The Mass General Research Institute (MGRI) is home to a research community of 9,500+ individuals working to understand disease and develop solutions to medicine’s most pressing challenges.
But who are they and what do they do when they’re not conducting research? Learn more about them in this new series, #HumansOfMGRI.
From clinical research coordinators to postdoctoral fellows, research technicians, graduate students and principal investigators—they are all part of the Mass General Research Institute.
Our next guest in the series is Katie Grant, BA.
What lab/department do you work in?
I work in the Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, particularly for the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment.
I’m the communications coordinator for the Center, so I collaborate with our communications director, Susie Flaherty, to share our team’s research and clinical accomplishments with the celiac and gluten-related disorders community on social media and beyond.
I also have the opportunity to interview clinicians and researchers in educational videos and help promote exciting events.
When and why did you get interested in the work that you are doing?
Around the same time that I graduated from college, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to complete a digital marketing internship at MassGeneral Hospital for Children.
This internship opened my eyes to healthcare communication as a career field and sparked my passion for making medical and scientific topics accessible for everyone.
I feel privileged everyday to learn about celiac disease and other gastrointestinal conditions and share resources and information with people living with these conditions that may improve their quality of life.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I try to make the most of my time outside of work. I love going hiking, downhill skiing and playing the piano/harp.
During football season, I never miss a Green Bay Packers game!
I’m on a personal mission to know the game inside and out so I can start a fantasy football league.
What is your favorite TV show, podcast, book, or movie?
Because daily life can be stressful, I prefer to relax with feel-good TV shows that are nostalgic and drama-free. I have probably watched the entire “Friends” series upwards of ten times!
My favorite books are the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series by Quebec’s iconic mystery writer, Louise Penny.
As far as podcasts go, “Death in Ice Valley” is a phenomenal, atmospheric podcast produced by The BBC World Service about a famous unsolved mystery in Norway.
I highly recommend it, as it’s a brilliant combination of mood music and quality journalism.
A fun fact about yourself
I was born and raised in Bozeman, Montana. It’s not quite the Wild West that people believe it to be, but moving to Massachusetts at age 19 was still quite a culture shock for me!
Do you have any pets?
I have one cat named Puma. Of his nine lives, he is probably on his 4th or 5th life already.
He once got stuck 60 feet up in a tree and we had to climb up to rescue him!
About the Mass General Research Institute
Research at Massachusetts General Hospital is interwoven through more than 30 different departments, centers and institutes. Our research includes fundamental, lab-based science; clinical trials to test new drugs, devices and diagnostic tools; and community and population-based research to improve health outcomes across populations and eliminate disparities in care.
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