About
Kaela S. Singleton, PhD
Director of Grants Managment
I’m a Black, Samoan, and Queer woman with a PhD in neuroscience! I was born at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas where my parents met in the Army (due to some frowned upon fraternization) and raised me in Grayson, Georgia. Despite both my folks being from small country towns, I am a city girl at heart with a deep love of sweet tea, college football, and antiquing. On an average day, you can catch me reading in the sun, making jokes on the internet, and prepping for the nearest holiday.
Education & Training
In 2014, I received my BSc. in neuroscience & classical history from Agnes Scott College, a private all-women's liberal arts school. I went on to earn my Ph.D. from the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience at Georgetown University in 2020.
I completed my postdoctoral fellowship in the Faundez lab at Emory University and trained in cellular neuroscience, mentorship, and teaching. After three years excelling as a postdoc, I realized being a PI wasn't for me. I worked with a career coach— the incredibly talented Dr. Lydia Soleil— to figure out what the hell I was going to do with my life (to put to bluntly).
While I'm new to life outside of academia, I'm incredibly excited to be in the nonprofit sector and continue to share, learn, and grow!
Honors & Awards
In my career I’ve earned several national honors and recognitions. The ones that mean the most to me are the ones that mean the most to my family.
They brag about the following awards: Most Likely to Succeed (Mrs. Harris’ 7th Grade Class), Future Perfect 50 (Vox), and lastly 30 under 30 (Forbes Magazine).
Hobbies & Fun Facts
Astrology: Aquarius Sun, Leo Moon, Cancer Rising
Myers Briggs: ISFJ "The Protector"
Enneagram: Type 6 "The Loyalist"
Despite never attending the University of Georgia, I am an avid UGA football fan. I consider myself a pop-punk and pop culture aficionado, and never miss an episode of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour. I enjoy sharing Spotify playlists, reading literary fiction and romance novels, jigsaw puzzles, and watching drama/comedy based television. I am a classically trained violinist and a huge lover of cooking elaborate meals. I've never lost a game of Scattergories, and welcome a challenger!