Retired Scientist, Adventuress, Birdwatcher, Washington, USA

“Ms. Josephine (Jo) Cox exudes kindness and gentleness, but don’t let that fool you, this woman can eviscerate you with one of the sharpest minds in the global scientific community. Over 168 scientific publications (that I was able to find) and counting, Jo contributed her expertise toward confronting a wide array of world’s most pressing diseases, from HIV, Ebola, COVID and many more. In addition, her research, understanding and contributions to the field of human immunology will most certainly help conquer and defeat humanity’s future, not yet discovered, diseases. What a legacy to leave for this modestly self-professed “retired scientist”. My intro, however, won’t be complete without two other heavyweights in the public health arena, so I better stop here.

- Olga Shmaidenko, Founder of WOW Woman.

“Jo was such a great pleasure to have as a colleague. I think I have never worked with someone so grounded, balanced, mature in her approach to all the ups and downs of work life. She was funny and warm too. I think the kayaking and hiking and gardening kept her sane in the middle of all of the crises. When we’d all get together for R&D week, it was just the nicest thing to see her. And we had good times in far-flung places too, especially Nairobi and Entebbe. I miss her enormously.” - Dr. Pat Fast.

“I first met Jo in Uganda in the late 90’s when she was working with one of the only other immunology groups at that time in Entebbe. Having listened to our woes and frustration around a method we battled to try and set up for months, she answered with a simple “Have you tired adding cyclosporin to the culture?’. We hurried back to give it ago. It worked and with that one sentence Jo ended months of frustration. This typifies Jo. An exemplary immunologist with an encyclopaedic and practical knowledge, who is willing to collaborate and share for all the right reasons. In science, a highly competitive environment with lots of egos, it was refreshing. Jo and I continued to work closely for over two decades, with a major focus on developing HIV vaccines including helping build laboratory and research capacity in East and Southern Africa, as well as India to support vaccine trials and research studies regionally.

Jo has an unfailing and consistent focus on doing the right thing for the mission and team, putting her own interests to one side. When we worked together, team leaders would always request that Jo would be on their teams, given her depth of knowledge and understanding but moreover because they knew they could absolutely trust and depend on Jo’s unswerving, steadfast ability to deliver for the team with humility, grace, and humour when required. Jo always took time to listen, mentor, and act as advisor and her fair minded, even handed and honest feedback meant many approached her. However, Jo’s knowledge and passion extend far beyond the laboratory and science. She is a passionate twitcher and bird watcher. When we met up on a recent trip she made to my home country, Scotland it was clear how well versed she was on each species, their behaviours and sounds. Keen to learn more about our native species, she had also been dedicating many hours and early mornings on an in-depth survey back home to map birdlife locally. Of course, she was patient to share more with us, and her passion for protecting the planet and our birds and wildlife evident. 

Always one to set goals and challenges, Jo’s “retirement” has been full of travel adventures, hikes, cycling and off course kayaking, where she is again accomplished and humble. I’ve always joked when Jo’s has offered to go for a walk after work, “That’ll be my jog and your walk?”.

Jo is of course one of the most accomplished, straight-forward, unpretentious and understated women I’ve had the absolute pleasure to know as a colleague and friend.” - Dr. Jill Gilmour

What does your average day look like? I keep busy everyday with various retirement hobbies.

I try and do something outside every day, more often than not with my husband Glen and/or friends. Depending on the weather, we’ll go walking or biking. In the warmer weather, we’ll kayak on the local Potomac or further afield. My other favorite activity is looking for birds and generally involves walking several miles in local parks and other favorite outdoor spots. Indoor hobbies include yoga, learning to play bridge and Tai Chi, reading science and literature. Watching way too much TV in the evening.

4. What did you study in school?

I was educated in the UK, at Grammar School I took general subjects through to my senior years when I specialized in the sciences. My undergraduate degree was Biological Sciences with a special emphasis on practical laboratory session. I loved this part of my degree and realized I wanted to become a research scientist.

