IGB Profile: Emilie Fox
"My family is big on cards. This is what we do; at a family reunion, we play euchre. We've played actual euchre tournaments at Thanksgiving where we have 12 people playing. I was told I learned to play euchre late and I was eight years old." / photo provided by Emilie Fox
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In biology, seemingly simple systems often hide precisely orchestrated complexity; as long as the system is working, it can be difficult to identify all the players that quietly keep it running. Emilie Fox’s work at the IGB is similar. In her role as accounting officer in the business administration group, she is interconnected with research efforts across the institute, supporting their operation from behind the scenes.
This role also gives Fox a view of those myriad research activities, particularly through the purchases that are made to support scientific work.
“Most people if they're interacting with me, it's probably through Emburse,” as she approves their purchases of needed research equipment and supplies, Fox said. "But I also do some more accounting-related work. I see pretty much anything that is not in a grant. I help keep track of those, do reconciliations, send out some of the financial statements every month."
Fox enjoys feeling interconnected with the IGB’s work beyond the scope of any particular theme.
“I kind of need to interact with everybody, and get to see what they're up to a little bit,” she said. “That can be really fun.”
Fox’s pathway to her position at the IGB began with her childhood love of math. While many students, including plenty of future biologists, are intimidated by the demands of the subject, she found the intellectual challenge and the structure of math appealing.
"Even in like early grade school, that was the subject that made sense,” she said. “There are specific defined rules . . . give me a stack of algebra problems. I will do that.”
After applying to Eastern Illinois University as an accounting major, Fox quickly returned to her original calling, switching to mathematics almost immediately. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she found that her love of numbers was an asset for accounting jobs, but her academic background set her apart.
“Having a mathematics degree makes it strange to apply” for accounting positions, Fox said. “Job postings will list a degree in accounting. No one ever lists math . . . even though a math degree very much applies to these kinds of jobs.”
After joining the business administration team at the IGB, Fox found that she still couldn’t get enough of math. Navigating around her full-time work schedule, she completed a master’s degree in statistics.
“I knew I wanted to do a master's degree,” she said. “I actually attended all of my master's degree classes in person; my schedule was wonky for a while because I was the first person here in the morning, and then I was also the last person to leave.”
Her dedication, organization, and teamwork also have their roots in childhood experiences—dating back to her days as a girl scout in grade school.
“I've been a Girl Scout since I was five,” Fox said. "The leadership aspect of scouts in general really boosts your confidence . . . I learned public speaking entirely through the Scouts because our leader put us in front of adults and other girls starting when we were ten, and started having us lead events. So there are definitely skills that not just apply to this position, but in general.”
The IGB is fortunate to have someone with Fox’s blend of scholarship and professional skills to help keep research moving forward. Thankfully, the feeling is mutual.
“I think I got very lucky and got on a very good team,” she said.