What does a career in academic research look like after earning a master’s degree?
Join the Duke Center for Global Mental Health Trainee Group for a career-focused conversation with Julie Mannarino, MHA, Associate Director at the University of Missouri–St. Louis Missouri Institute of Mental Health, and Britt DeVries, MBA, Lead Data Scientist at the University of Miami.
Julie and Britt will share their experiences building careers in academic research and supporting research in global mental health and public health. Drawing from their own professional journeys, they will discuss how they have applied their master’s-level training in academic settings, navigated different roles and responsibilities, and developed their skills and expertise over time.
The session will offer trainees an opportunity to learn more about career pathways in academic research, the range of roles available to professionals with master’s degrees, and ways to build research skills and experience outside of a traditional doctoral pathway.
Meet the Speakers
Julie Mannarino, MHA
Julie Mannarino is the Associate Director at the Missouri Institute of Mental Health at the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) and Program Manager for the International NeuroHIV Cure Consortium (INHCC). With more than 15 years of experience in NIH-funded research, she provides strategic and operational leadership for complex, multidisciplinary initiatives spanning global HIV research, neuroscience, and precision health.
Julie brings together investigators, staff, and institutional partners to translate scientific priorities into effective programs and ensure their successful implementation. She also leads the INHCC Summer Research Mentorship Program, which supports the development of emerging scholars interested in neuroscience, HIV, and global health.
Before joining UMSL in 2019, Julie coordinated research at Washington University School of Medicine focused on early affective development, lifespan brain development, and eating disorders and obesity among adolescents.
Julie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Missouri–Columbia.
Britt DeVries, MBA
Britt DeVries is the Founder and CEO of Data Distillery, LLC, where her team integrates high-dimensional data from self-report measures, neuropsychological testing, laboratory results, and neuroimaging data for academic and industry research laboratories. She is an enthusiastic advocate for integrity and reproducibility in science and specializes in data management, visualization, and analysis.
Britt has more than a decade of experience in the research field, with expertise spanning clinical trials and national and international longitudinal, developmental, mental health, and public health studies. Her work has been published in several leading scientific journals.
Britt received her Bachelor of Science from Tulane University in New Orleans and later earned her Master of Business Administration from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, where she concentrated in Business Analytics through the TI Program.
What You’ll Learn
During the conversation, Julie and Britt will discuss:
- Their career journeys and transitions into academic research
- How they have used their master’s degrees to build careers in research and academic settings
- The different roles and responsibilities involved in supporting global mental health and public health research
- Skills and experiences that have been valuable throughout their careers
- Opportunities for professional growth and developing expertise in academic research
- Advice for trainees interested in pursuing research careers after completing a master’s degree
The session will conclude with an opportunity for trainees to ask questions and engage directly with the speakers about career development, navigating academic research environments, and finding opportunities that align with their interests and skills.
Open to Duke Center for Global Mental Health students and trainees.