To open up her Tiny Tox Talk, “Ever Felt Like You’re Fooling Everyone with Your Scientific Abilities? You Are Not Alone,” Mary Sonia Iheanacho posed the following question to the audience: “Have you ever felt like everyone else is more confident so they must be more competent?” Ms. Iheanacho distinguished between feelings and facts, noting that “Doubt is a feeling. Skills gaps are a fact. Fraudulence is a fact. They are not the same.” She described imposter syndrome as increasingly common, fueled by the competitive job market and the polished highlight reels seen at conferences and throughout social media platforms.
Scientists are trained to critique and analyze. When that lens turns inward, it can lead to unfair self-judgment and clouded perceptions about one’s own abilities. At conferences, attendees see others’ successes but not their struggles, making comparison both easy and misleading.
Five Tools for Interrupting Imposter Syndrome
Ms. Iheanacho offered a practical set of strategies to help scientists reframe self-doubt:
-
Be aware of it. Have an honest conversation with yourself: “Is this doubt or a real skill gap?”
-
Keep a “wins” file. Fight doubt with evidence: “Facts don’t fluctuate.”
-
Separate feelings from fact. Reframe statements like “I don’t belong” into “I’m feeling like I don’t belong.”
-
Surround yourself with brilliant minds. Seek mentorship and build communication skills.
-
Practice quiet confidence. Embrace statements such as “I’m still learning” and “I am capable.”
She emphasized that the goal is not to swing from imposter syndrome to overconfidence. It’s not about “fake it till you make it” but rather about eliminating the false narrative that you don’t belong.
This blog reports on the Tiny Tox Talk titled “Ever Felt Like You’re Fooling Everyone with Your Scientific Abilities? You Are Not Alone” that was held during the 2026 SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo.
This blog was prepared by an SOT Reporter and represents the views of the author. SOT Reporters are SOT members who volunteer to write about sessions and events in which they participate during the SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo. SOT does not propose or endorse any position by posting this article. If you are interested in participating in the SOT Reporter program in the future, please email SOT Headquarters.
#SOTReporter