5. What was the journey like to get where you are (in life and career-wise)?

I was lucky that most things fell into place for me as I had incredibly supportive parents. Both my sister and I were adopted, so my parents not only did this amazing thing to adopt someone else’s children but they also supported us all the way. I still can’t believe I was so lucky to have been adopted into a caring and supportive family. They encouraged me all the way and I rarely had to consider failure. A good education was considered essential and indeed luckily, I loved school and learning and getting to the next stage of my life whatever that was. I survived undergraduate and graduate studies on a minimal budget but that did not deter me. I was able to get summer jobs to save money for occasional trips through Europe. My journey was assisted by a caring family and launched by my aspirations to be a research scientist.

Write about some of the achievements that you are most proud of.

As a teenager, I was a member of the Girl Guides (Girl Scouts) and as part of my competitive nature I got as many badges as I could leading the award of ‘Queen’s Guide.’ Not a huge deal but some of the things I learned stay with me to this day, particularly my love of the outdoors and organizational skills.

I loved studying biology and knew as an undergraduate that I wanted to become a scientist and for that I needed a PhD. Getting a PhD was a huge achievement for me.

What was the moment for you that changed your life (in your personal life and/or career?) that set you on the current path in life?

An event that changed both the trajectory of my life and my career happened in 1988. I had done various post-doctoral jobs and nothing much was on the horizon in the UK in a tight medical research job market. My then boss waved a blue air mail letter at me stating ‘you have to go Jo.’ He was referring to a colleague at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Bethesda who had written asking if anyone might be interested in coming to the US as a Visiting Scientist. I thought about a couple of days and decided what the hec, two years in the US could be fun. As it happens, coming to the US changed my life and career opportunities. I met the love of my life in the US, and we’ve been married for 32 years. There were also far more job opportunities in the US, and this also set me up for a relatively early retirement.

6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20?

When I was 20, I mostly just had fun and did not really think about how my life might unfold.

7. Was there a time when life knocked you down or out and how did you get back up on your feet?

Not too many times thankfully other than broken romances when I was young. Getting a US visa and eventually a US passport was very hard, but perseverance paid off.

9. Knowing what we know now in a current political climate, can women be "all that we can be" in today's world? What is the way forward, as you see it, for "feminist values"?

I feel very lucky that I never faced discrimination in the work place, or at least if there was discrimination, it washed over me. I had supportive bosses, both male and female. Some women in science by necessity used assertiveness and even aggressiveness to get up the ladder. I was not in that group, but totally get that it’s sometimes the only way for women to get ahead.

10. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)?

Outside.

11. What extracurricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why?

Kayaking and cross-country because it requires skill, nerves and generally takes place in incredibly beautiful and peaceful outdoor spaces.

12. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges?

HaHa, I am all grown up!

13. What fears are you still hoping to overcome?

Fear of old age and incapacity, but none of us can predict what will happen to us.

14. Anything you'd do differently, if you had another go at life?

I’m pretty happy with the way my life unfolded with a mix of luck and good choices directing me on my life’s course.

15. What/who inspires you?

Because I spend a lot of time outdoors, I really appreciate people who are trying to save the environment and save species (including us) from extinction.

I am inspired by indigenous peoples around the world trying to save last tracts of land for magnificent plants, birds and animals. I can’t think of any examples offhand but can look if needed. A recent Macarthur Genius award winner is Robin Wall Kimmerer. She is also an author, and this book is currently at the top of many book lists: Braiding Sweetgrass: indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teachings of plants. I hope to read it soon.

