Women in Biotech
Hear from a woman's perspective...
Stacy P.
Pediatrician/Doctor at Pediatrics 5280
"You can do it! Dream big and don't get discouraged. You belong in science if you are interested and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Find a mentor or example of a woman in science that can give you advice as well."
My undergraduate degree was in BioChemistry with a minor in Spanish. My graduate degree is MD from medical school. I went to Rockhurst University-a small Jesuit university in Kansas City, MO. I have always loved science and people, so working towards medical school felt like a perfect combination of the two areas. I do remember in middle school having a female science teacher that got me excited about STEM. My degree in college was BioChemistry which allowed me to complete the necessary classes and prep work to apply for medical school. I completed medical school and a pediatric residency and now work at an outpatient pediatric clinic seeing children. I am a general pediatrician and my typical job duties are seeing children in the clinic. I see both check-ups (well children) and monitor growth, development, and give vaccinations. I also see sick children and diagnose illness and prescribe treatment. I think it is so important to get kids interested in the sciences-especially girls! There are so many areas of science where we are making new discoveries and can change human life for the better. We need to invest in the future of the sciences and getting both young girls and boys interested in pursuing careers in science.
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Alexis M.
College Student - Triple major in Biochemistry, Mathematics, and Molecular Biology
"Take as many different types of classes and don’t limit yourself to a specific branch. High school is a great opportunity to explore all subjects before having to pay for higher education."
"I’m currently pursuing a triple major in Biochemistry, Mathematics, and Molecular Biology at CU Boulder. I currently participate in research dealing with making a working model organism for Multiple Sclerosis. Without biotechnology and the continued development of new techniques, then eventually it will prohibit the research within all other fields of biology. So biotechnology is essential for the continuation of research in all fields of biology and advancements that those fields make. This is why it is important to invest time, money, and human resources because new technology is essential for further discovery. Biochemistry's goal is to understand the chemical processes that occur in biological systems, but then that knowledge is used in drug development as we can predict the consequences of chemical interactions for a particular drug. Currently, in biochemistry, tools developed from biotechnology are frequently utilized in labs and even classes. Biotechnology focuses more on the development of tools just as immunology and recombinant gene techniques, which then allows biochemists and other biologists to further their research."
Ana L.
Senior Research Associate and Antibody Production Coordinator at Twist Biosciences
"Go for it! There is nothing to be scared of! Science is awesome!"
"I have a degree in Biochemistry and Biophysics. I went to the University of Pennsylvania, it was challenging but very exciting to be surrounded by peers that were motivated and passionate about learning. I decided to do biochemistry and biophysics because it allowed me to combine my favorite subjects within the biological framework. I currently work for Twist Bioscience, it is a biotechnology company in SSF, I specifically work in the Biopharma division doing protein production and characterization work. For the last year and a half, I have worked on developing a high-throughput antibody production workflow that is now becoming a new product for the company. Biotechnology directly benefits humanity, I believe that the same way in which computers revolutionized the world, there is a lot of potential for this field to have a massive positive impact on society."
"I did my undergraduate work at CU-Boulder where I majored in Biochemistry/minored in Chemistry. Then I went on to get my Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences in Aurora. By the time I started undergrad work, I had a pretty strong desire to go to pharmacy school and the degree path for biochemistry included all of the required pre-requisites I would need. Currently, I work for a company called Outcomes MTM, I am a pharmacist that specializes in medication-therapy-management (MTM) and I also have additional specialty training in the field of geriatrics. I work on a team for Outcomes that conducts medication regimen reviews with patients all over the country, all done over the phone. During a typical day, I have about 14-16 scheduled telephone appointments where I call the patient and we review in detail all medications, vitamins, and supplements that they use on a regular basis and we discuss any questions and concerns they have about them. Prior to working for Outcomes, I was a consultant pharmacist for an inpatient hospice facility. I attended rounds on the patients, answered questions from the doctors and nurses, and was in charge of keeping all their meds in stock. My perspective of biotech is that it's a field that utilizes the knowledge of an organism's biology to help achieve a specific technical goal-that then in turn benefits the organism. Biotech is the future, we have the potential to make extremely beneficial and life-saving interventions by merging the studies of tech and biology."
Heather T.
Pharmacist - Specializes in Medication-Therapy-Management
"You may fail a test, but life goes on and if you take time to learn from the mistakes/wrong answers you will come out much better. Setbacks/failed experiments/ frustrations will happen throughout your education, but they are also part of the field in general- it is how we learn, grow, and become the best version of ourselves. Never pass an opportunity, or give up on an interest because you think being a woman is a disadvantage."
