Job Title –Public Affairs Coordinator
Describe what you actually do in one sentence! –I’m the communications department. 
I’ve been at the Ragon since…November 2019
Hometown –Riviera, Texas (that’s Rih-veer-ah. It’s a Texas thing.)
Favorite food –Haagan Daas coffee ice cream. (why, yes, I do accept it as a bribe.)
Favorite movie –Mulan (go animated or go home.)
Favorite musician or band –Jason Isbell
What three items would you take to a desert island –fully fueled and stocked plane, experienced Navy pilot, and a solar-powered saltwater filtration system.
What superpower would you like to have and why –Pass. Got enough going on, can’t be saving the world too.
What location do you most want to visit –Amazon rainforest
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021 –sleep
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow –SNOW IS MAGIC.

Job Title -Regulatory Coordinator
Describe what you actually do in one sentence! -Submit and maintain human subject IRB protocols for the Ragon.
I’ve been at the Ragon since… December 2015
Hometown -Sutton, MA
Favorite food -chips & salsa
Favorite movie -The Wizard of Oz
Favorite musician or band -St Paul and the Broken Bones
What three items would you take to a desert island -books, coffee, and my dog
What superpower would you like to have and why –teleportation for traveling and convenience
What location do you most want to visit -Mexico City
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021 -re-learn how to ski
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow -Pro-snow

Job Title -Sr. Grant Administrator
Describe what you actually do in one sentence! –I provide grant administration support to PIs, which includes submitting grant applications and managing grant funds when they are awarded
I’ve been at the Ragon since…October 13, 2020
Hometown –Winchendon, MA
Favorite food -Cioppino
Favorite movie –Funny Girl
Favorite musician or band –Josh Groban
What three items would you take to a desert island –A mirror, a fishing net and sunblock
What superpower would you like to have and why –I would like to be able to teleport so that I can go anywhere, anytime
What location do you most want to visit –The Cotswolds
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021 –I want to be able to travel again 
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow –I am neutral

Job Title –Operations Coordinator
Describe what you actually do in one sentence! –I handle general operations at Ragon with a focus in HR–I’m your go-to if you have questions about how our different processes work or who to contact at Ragonfor various needs.
I’ve been at the Ragon since… August 2019
Hometown –Atlanta, GA
Favorite food –anything comforting and savory
Favorite movie –The Talented Mr. Ripley
Favorite musician or band –Epic Mountain and Muse
What three items would you take to a desert island –knife, weighted blanket, and SPF
What superpower would you like to have and why –Invisibility –among other things, I could stay overnight in libraries/museums without being detected
What location do you most want to visit –Lapland, Finland
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021 –spend more time in nature
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow –very pro-snow

Job Title -Senior Buyer
Describe what you actually do in one sentence! -I handle all Ragon ordering and act as a liaison between Ragon and MGB Corporate Supply Chain.
I’ve been at the Ragon since… February 2018
Hometown -Mansfield, MA
Favorite food -Oreos
Favorite movie -Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory (but which one??? – Culture Committee 🙂 )
Favorite musician or band -The Beatles
What three items would you take to a desert island -Water bottle, jenga, laptop
What superpower would you like to have and why –I would like to be able to fly because driving and taking the train is boring.
What location do you most want to visit -A desert island
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021 -I’d like to be able to go to a beach at some point
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow -Anti-snow, get it outta here.

Job Title – Senior facilities and operations manager
Describe what you actually do in one sentence! – in concert with the COO and the executive team, responsible for ensuring a safe space, facility operations, equipment maintenance, and cleanliness and order at all times.
I’ve been at the Ragon since… 2017
Hometown – Los Angeles
Favorite food – Carbonara
Favorite movie – The Lord of The Rings Trilogy
Favorite musician or band – Bruce Springsteen
What three items would you take to a desert island – other than Mjölnir? a fishing net, a swiss army knife, and a book, but I wouldn’t go to a desert island, I’d rather go to a café, and would still bring Mjölnir, a swiss army knife, a book and maybe an ipad.
What superpower would you like to have and why – telepathy, for great, clear and fast communication!
What location do you most want to visit – Yellowstone
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021 – 4 week vacation!
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow – pro-snow

Job Title –Grants Administrator
Describe what you actually do in one sentence! –I assist PIs in submitting grant proposals and managing awarded projects and make sure things go smoothly.
I’ve been at the Ragon since… March 2020
Hometown –Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Favorite food –White rice, red beans, and pork chops with a side of avocado and sweet plantains
Favorite movie –Shrek
Favorite musician or band –Shakira
What three items would you take to a desert island –Air fryer, boombox, flare gun
What superpower would you like to have and why –Teleportation because who wouldn’t want to get to Australia in a couple of seconds?
What location do you most want to visit –Spain
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021 –Learn kickboxing
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow –anti snow 100%

