A Matter of Choice

After Williamson welcomed the graduates, fellow students, parents, friends, and faculty to the ceremony, Lerner took to the podium to deliver the commencement address. He praised the graduates for their excellent choices so far, not only to devote time to studying and intellectual pursuits, but also to choose Scripps Research at the location of their graduate studies.

While acknowledging students go on to careers in different sectors—academy, industry, government, or law—Lerner urged them to continue to make wise choices, especially about the focus of their work. He noted it is all too easy to get caught up in a small corner of an established research silo. "There are no rights or wrongs in this business, but it is up to you where to position yourself in research… The responsibility of this organization is akin to diving, platform diving. It is our responsibility to get you to stand on that platform. You now stand on the platform of your scientific career. The dive you do is up to you."