Research leadership: Mo Siahpush, Ph.D.

This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony for UNMC’s 2018-19 Scientist Laureate, Research Leadership, Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator Award recipients.

• Name: Mo Siahpush, Ph.D.
• Title: Associate dean for research; professor, UNMC College of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion, Social and Behavioral Health.
• Joined UNMC: 2007
• Hometown: I consider Omaha my home. A week or two after my arrival from Australia, I remember driving on Dodge at night and feeling strongly that this place is home.

Research focus:
Tobacco Control

The best advice I could give a beginning researcher is:
Work hard and do not be afraid of failure or rejection.

The toughest lesson I’ve learned is:
I really can’t think of any.

The best part of my job is:

Implementing initiatives to enhance research productivity of faculty and students; mentoring; analyzing data and programming; writing manuscripts.

Three things you may not know about me are:

• Early in my career, I used to be extremely fearful of public speaking. I remember the first class I ever taught was held on a Wednesday, and I could hardly sleep Monday and Tuesday nights. I also remember the feeling of exhaustion, relief, and elation after each class.
• Fifteen years ago, I ate two baklavas at work and because of the sugar, I felt so sleepy I had to go home and take a nap. So, I decided to stop having food with added sugar (e.g., cookies, ice cream, sugary drinks, cakes, sweats, and candies) and have been sugar-free ever since.
• A couple of years ago, my car got wind-damaged in the Rockies in winter and it cost $17,000 to fix it. I was so pleased that all those years of paying for car insurance finally paid off.