Daniell, Ellen 1947–

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Daniell, Ellen 1947–

PERSONAL:

Born July 14, 1947, in New Haven, CT; daughter of Martin Haynes Daniell and Winifred Marvin Daniell; married David H. Gelfand, December 29, 1980. Education: Swarthmore College, B.A. (with high honors), 1969; University of California at San Diego, Ph.D., 1973. Hobbies and other interests: Hiking, scuba diving, horseback riding.

ADDRESSES:

E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Molecular biologist, writer, consultant. University of California at Berkeley, assistant professor of microbiology, 1976-84; Cetus Corp., Emeryville, CA, senior scientific recruiter, 1984-85, personnel director, 1985-88, director of business development, PCR division, 1988-91; Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., CA, director of licensing and business development, 1991; consultant, 1991—.

MEMBER:

Association for Women in Science, Licensing Executives Society, American Society of Microbiology, American Society of Cell Biology, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi.

WRITINGS:

Every Other Thursday: Stories and Strategies from Successful Women Scientists, Yale University Press (New Haven, CT), 2006.

SIDELIGHTS:

Ellen Daniell was born July 14, 1947, in New Haven, Connecticut. She grew up to attend Swarthmore College, where she graduated with high honors in chemistry. She continued her education at the University of California at San Diego, earning a doctorate. Following graduation, Daniell went into education, teaching for several years as an assistant professor of molecular biology at the University of California at Berkeley. She then took a series of jobs in the private sector for such companies as Cetus Corporation, in Emeryville, California, where she served as a senior research recruiter and director of business development. She finally moved to Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., as their director of licensing and business development. From her earliest days teaching at Berkeley, Daniell was a member of a group of seven women that met bimonthly, the purpose of which was to reach out to share information and to help to eliminate the isolation so prevalent in competitive fields, with a particular focus on addressing any issues of gender. Known simply as ‘Group,’ the organization served as a safety net and support group, with the members encouraging each other in their ambitions and offering feedback through various professional transitions and milestones, such as achieving tenure.

Daniell's first book, Every Other Thursday: Stories and Strategies from Successful Women Scientists, grew out of her experiences in Group, which served as her touchstone and support through the various stages of her career, including her decision to write the book itself. The book collects many of the inspirational stories that have played out over the years that Group has met, and Daniell provides analysis and commentary along with her narrative. An article on the New York Academy of Sciences Web site quotes Daniell as she attempts to explain the role Group has played in her professional development: ‘I strongly believe I have made more satisfactory decisions and choices because I've talked out the possibilities, as well as the frequently apparent impossibilities, with Group.’ A reviewer for Publishers Weekly found some of the stories too personalized, stating the book ‘essentially offers material that should best have remained within the Group.’ However, Pamela Crossland, in a review for Booklist, commented that ‘Daniell's sharp writing style and focus make this a pleasurable and informative read.’ Barbarly Korper McConnell, writing for Library Journal, praised Daniell's effort, stating that ‘although the narrative focuses on women scientists in academic careers, the appeal of this empowering work will go beyond that circle."

Daniell told CA: ‘I have written all my life, including short stories and poetry in high school, and have kept a journal with more or less dedication throughout my life since. I left my job at Roche Molecular Systems in 1997 with the express intent of writing a book about Group after a public talk led many listeners to suggest to Group members that we should publicize our experience. I began by transcribing twenty-five years of notes and thoughts on our meetings and organizing the material so as to highlight recurring themes in our work. Honoring our rules of confidentiality meant giving every member the right to review what I said about their work. My experience of writing was that it became more and more enjoyable the further I progressed, and after what seemed a painfully long time to find a publisher, I ended up with a wonderful, helpful organization and enthusiastic editor. The years of writing and getting published were a kind of hiatus in public performance; although I continued to do some consulting in biotechnology, I was essentially in a solo phase. With the publication of the book, I've reentered the world of traveling, public speaking, and political involvement on gender issues in science—and find that I enjoy this, too. My principal motivation in writing the book was to share the power of our methods with women (and men) trying to succeed in complicated and competitive careers (or trying to retire from them, or find balance within them.) By speaking and participating in meetings I've been able to enhance what I tried to do in the writing."