The female Scientist

Meet Marie Launay: A passionate marine biologist unraveling the genomics of Arctic cod!

Marie Launay completed her B.Sc. in Biology at Sorbonne University, France, followed by an M.Sc. in Systematics at the French National Museum of Natural History. She then pursued a second M.Sc. in Marine Biology at Pascal Paoli University, France. Passionate about scuba diving, marine ecosystems, and wildlife, Marie is now a PhD student at McGill University. Her research focuses on Arctic cod, a central species in the Arctic marine ecosystem. Using advanced genomic tools, she investigates the population structure of this keystone species, contributing valuable insights into its ecology and conservation.

Rep by Rep: How Lessons from My Personal Trainer Strengthened My Approach to Academia!

My coach taught me that true growth comes from prioritizing self-care and focusing on my own journey. In academia, I had been sacrificing meals and sleep for productivity, but he showed me that this was unsustainable. Envy and comparison, I learned, don’t fuel progress—personal growth does. These lessons reshaped my approach to both life and research, helping me realize that balance, not burnout, is the key to long-term success. By applying these lessons from the gym to my academic life, I’ve embraced a balanced approach, prioritizing well-being over burnout and finding strength in my own path. Growth isn’t about competing; it’s about building resilience, inside and out.

Overcoming Deficiencies: Balancing Health and Academia with the Right Coach!

My coach imparted a profound lesson, “your health is your most valuable asset. If you can dedicate even 45 minutes a day to yourself, you’re investing in a lifetime of well-being. No matter how busy life gets, fitness isn’t an option—it’s a necessity.” It’s a lesson I hope more women in research embrace, for our health and well-being are just as critical as our academic achievements.

Rethinking Evolution: The Invisible Women in Science!

We frequently hear about the “fathers” of various scientific disciplines, such as the father of microbiology or the father of genetics, but rarely do we hear about the “mothers” of these fields. This linguistic bias further entrenches the notion that significant scientific contributions are predominantly male, ignoring the substantial impact made by women.
Through the representation of women and people of color as essential components of the narrative of human evolution and scientific discovery, we can encourage a wider range of youth to pursue their career in science.

Field and Menstruation: Breaking the silence on a hidden challenge!

The stigma and silence surrounding menstruation in fieldwork contribute to a lack of support and consideration. Women often feel compelled to push through discomfort and health risks to avoid falling behind in their work. This can lead to burnout, health issues, and a sense of isolation. Addressing the challenges of menstruation in fieldwork is not just a matter of convenience. It’s a matter of equity and inclusion. By acknowledging and accommodating these needs, we can create a more supportive and productive environment for all researchers and professionals.

Meet 7 women STEM Scientists with Impactful Contributions in the 21st Century!

Recent research has shown that girls do better than boys at all ages in the STEM subjects. Incidentally they do way better in non-STEM subjects. Also more women than men have dropped out of the workforce while coping with the challenges of remote working due to the covid-19 pandemic. Whatever be the representation of women in science, there is a need to convey the impactful work of women scientists.

I am a parent. I am a scientist.

In July 2023, I attended an international conference for which I was one of the main organizers. The thing was that I had to bring my 6-year, 3-year, and 7-week-old kids. What stood out to me was that people constantly wanted to talk about my kids and no longer seemed to see me as an accomplished researcher. After a while, I realized that all the ‘baby talk’ wasn’t a reflection of myself but of the other attendees sharing their own experiences. With this story I want to highlight the lack of visibility our scientific community gives to our families.

Meet Nafisa M. Jadavji, passionate about scientific research and mentoring!

Dr. Nafisa M. Jadavji is a Neuroscientist. She is an Assistant Professor at Midwestern University, Research Professor at the University of Arizona, and Carleton University. In 2012, she completed her doctoral training at McGill University in Montréal, Canada.  Currently, her laboratory investigates how the brain responds to different biological processes throughout the lifespan. More specifically, her lab studies how the brain responds to changes in one-carbon metabolism, with a specific focus on maternal nutrition contributions to offspring neurodevelopment, neurological diseases (e.g. ischemic stroke and vascular dementia), and aging.

