Teaching as a Lifelong Endeavor

Name: Gianna HammerPosition: Assistant professor, Duke ImmunologyYears at Duke: 10 months

What I do at Duke: As an assistant professor, I bring the component of research, as well as training of graduate students, undergraduates and post docs. My research is oriented toward understanding the mechanisms that establish host-commensal symbiosis. We study how immune cells respond to microbes that normally live in our bodies and figure out what signals are being passed between those two - the host and microbe. We also determine what might be the consequence if these signals aren't regulated properly.

If I had $5 million, I would: Travel. I've been on safari once, and I'd love to go back to Africa. I'd also love to go to Southeast Asia. It's such a different part of the world, and I want to see things that are different and cultures that have different predominant religions.

My first ever job: I worked at a YMCA in Spokane, Washington, doing administrative support. I was employed by this agency whose mission was to provide young kids with disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds with summer work to gain workforce experience at a young age. I did a couple summers and the first time I was 15. I remember addressing envelopes, things like that.

My dream job: I'd want to be a pop star because they seem to work very little, get paid a lot and the only requirements are to look good.

If someone wanted to start a conversation with me they should ask me about: Like many other mothers, if you ask me about my children, it's easy to get happy and excited and open up. If you ask me about my daughter, that would definitely start a friendly conversation. Her name is Aida.

The best advice I ever received: My Ph. D advisor told me once that everybody has to be trained in response to my complaints about another graduate student and this has stuck with me. I remind myself that I'm not just engaging in training but also remind myself that it's a main endeavor of my work. Once you have knowledge we can pass on that knowledge. Nobody starts out knowing it all. Everyone needs to be trained.

What I love about Duke: The openness and friendliness of all the professors here across departments. Everyone has been very helpful. It's been wonderful for me as a new person here.

When I'm not at work, I like to: Go hiking and be outdoors. Life gets busy with career and a baby, so its nice to be able to enjoy the outdoors.

If I could have one superpower, it would be: To fly. All superpowers are surreal, but at least flying can take you places that you couldn’t get by walking. It'd be a totally new physical experience.

A Movie I like: O Brother, Where Art Thou? I've watched it several times. The characters are really extreme version of very simple people and together, the whole script and cast has a lot of fun.