Haley, who received a PhD in molecular and cellular bioscience from Oregon Health and Science University, is interested in the genetic mechanisms that help parasites progress through their life-cycle stages. Her research focuses on potential vulnerabilities in the life cycle of the disease-causing parasite Toxoplasma gondii. When not in the lab, Haley is likely to be found outdoors — sometimes rock-climbing, more often taking a long run. “Growing up in the southwest, being outside was a big part of childhood and remains an important part of my life,” she explains. “I prefer endurance trail-running and my favorite landscape to run through is high desert. But I’ve found that one of the best ways to get to know a city is to run through it, and I’ve come to enjoy running in Boston with no goal other than to get to know the area and see all the little things that give neighborhoods their individual characters. Endurance running has also helped build my capacities for patience and persistence in the lab: Sometimes you get lucky and have a productive run of data collection; but there are plenty of demoralizing periods that you just have to push through until something works.”