WIB-Seattle Leadership Spotlight: Namita Hattangady

Namita Hattangady
Scientist at Immunome, Inc.
WIB-Seattle Communications Chair

As she grew up, one of Namita’s biggest inspirations for pursuing science was her father. “I remember running after my dad, who is a physician, and wanting to learn how he examined patients, diagnosed and cured them, or how to clean and bandage my wound after falling off my bike,” she said. “I saw my dad have a positive impact on so many lives as a physician. I wanted to do the same, but as a researcher.” In addition, Namita’s mother, a teacher, constantly encouraged Namita’s interests. “I wanted to get kids and people around me excited about science, too. So, science and mentorship in science is a deep passion that emerges from having great role models at home and beyond,” she said.

With the wholehearted support from her parents, Namita earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in life sciences from the University of Mumbai in India. “During my undergrad, I did a summer internship in a research lab of a clinician scientist who was famous for being involved in the first few successful IVF attempts in India,” she said. “It was then that I decided that I wanted to get a PhD and develop a career in research.” Namita then moved to the US to pursue her PhD under Bill Rainey’s mentorship, followed by her postdoc at the University of Michigan with Tobias Else. Once Namita moved to Seattle with her husband, she continued to pursue her passion for research. “My interest in understanding the origin of tumors led to my second postdoc at Bill Grady’s lab at Fred Hutch, where I studied the role of the senescent tissue microenvironment in the onset and progression of colorectal cancer,” she said. Namita recently completed this postdoc and has now transitioned to her first position in the biotech industry at Immunome, Inc. “This is my first position in the industry in cancer therapeutics. I love the research and am fortunate to be working with some incredibly talented researchers who are passionate about impacting cancer care,” she said. 

Moving so frequently and making the transition from academia to the biotech industry have not been without their hardships, though. “When I moved to Seattle, I left behind friends and my research family from my graduate and postdoc days,” Namita said. However, during the pandemic, Namita found Women In Bio, joined a MAPS group, and started regularly attending events. “The MAPS program was wonderful to keep connected and build a network, particularly during the pandemic. At one of the WIB events, I heard about there being open positions on the board. I eventually joined as Treasurer, after which I joined the Communications Committee,” she said. “I enjoy being able to work with the various committees and being surrounded by women who are equally as passionate about encouraging and supporting women in STEM as I am!”

Being around women who have similar experiences and outlooks has been a key factor for Namita’s strong connection with the WIB-Seattle community. “Being part of WIB has been incredible so far. WIB has introduced to me some very inspiring women with whom I share a common purpose of supporting women in STEM,” she said. In addition to finding like-minded women, Namita has also found a supportive and safe space to share her experience as a woman in the life sciences. “I think, while the global community has made significant strides in encouraging women in STEM, challenges remain, especially in leadership representation,” she said. “In my experience, research labs often have a strong female presence, but there’s still a gap when it comes to women holding senior leadership roles. And achieving this level of success without compromising family life is even more difficult, often coming at the expense of work-life balance.”

As she balances her burgeoning career in biotech with taking care of her family, Namita has found her personal definition of success. “It’s all about having a positive impact on the people and organizations around me, and contributing towards a larger purpose, even if in a small way,” she said. “Ultimately, success is achieving my goals in a way that aligns with my values and allows me to stay true to myself.” Her advice to others who may be finding their own path is this: “Stay curious, keep learning, build a strong network, and advocate for yourself. But above all, find a work-life balance that is right for you, one that keeps you happy and prevents you from burning out. Supporting other women and staying open to new opportunities will help you succeed,” she said.

We are so incredibly grateful to Namita for all of the time and effort that she has contributed to WIB-Seattle! Her remarkable passion for supporting other women has defined her time on the board, and we all have benefitted from her determination, resilience, and constant encouragement and support over the years. Thank you, Namita!

Submitted by Mariana Huben