Alicia Vose, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville. She earned her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science from the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions in 2019. After earning her Ph.D., Vose completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the UF Breathing Research and Therapeutics (BREATHE) Center and Brooks Rehabilitation Clinical Research Center, mentored by Department of Physical Therapy faculty members Gordon Mitchell, Ph.D., and Emily Fox, Ph.D. Vose’s work focuses on investigating how neurologic injuries such as stroke or spinal cord injury affect laryngeal function, swallowing and airway protection. Her lab group’s goal is to improve clinical surveillance and develop precision interventions that enhance airway protection and reduce pneumonia-related complications.
What are some of the things you like most about your current job?
At this stage — building a lab and shaping a research program — what I value most is having the trust and autonomy to pursue bold ideas with real support behind them. I’ve been fortunate to work with leaders at UF in Jacksonville who not only bring junior faculty into the fold as contributors in a larger vision, but who also empower us to lead initiatives that push boundaries and challenge the status quo. That kind of trust and shared vision is incredibly motivating. I’ve come to see autonomy not just as a professional perk, but as the engine behind creativity, purpose and momentum. And for our lab, that makes the work not just meaningful — but a ton of fun!
How do you balance your professional responsibilities, personal life, and other interests?
One strategy that’s made a real difference for me came from a talk by organizational psychologist Adam Grant, titled “Why meetings suck and how to fix them.” Early in my faculty role, it completely reshaped how I think about collaboration and time. It’s easy to fall into routines where meetings are the default, without pausing to ask whether they’re actually helping move things forward. Grant offered a simple framework that stuck with me: meet when there’s a decision to make, something to build or a problem to solve. Since adopting that mindset, I’ve become much more intentional about when and why we meet — and it’s been one of the best ways I’ve protected time for deep work and for family. Highly recommend the talk — it’s worth a listen!
What advice would you give Ph.D. students?
During your Ph.D., it’s easy to feel like you’re the least qualified person in the room, as if everyone else has some secret knowledge or clarity you’re missing. Because of that insecurity, it’s tempting to gravitate toward projects that are “low hanging fruit” or feel safe. Yet, there’s a quote by Tim Ferriss that I think every Ph.D. student should hear: “99% of people are convinced they’re incapable of achieving great things, so they aim for the mediocre. The fishing is best where the fewest go, and the collective insecurity of the world makes it easier to hit home runs while everyone else is aiming for base hits.” The reality is, you’ll burn out faster chasing uninspiring goals than you will pursuing something ambitious that actually excites you. Big goals come with adrenaline and purpose that will carry you through the inevitable setbacks. Small, uninspired goals won’t. So, trust your instincts. If you see a problem no one is solving — go after it! Don’t wait to be an expert or for someone to give you permission. Most of the breakthroughs in this field came from people who didn’t follow the safest path. Take the swing!