I also am inspired by people who are trying to change the way we think about our fellow men and women. I grew up in a predominantly white environment and although I try and understand what it means to be Black, I don’t think I’ll ever truly understand what it means to be in their shoes in the current century, let alone what it was like in the previous two centuries. I do what I can to help me understand better. The BLM movement has made me more appreciative of black birders and Drew Lanham is a fine example of someone who challenges the birding community. He just won a prestigious Macarthur Genius award and his book ‘The Home Place, Memoirs of a colored man’s love affair with nature,’ is not only beautifully written but also makes us think more about the world we live in. Joseph Drew Lanham - MacArthur Foundation (macfound.org) and Orion Magazine - 9 Rules for the Black Birdwatcher. I have a wonderful friend who happens to be a Black Birder, I am proud to encourage her in her birding and other adventures.

Women who work, have kids and get on with their lives are also incredibly inspiring. I never had the opportunity to have kids and I don’t know how well I would have succeeded. There are countless examples amongst friends and family.

16. What are you hopeful about?

We live in a world daily affected by Climate Change. Things are pretty dire with catastrophe after catastrophe around the world. What a world we are leaving our grandchildren. I believe that man has the ingenuity to eventually overcome climate change through harnessing sun, wind and other renewal resources.

17. What are some ingredients to a good life?

Keep active, eat healthy, be kind and considerate to people. Do things that make you happy and you find fulfilling. Have lots of friends and keep in contact with them even if that requires a lot of work.

How did the global pandemic change your perspective about the world, about your life, your goals and dreams?

I retired right as the pandemic hit, wondering what the hec I was going to do as lockdowns happened, vacations were cancelled and political, social, economic and other chaos was ensuing. I was lucky that I could still find my outside time and of course had Glen as my wonderful loving companion.

18. What are (at least) three qualities you most love about yourself and why?

• I try to be nice to everyone from the janitor to the CEO. I smile at complete strangers when I am out and about as you never know when you might need help, in general people smile back.

• I’m very dependable and don’t often promise and not deliver.

• I’m not the brightest or smartest scientist, but hard work and diligence can get you a long way.

What are your superpowers?

Perseverance, diligence and loyalty.

19. What advice would you give your 14-year-old self?

Be nicer to your parents, they are the ones who got you where you are in life. I don’t quite remember my 14 year old self but I am sure I was a typical sulky teenager and I probably underappreciated my parents. They both died fairly young, so I did not really take the time to look back and let them know how much I appreciate them. Looking at our granddaughter who is 15, I would say be nice to people and respect you grandparents!

What advice would your 14-year-old self give you in return?

Likely she’d encourage me to be myself, work hard and get to your happy place in life.

20. What are you reading now?

I just finished reading Amor Towles ‘A Gentleman in Moscow.’ He weaves in some great characters into the story as well as ushering us through several decades of Russian history. Not only a great novel, but particularly relevant at this point in time when Russia has invaded Ukraine. This is the second Towles book I have read.

What books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?

I typically gift books I have read to friends who I think would enjoy them. Likewise, I am always happy to get book recommendations from friends. I read a mixture of fiction and non-fiction including biographies and natural history. I’m fond of historical fiction as long as it doesn’t deviate too much from the truth.

21. Who is a WOW WOMAN in your world who inspires you and why? Can you nominate three (or more) women you know who perfectly fit WOW WOMAN description? What would you tell them, if you had an opportunity, about why you admire them?

I happen to be adopted and for the longest time, I wondered who my birth mother was. It never affected the way I lived my life, but I was always curious. Just 10 years ago I was lucky to reconnect with my birth mother who lived in Florida and other relatives who happen to live in DC.

The whole family was very receptive to this stranger coming into their lives and welcomed me. My cousin in DC inspires me, through additional education, she’s had three career changes and she’s only 45. She’s a lawyer, life coach to lawyers, mother of two, author and more recently a social worker. She’s dynamic, vocal, loving and manages to have a balanced her life with her family and friends with frequent adventures with her boys.

Her book: “Originate: Business Development for Lawyers: A Better Approach to Biglaw Success” by Michelle Cotter Richards.

22. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)?

PubMed publications this is more or less up to date. My eBird list, I think this gives access to my profile.