academic affairs at the Graduate School. She handles many diverse aspects of the Office of Academic Affairs’ operations, including advising students, and serving as the Graduate School’s Section 504 coordinator. She received her PhD from the Graduate School in 2017, and now loves working with the students as a member of the staff. In her free time, Sirisaengtaksin enjoys singing in a choir and playing video games online.

What do you do day-to-day in your role?

Primarily, I advise PhD students, along with Senior Academic Advisor Kehinde Ogunseye, PhD. I also share 504 disability coordinator duties with Cheryl Spitzenberger, program manager for operations and student affairs, helping students get necessary accommodations.

What is one of the major projects you work on recently?

We wrapped up Lab Coat Ceremony in October, which celebrates our second-year students joining their labs. Students had the opportunity to receive lab coats from their advisors in front of friends and family, honoring their dedication and hard work. This is one of the most fun events we have at the Graduate School, and it’s a great way to recognize our students.

What excites you the most about working at the Graduate School?

I love that every day is different, and I never know what will happen day-to-day. A large part of my role is handling situations as they arise, and I enjoy the challenge of not knowing what to expect.

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

I sing in an international choir that I joined when I was a student at the Graduate School, along with some friends who are all still members. We also have a current student who sings with us. One of my favorite things about the choir is that we get the opportunity to sing in different languages!

What skills do you find most valuable in your work?

Communication, both written and verbal, is essential to what I do. My communication style has evolved since I started in my role, and I often draw on my own experiences as a graduate student to better relate to the students who I advise. I have a unique frame of reference because I earned my PhD here at the Graduate School, so I thoroughly understand the challenges our students face and how to help them explore their options.

What was your journey to the Graduate School?

I came to pursue my PhD in a roundabout way. I was a psychology major in undergrad, and I was considering pharmacy school after graduation. While taking prerequisite courses, I got the opportunity to work in a lab with one of my professors, and I fell in love with research. I appreciated that it wasn’t just reading things from textbooks but asking questions and figuring out the answers for myself. I applied to both pharmacy school and PhD programs for biomedical sciences, and when I got an offer from the Graduate School, I decided to take it. I loved the time I spent in graduate school here, and I’m glad I made that choice.

After earning my PhD, I took a postdoctoral position at UTHealth Houston. While in that role, I discovered that while I love research, my passion was helping students. During both my PhD and my postdoc, people often came to me for advice, and I loved being able to help, so I pivoted into a role that would allow me more opportunities to do that. I started out as a program manager for academic affairs, then transitioned into assistant director, and I now serve as director of academic affairs. I love that I get to help students navigate their PhD programs; it’s still my favorite part of my job.

What is your favorite memory while working at the Graduate School?

I don’t have one specific memory, but I love how everyone here works as a team, and how much they care about the students. I love the little moments when we’re able to help a student through a tough situation, then see them graduate and go on to bigger and better things.