Keep Calm and Ask A Woman Scientist: Limei Cheng, Ph.D.

Presented by AAPS’ Women in Pharmaceutical Science Community

Dr. Limei Cheng is an accomplished scientist with 15+ years of experience in developing novel algorithms, modeling, and simulations for healthcare applications such as quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP). 

Cheng at BMS uses model-based QSP approaches to integrate clinical and non-clinical data in a quantitative and mechanistic way to generate actionable predictions. These predictions can be used to support decision-making in pharmaceutical research and development, optimize the design of patient clinical trials, and facilitate communications with regulatory authorities. Prior to joining BMS in 2015, Cheng worked at Philips Research North America in the Department of Clinical Decision Support Solutions. She began her career as a research associate at the Biomedical Simulation Resource (BMSR) in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC), where she was involved in developing novel modeling and computational methodologies for the experimental study of biological systems and understanding, diagnosing and treating human diseases. Cheng has numerous recent presentations and publications demonstrating the utility of Systems Pharmacology in Pharmaceutical R&D.

Cheng earned a B.E. in Biomedical Electronic Engineering from Xi'an Jiao Tong University, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Southern California.

What was the biggest challenge that you faced in your career? How did you overcome that?

I have had numerous challenges in my career since I started working in the state-of-the-art of modeling and simulation for healthcare-related research.  There are always technical challenges, and one of the biggest is to determine how your model can improve on what has been done before. When I started my graduate research at USC, I initially planned to continue my Ph.D. thesis work based on my previous two doctorates' research. During my Ph.D., I overlapped with one of them who was working as a postdoctoral fellow on the previous large physiological modeling work in the group. I tried to work with her to understand the model, but she was very secretive about why her model would only work in a narrow physiological range and for a very short period of simulation time. Eventually, she informed me that the model worked due to "magic," and that I should stop trying to figure it out. However, even my advisor did not understand why the model worked, and this inspired me to dig deeper into the model.  Eventually, through dedication and hard work, I was able to determine that some of the mechanisms in the model needed to be revised significantly. After doing this, the model was more physiologically accurate, and we were able to publish the revised model in a major journal.

One of the other challenges I have faced in my career is the negative impact of race and gender. One of my professors at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) told me that I should go back home to be a housewife with an M.S. degree while I was studying for my Ph.D. degree and was the only Asian woman in his lab. Instead of being discouraged, I pursued my Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC) after completing my M.S. in Electrical Engineering from UCLA.  Another time in one of my job interviews when I was looking for opportunities to change from the healthcare industry to the pharmaceutical industry, I showed the interviewer, a female executive, how well I can collaborate with my colleagues. Although I did not mention that the majority of my colleagues at that time were male, I was asked how to deal with the situation if there were more females than males and I was not favored by other women. My answer was that collaborating with anyone especially with women had never been an issue for me. But still, I was shocked to be asked this type of question and it made me think about if there is gender difference for collaboration, communication and so on. Indeed, there are always gender differences, but indirect and direct communication styles matter more than genders for collaboration. As a woman of color, I had overcome these negative impacts on my growth.

Do you have experience receiving mentoring? If you do, what is the best advice that you have received from a mentor?

I do have experience receiving mentoring. One piece of the advice I received was from many years ago when I came to the United State for just about 2-3 years and focused on improving my spoken English.  My mentor told me that scientific communication is paramount over spoken English. So, anyone paying good attention while listening to others helps understand the speaker. His words not only helped me to build my self-confidence but also inspired me to listen to others more actively.

When you look back at your career, would you have done anything differently?

When I look back at my career, there were two major career paths for my growth. At the beginning of my career, I just had a "job for life" but was not fascinated by the job. I kept doing the job until realized that I was no longer enjoying it and I was not scientifically growing. Then I switched to another job, then another, until I found a job, I was truly passionate about. Ever since it has kept me excited and motivated each day and all because of my interest. That made me realized the other major career path-following my passion for innovation. Because of doing what excited me, I kept growing out of my potential. And later, the second path became even better. Develop a passion if you don't have one. If I was told about these two different career paths at the beginning of my career, I would take the second path and developed/followed my passion for the job. I could have become the current myself at least ten years earlier.

Can you share two tips for early career professionals on how to develop their careers successfully?

First, find out what you are interested in and love to do, then go ahead and pursue it. If you don't know what your passion is, then develop one. Second, prepare yourself to take risks.

What message would you like to give the women in the pharmsci field? What do you feel is the best way women can help each other in this field?

Every woman in the pharmaceutical science field has their special influence and contribution to the field. Let's lean in, speak up, take risks, network, be yourself and support each other in this field.