In Memory of Dr. Steven Stanhope

Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/columbia-md/steven-stanhope-11924937

“We are excited to have you join the group. I look forward to beginning our discussions as you continue the process of shaping your career.”

From his first e-mail welcoming me to the lab, Steven was committed to providing me with the resources, tools, and support to reach my career goals. When I told him I was interested in getting experience in mentoring, he guided me in finding and hiring undergraduate students to work in the lab. When I wanted to improve my grant writing skills, he worked with me on multiple grant proposals. I am incredibly grateful for the independence and flexibility Steven gave me to pursue my interests in my PhD, and for the support he provided each and every step of the way.

Steven was brilliant. He was able to envision large scale concepts that brought together multiple diverse groups for interdisciplinary and meaningful collaborations. At the same time, he never lost sight of the small details. I remember my lab mates and I spent months and months making sure the equipment in our lab was precisely calibrated before starting any data collections. Steven trained his students to think big while being incredibly rigorous.

Below are a few pieces of advice that Steven shared and that I will never forget:?

1.???? Look at the career trajectories of successful scientists to start defining your own career goals. Model your career path after someone you admire.

2.???? Don’t get labeled into one niche area. Think about what is needed that would move the field forward and pursue the most generalizable solution.

3.???? Always start with the data/results. The results are the crux of the story, and they drive the next questions in your research.

4.???? Know the literature better than anyone, and be positively disruptive. Constantly challenge yourself to truly understand the results. What does it mean? How does it work? Why does it work this way? What is the impact?

5.???? Run towards the problem.

Steven was insatiably curious and loved teaching. Whether it was his first or last meeting of a day filled with back-to-back meetings, he brought an infectious enthusiasm and energy to talk science. As a mentor, he challenged me to not give up on solving difficult problems, and in doing so, I gained self-confidence in my competency as a scientist. And, after I finally solved a problem, I can still hear the way Steven would say “Super!” with such excitement. In one of his last e-mails after a (surprise) retirement celebration for him, Steven shared his appreciation for the people he worked with:

“So many memories and wonderful achievements. The best part of all was being able to spend remarkable periods working alongside so many truly gifted and wonderful people.”

But it was always Steven who brought out the best in us.

By Anahid Ebrahimi, PhD

Dr. Stanhope’s former PhD Student at the University of Delaware (2013-2018)

Currently Health Program Specialist at the NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke