Meet the scientist steering the growth of OMRF’s scientific training and outreach
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Ashley Cheyney is no stranger to OMRF, but her role is new. As the foundation’s first assistant director of scientific training & outreach, she’s working with faculty and administration to support Summer Scholars, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, as well as to get the word out about and advance OMRF’s training mission.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Ochelata, a small town in northeastern Oklahoma.
What brought you to OMRF?
I first came to the foundation as a research technician in 2012 to gain more research experience before applying to graduate school. I started my Ph.D. at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 2013 and completed a majority of my dissertation work here. I became a part-time staff scientist in 2020 before moving into my current role.
What made you the right person for this job?
From a training perspective, my experiences as a Ph.D. student, postdoc and education faculty member give me the perspective needed to understand and help trainees. For outreach, my educational background and communication experience allow me to connect with folks in an authentic way as I teach them about science and the incredible work being done at OMRF. Additionally, as a native Oklahoman, it’s easy to relate with the broader community.
How does your role fit into the big picture here?
By providing opportunities for young folks to get involved in biomedical research and supporting the training of the next generation of scientists, my role helps provide the foundation for the future of research and discoveries that can make a difference in the lives of people everywhere.
What keeps you busy outside of work?
I really like to read! I’m a big fan of science fiction and fantasy. I really enjoy the OKC craft beer scene and my yoga and meditation practice. And I like animals in general. If you have a dog or a cat, I want to pet it! I have a pair of sister cats, Laverne and Shirley. They are the absolute best.
What’s something about you that might surprise your fellow OMRFers?
I was Oklahoma’s gymnastics overall champ for my level when I was 12. My favorite event was the floor because that’s where I hurt myself the least, but my highest scores were on the uneven bars.
