The ADHD Skills Lab ADHD Alchemy: Turning Distraction Into Award-Winning Success
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Sep 22, 2025 Dr. Jacquelyne Read, an award-winning chemistry professor and ADHD advocate, shares her journey from postdoc struggles to tenure-track success. She discusses actionable strategies like breaking down overwhelming tasks and creating focus routines that helped her win a prestigious publication award. Jacquelyne emphasizes the importance of personalized systems and reframing expectations to turn ADHD traits into strengths. This conversation is a treasure trove for anyone in academia or leadership looking to thrive amidst chaos.
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Early Love Of Chemistry
- Jacqueline loved chemistry from childhood and her parents let her experiment freely which fueled her curiosity.
- A powerful high-school demo (dollar-bill flame) and encouraging teachers cemented her fascination with chemistry.
ADHD Diagnosis During Postdoc
- Jacqueline was diagnosed with ADHD during her postdoc after struggling with desk-based, computational work.
- A clinician recognized ADHD quickly and the diagnosis felt like an epiphany that explained long-standing struggles.
The Late-Night Productivity Trap
- In graduate school Jacqueline often pulled all-nighters because her productive brain came alive late in the evening.
- That coping tactic stopped working in her late twenties as sleep and physical resilience became non-negotiable.