By Suchitra Sankaranarayan
Corinna Raimondo, a senior compliance specialist for the Office for Research Integrity, Northwestern University, is passionate about doing science professionally. Corinna, who has a PhD in physical chemistry followed by 2 post docs at Northwestern University decided to follow her call and pursued a role helping research integrity in academia. She works tirelessly to ensure the research conducted at Northwestern has integrity
I met Corinna in the classroom where she was my instructor for a non-credit, mandatory course called Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). Her passion and vocalism about the rectifying the wrong methods in science was loved by everyone in class. Corinna with her frank nature while teaching brings a certain level of “sass” into the classroom environment. My earliest interaction with Corinna was her saying, “I know it is a Friday evening and we have this class, but there will always be food.” keeping us upbeat.
Corinna hated not being able to fully understand the world around her. This motivated her to develop an active interest in science beginning with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in chemistry at the University of Genoa (Italy) followed by a PhD at the Institut de Science et d’Ingénierie Supramoléculaire of the University of Strasbourg (France). Her early research focused on the synthesis, characterization, and application in devices of light-sensitive nanomaterials. Determined to stay in academia and pursue professorship, she worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the chemical and chemical engineering departments at Northwestern University, studying the synthesis and application of nanomaterials in the most diversified fields, ranging from pure electrochemistry to cell biology. She did her second postdoctorate in the chemical engineering department at Northwestern University where her main focus was developing novel heterogeneous catalysts for epoxidations and carbonylations.
While working deeply in laboratory settings, Corinna began to see the imperfections in the system of academic research and sought a professional figure to help her do something about it. When she was writing her proposal for professorship; Corinna realized she had to make a change in the system. The turning point came when Corinna attended an RCR class and learned of Research Integrity Officers (RIOs). Her interest piqued, she decided to pursue it diligently by taking up teaching assistantships for such courses and spending nights studying relevant literature to assimilate as much as she could about the field of research integrity. She was awarded the Mirzayan Fellowship that enabled her to discover how federal agencies worked in implementing scientific integrity in academia and industry. While initially confusing, Corinna calls it an incredible experience that allowed her to meet wonderful people in the field she was interested in. Post the 12-week stint, Corinna was interviewing for jobs. “The fellowship allowed me to meet so many incredible people and finally to land the job of my dreams. I feel incredibly lucky.”, she says.
Today, as Corinna sits working in her office, she carries a number of responsibilities on her shoulders. She facilitates proceedings in cases of misconduct at Northwestern University. “As a compliance specialist, I do my best to make sure that the procedures in place are applied promptly. The research misconduct process is complicated and lengthy and needs professionals to make sure it is managed the best way possible, keeping confidentiality of the parties involved and assuring the integrity of the institution.”, she explains.
Having an extensive research background has helped Corinna perform her job to the best of her abilities. Her curiosity, eagerness to learn and having a “scientist eye” are attributable. As a person who is meticulous, realizing that perfection isn’t always easy to achieve was hard but her humility enabled her to understand and admit her mistakes serving an opportunity to grow and progress.
In addition to this, she is passionate about teaching RCR to students. She wishes to explain correct research conduct and dealing with ethical dilemmas to younger scientists and trainees, such as myself, giving students the kind of mentorship she yearned for during her research days. “I wish I had such class when I first started working in labs. If even only one person, thanks to the knowledge from the class, is helped to make a difficult decision and to act with integrity, then my job is done.”, says Corinna.
As a woman, Corinna feels women are sometimes perceived as “distractions to male colleagues”. She is optimistic that the gender balance in academia is improving and is a strong advocate for equal treatment of the genders. Supported by a beautiful family of a husband and two children, she loves spending any free time with them. She aspires to reach greater heights in her career and also make some time for theatrical acting, an old hobby.
Once a scientist and now a promoter of science, Corinna is happy that her hard work and sacrifices have worked out to bring her to the present high point in life. Taking an unconventional route after being in traditional academia has not been easy but her zeal kept her motivated. She says to those interested in following a similar career path, “Don’t choose it because you need a job, do it only if you feel passionate about it.”