Job Title –IT Director
Describe what you actually do in one sentence! –Fix problems or find solutions to them, offer counselling, assist with and advise on purchasing requests, wrangle spreadsheets, ask the right questions to elicit the correct response and when that fails, use Google or ask you to turn it off and then turn it on again.
I’ve been at the Ragon since… July 2019
Hometown –Swindon, Wiltshire, England (it’s near Stonehenge)
Favorite food –a typical British Sunday roast dinner
Favorite movie –Clueless or The Sound of Music
Favorite musician or band –musician: Julian Cope, band: Orbital
What three items would you take to a desert island –Magical everlasting knitting, sunglasses, a fire starting kit
What superpower would you like to have and why –the ability to transform the ultra-wealthy into philanthropists – no-one should be going hungry in the 21st Century.
What location do you most want to visit –The Grand Canyon or anywhere I could see the Aurora Borealis
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021 –learn to drive a car or get a license to ride a motorbike in the US
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow –Given we don’t get proper snow in England anymore, pro!

Job Title –IRB Administrator/Compliance Manager
Describe what you actually do in one sentence! –I respond to questions about being in compliance with the regulatory requirements for human subjects research and sometimes for animal studies; as well as complete applications in the MGB systems, for the review and approval of our ongoing research efforts across the Ragon Institute.
I’ve been at the Ragon since… April 21, 2008
Hometown –Hazleton, PA
Favorite food –Grilled Tuna Steak
Favorite movie –At this time of year, “It’s a Wonderful Life”
Favorite musician or band –Judy Collins
What three items would you take to a desert island –Given that it’s 2020, even on a desert island, my phone, a face mask and hand sanitizer.
What superpower would you like to have and why –With my work here, the ability to be prescient, in order to foresee future events, as that could help with many aspects of the regulatory process.
What location do you most want to visit –Having recently binge watched “The Durrells in Corfu,” I would like to visit the Islands of Greece.
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021 –Hoping to glimpse the dawn of the “New Normal,” on so many levels in 2021!!!
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow –Working remotely, pro-snow!

Job Title –Director of Finance and Strategy
Describe what you actually do in one sentence!–I manage the Finance department where we oversee the financial health of the Institute including budgeting, forecasting, procurement, and long-term planning to ensure the Ragon can continue its innovative research for many years to come.
I’ve been at the Ragon since… July 2020.
Hometown –Staunton, VA
Favorite food –Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza
Favorite movie –Rocky IV
Favorite musician or band–Sufjan Stevens
What three items would you take to a desert island–Can I say my wife and 2 kids? They are my favorites.
What superpower would you like to have and why–I’ve always been a fan of Spiderman and his abilities (web shooting, climbing walls). I have no practical or logical reason why I would like these powers. 
What location do you most want to visit–Rome, Italy
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021–To get more sleep (I have young children)
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow –Pro-snow

Job Title -Recruitment Operations Manager
Describe what you actually do in one sentence! -I assist with recruiting and support all operations related to onboarding at the Ragon.
I’ve been at the Ragon since… September 14th, 2020
Hometown -Brighton/Everett MA
Favorite food -Seafood
Favorite movie -Moonlight… and Black Panther ☺️
Favorite musician or band -Bob Marley
What three items would you take to a desert island -SPF, Dictionary, fishing net
What superpower would you like to have and why –Telepathy, because Professor Charles Xavier should have been a female.
What location do you most want to visit -The Great Pyramid of Giza… and The Great wall of China.
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021 -Starting a business.
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow -Both.

Job Title -Chief Operating Officer
Describe what you actually do in one sentence!-manage the daily operations of the Institute so that the science can happen seamlessly while also preparing the Institute for growth.
I’ve been at the Ragon since… May 2019
Hometown -Scarborough, Maine
Favorite food -lobstah
Favorite movie -Cinema Paradisio
Favorite musician or band -Mat Kearney
What three items would you take to a desert island -my partner Matthias, suntan lotion, Swiss Army knife
What superpower would you like to have and why –healing. Too much emotional, mental and physical pain this year.
What location do you most want to visit -due to COVID, travel to Germany to be with our family
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021 -to spend quality time with my mother who is declining due to dementia —we haven’t been able to spend quality time with her due to COVID restrictions
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow -pro snow!