"My Bachelors's was Chemical and Biological Engineering focused on Tissue Engineering. My Master's and Ph.D. were both in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering. Undergrad: the University of Colorado at Boulder; my experience was great. Currently (for the next month) I am an NRC Postdoctoral Research Engineer at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC. My typical job duties are building reactor manifolds and altering spectroscopic equipment to look at catalysts before, during, and after they have been exposed to reaction. Biotechnology is a vast area, and it will need people who can integrate it into various sectors: healthcare, energy and the environment, agriculture, cosmetics/consumer products, Artificial Intelligence. For this reason, it is important that resources, and good researchers, flock toward biotechnology with an open mind, willing to branch out and learn more, willing to de- silo themselves and their research from other areas to help the greater population. My research at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC focuses on testing materials that are members of my laboratory design. I test them under various catalytic reactions both in the dark and under irradiation (photocatalysis) to see how these samples react with molecules and how they can be helpful for things like exhaust cleaning, sustainable production of fuels and biofuels, degradation of organic pollutants that seep into waterways from pesticides, and degradation of chemical warfare agents."
Ashley P.
NRC Postdoctoral Research Engineer
"Gender has no place in science, if you love science and you're good, then you're good and you should do it. Know your value, your strengths, your weaknesses. Hone your strengths. Never give up! This last one is important, NEVER give up, know what you want and what you enjoy and GO FOR IT, take those nerves and turn them in to success."
"My Bachelors was in Biochemical Engineering, focused on the Food Industry. My Master's was in Chemical Engineering while my Ph.D. was in Environmental Sciences & Engineering. Undergrad and Masters: University of Sao Paulo (Brazil). Ph.D. at the University of Texas at San Antonio. My typical job duties are 90% teaching(preparing classes and delivering content, gathering data and improvement of curriculum), 9% service to the community (reviewing scholarships and papers from journals, presenting at conferences, being involved in student and professional organizations), and 1% professional development (taking courses and workshops). It is thanks to biotechnology that we have all sorts of food products: bread, cheese, drinks among others. Biotechnology has improved the way we harvest, produce, and life expectancies. It requires a lot of investment because it is not something trivial. It demands proper and ethical research and a good collection of data before being applied."
Gisella L.
Lecturer for the University of Kentucky - Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering
"Gender was never an issue to study biotechnology. Be bold and try your best."
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"I have an A.S in Electronics Technology w/Emphasis on Biomedical Technology. I graduated from New Mexico State University. The electronics program they had was great. Initially, when I started college I was headed towards being a Respiratory Therapist, I had no clue about the Biotech Careers. A college Professor who was heading the electronics program had given a speech in one of my classes. He talked about how Biomedical could provide not only job security but the ability to grow a career in multiple directions. The Biomedical field sounded exciting and seemed it would not only provide job security but it would be a great opportunity for me to learn and grow with the technical world. My current job title is a Senior Clinical Engineering Technician. Currently, my primary responsibilities are maintaining the GE Mammography machines. I clean and calibrate each machine every 6 months, along with troubleshooting and repairs as needed. When I am not working on Mammo machines I assist in maintaining equipment at Primary Cares, Urgent Cares, and Surgery Centers. Maintaining the medical equipment includes annual calibrations, functional, and safety checks, along with parts replacements as needed or recommended by the Vendor."
Ashley H.
Senior Clinical Engineering Technician
"I can understand the nervous hesitation in entering any science field. Stay driven and focus on your end goals, don’t let anyone deter you. Surround yourself with people who support your ambitions and keep the negativity out. It is also important to come alongside each other for guidance and encouragement."
"I went to Adams State University in Alamosa Colorado. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. We were challenged but were also supported in order to grow and achieve what we wanted as careers. In college, I worked as a veterinary assistant and was in charge of the ICU. I would care for the patients like a human nurse would and would run some of our tests in house. I have a BS in Cellular and Molecular Biology with a minor in Chemistry. I run a variety of tests for veterinary practices. I check to make sure machines are running properly and that we have the supplies needed. I read the requested tests and perform them according to their protocols. I then type up my reports and send them to the clinics. I also answer any questions the vets may have and offer advice if needed."
Jenifer L.
Assistant Laboratory Technician
"You only get one life so chase what your heart desires and what you are passionate about. Don’t let people tell you that you can’t do something because you are a girl. Use that as a fire to fuel you to achieve your dreams and better the world."