Cristal Thomas: I love several things about my job- it's really interesting because when i first started out in science_.I was passionate about wanting to know how things work and had a thirst for knowledge. Making the jump into government is actually similar- i like to get to know how things work from a system point of a view- policy wise. But I 'd say what I love most is the opportunity to make a difference, improve people 's lives and be in a position to be constantly learning and challenged. That is what makes me jump out of bed in the morning.

Cristal Thomas: in my career, and I think this is very translatable, I deal with important, big and complex issues. We are dealing with things that impact people's lives directly. it's very daunting to operate in an environment of imperfect information- it's scary to jump out there and start on a path with the understanding that you have to figure it out as you go. My science background helps me with this- you are trained to figure out a hypothesis and test it- and if it doesn't work, you adjust and it takes you in a different direction. The process of making and understanding policy is very similar. The difference for me in a government context is that you are dealing with a more unforgiving environment- everyone expects you to know, and they don't see a value proposition in the learning process.

Cristal Thomas: I work in the area of translation- the impact side of intersection , where science meets policy. I live and see most things!. The best example is in health care policy. Advances in medical technology- such as: what is the best most effective delivery system to get a drug to a person? The advances in genetics that can lead to personalized medicine....we don't know what that will mean for cost, but the ability to personalize a treatment plan could have huge positive impacts. I'm also very excited about the field of nanotechnology- we have here at Northwestern University here in Chicago a hub for this, and this field has great potential across the board for healthcare disciplines.

Cristal Thomas: I grew up in a town called Portsmouth, Ohio. It's a pretty small town on the Ohio River across from Kentucky.

Cristal Thomas: The challenge I had was when I made the switch from working in science to working in policy. In science you do tend to work in teams and collaborate and it is very clear-cut. Policy is a bit messier- to say the least- and that background is so helpful to approach problems in a logical and systematic way. What I found was a strong backlash against my version of collaboration- you have to compromise to collaborate, which you don't in science. When I first started working in state government, I felt very frustrated because things weren't working as quickly as I wanted. I figured out how that needed to change and how to work more in teams and accept and recognize in policy the process of compromise is necessary and can be beneficial. In general, that's what people are finding in the science world around crowdsourcing.

Cristal Thomas: My style has evolved so much, but slowly over time. I started off as a tomboy- always in pants or pant suits. Over time I've been influenced by friends and family to appreciate fashion as an expression. My fashion choices previously had been driven by my introverted nature and my lack of self confidence...using your choice of how you dress to express yourself is more important than you think. Dress confidently- and you'll feel more confident! We are all beautiful, and we deserve to own that. Use your personal style to be a reflection of you.

Cristal Thomas: I 'm currently reading Lean In by Sheryl Sandburg In terms of books that I love- I read anything by Dean Koontz and I love reading Robin Coone_I like authors that have a science foundation to their writing.

Cristal Thomas: I read the NYTimes online to scan the headlines- it tends to be well rounded coverage of science, international affairs and so on.

Cristal Thomas: The thing that inspires me most are the incredible partnerships that I get the chance to be a part of! Working with people to make our state a better place inspires me. What tends to inspire me is inspirational people- the great work that I see people doing on the ground to make a difference.