Job Title –Manager, Executive Administration, Education & Events
Describe what you actually do in one sentence! –I herd cats! Joking! But really, I help make the lives of the leadership team as easy as possible so they can focus on their work.
I’ve been at the Ragon since…November 2019
Hometown -Winthrop
Favorite food -I’m a carnivore and love a good steak dinner
Favorite movie -I love mindless, goofy comedies (anything with Vince Vaughn/Will Farrel)
Favorite musician or band–I love country music
What three items would you take to a desert island -my best friends, an unlimited supply of cold beer and good music
What superpower would you like to have and why –To pause time—my kids are growing too fast
What location do you most want to visit -A ranch in Montana
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021 -I can’t wait to travel again!
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow –Give me all the snow, love a good snow day!

Job Title –Admin Assistant
Describe what you actually do in one sentence! –review/pay invoices, reimburse expenses, invoice Imaging Core fees, assist where needed
I’ve been at the Ragon since… forever (2002)
Hometown –Chelsea, MA
Favorite food –ice cream, almost any ice cream, in great quantities
Favorite movie -Charade
Favorite musician or band –Mama’s and Papa’s
What three items would you take to a desert island –books, books and husband more books
What superpower would you like to have and why –invisibility, for no obvious reason….
What location do you most want to visit –would love to do a road trip across US through as many states as possible
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021 –reconnect, in person
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow –LET IT SNOW!

Job Title -Administrative Director, Research
Describe what you actually do in one sentence! –contribute towards greater good
I’ve been at the Ragon since… it was called PARC (Partner’s AIDS Research Center) ~16 years
Hometown –Kharkov, Ukraine (former USSR)
Favorite food –French fries/pizza or anything deep fried oh and definitely sushi
Favorite movie -Birdcage
Favorite musician or band –Hot Sardines
What three items would you take to a desert island –water, lighter, iPhone with a sun battery charger
What superpower would you like to have and why –telekinesis-helpful in household chores as in cooking
What location do you most want to visit –Australia to hold and hug a koala bear
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021 –have as many family dinners as I can
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow –pro-snow

Job Title – Executive Staff Assistant
Describe what you actually do in one sentence! – Wrangler of ed, events, & etc. (Gal Friday)
I’ve been at the Ragon since… October, before Halloween
Hometown –  San Francisco
Favorite food – Dim Sum
Favorite movie – Johnny Mnemonic, Love Actually, or the Harry Potter Franchise
Favorite musician or band – The Smiths, The Exploding Hearts OR lowfi breakbeats
What three items would you take to a desert island – Desalinator, Solar battery cell w/ wireless charging capability, working (as in on-network) cell phone w/ wireless charging
What superpower would you like to have and why – The ability to stop time. There is almost no situation in which this ability would not be useful!
What location do you most want to visit – Montreal, Marfa TX, and Amalfi
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021 – Deploy my Augmented Reality Poetry Machine!
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow – anti-snow but pro-snow fashion.

Job Title – Senior Financial & Operations Analyst
Describe what you actually do in one sentence! – I’m currently in a hybrid role split between the Finance and Sponsored Research teams within the larger Admin/Ops team. I spend about half of my time working on proposal submissions and post-award grant management for a small portfolio of PIs, and I spend the rest of my time as general institute finance and strategy support.
I’ve been at the Ragon since… December 2016
Hometown – West Chester, PA (AKA the Philly suburbs)
Favorite food – I’ll try anything once! Some favorites include dumplings, pizza, saag paneer, and all varieties of cake.
Favorite book(s) – I’m more of a reader than a cinephile, so I’ve changed this question accordingly. Some of my favorite books are as follows: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones, and the Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. If anyone has any book recommendations, feel free to send them my way.
Favorite musician or band – This varies, but I’ve been listening to a lot of Sufjan Stevens and Phoebe Bridgers lately.
What three items would you take to a desert island – I have no practical survival skills, so I’d take some sort of book that explains how to survive on a desert island. I’ll then bring a couple more books to entertain me as I die slowly on the desert island (due to the aforementioned lack of survival skills).
What superpower would you like to have and why – I feel like I don’t have enough time, so I’d like the ability to pause and restart time as needed.
What location do you most want to visit – My grandma’s house at the Jersey Shore! In terms of travel to new places, I’d love to visit ancient ruins in Italy and Greece.
Given 2020 has been a pretty horrible year, what’s the one thing you want to achieve in 2021 – I’d like to pick up some new hobbies (cooking, baking, and at least one creative hobby).
Finally, as we enter December, we have to ask: are you pro-snow or anti-snow – Pro-snow!