Meet Luba Orlovsky, Analytical Research Lead, exploring how AI and Machine Learning can help businesses and customers alike!

Luba Orlovsky is the Analytical Research Lead at Earnix, a global provider of intelligent, composable, SaaS solutions for insurers and banks. At age 19, she moved to Israel to pursue her academic aspirations. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering and a Master of Science in operations research from the Israel Institute of Technology. During her career she’s held different analytics related roles in several companies, from algorithm developer and market analyst to head of analytics in the customer experience department and analytical research lead today in Earnix. 

Meet Patricia Pillay, Archaeologist and PhD Candidate in Anthropology!

Patricia Pillay is a Doctoral Candidate  in Anthropology at the University of Auckland, who is a trained zooarchaeologist. Patricia comes from both a biological sciences and arts background in anthropology and archaeology, which have been foundational to her research. Her research focus is on human-animal long-term interactions to inform on current heritage management and conservation as well as extinction processes.

A Lack of Interest Isn’t the Problem!

We’ve all seen the studies and accusatory messaging – if only more women studied STEM subjects in college, then maybe there would be equity in academia and the workforce. But a new Cornell study has shown that most of the disparities are caused by the labor market rather than degree. Who would have thought?

Meet Dr. Jennifer Michaelson – Researcher, Scientist, Executive, and Dedicated Mentor for Women in Science!

Jen Michaelson has more than 2 decades of experience in oncology, immunology and immune-oncology, and is currently serving as the Chief Development Officer at Cullinan Oncology. Jen has played an integral role in building Cullinan’s diverse pipeline over the years and continues to identify the most promising science in cancer research. Her unique background spans academia and research to pipeline and drug development for biopharma and early biotech companies. Jen is passionate about the work she does for Cullinan Oncology and about giving back in the biotech community. Jen leads by example in both her work and personal life, showing that one can be a successful scientist, raise a family, and give back to the community in more ways than one.

When Fiction Teaches Facts!

How do we know what is possible? How do we feel less alone? How do we uncover solutions to our sticky problems? Stories. Sometimes we need to step away from our data, industry journals or text books. Learning about women who have navigated similar trials and trails as we have seen, or we expect to face, is time well spent. Fiction, done well, can be wildly helpful.

Meet Dr. Maria Martignoni, a mathematical biologist advocating for a better work-life balance in academia!

I am a mathematical biologist, devoted to science as much as to my family. I am pursuing my academic career  while raising five small children, and everyday I ascertain that having two full time jobs makes my life somehow more worth it and successful than having each of these jobs alone.

Meet industry researcher Dr. Judith Eschbach, who uses innovative techniques for drug development!

Dr. Judith Eschbach is an industry researcher and Head of in vivo pharmacology at Inoviem Scientific. Eight years ago, Judith started working at Inoviem, helping identify targets for future therapies, biomarkers, and assisting in repositioning molecules. Previously, Judith worked at the National Institute of Health and Medical Research in France and at the University of Ulm in Germany, where she focused on the field of neurodegeneration. She is also the co-author of 12 scientific publications.

Meet Dr. Kristen Hege, who is inspiring the next generation of female physicians and scientists to gain strength from nature!

Dr. Kristen Hege, senior vice president of Early Clinical Development, Hematology/Oncology & Cell Therapy at Bristol Myers Squibb, has been at the forefront of drug discovery and translational development for over two decades and is a leader in the burgeoning cell therapy field. Kristen and her team of clinician-scientists are pioneering new therapies that improve the standard of care for people with cancer. Kristen oversees a team of physicians and clinical scientists investigating different treatment modalities, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, bispecific T-cell engagers, monoclonal antibodies and next-generation small molecules across multiple different cancers.

Meet Heather Eason, an electrical engineer who has the #powertomakeadifference!

Heather Eason has a bachelor’s in electrical engineering, a master’s in business administration, and is a wife, mom, an entrepreneur, a CEO, and a board member. She is taking the road that once was not allowed, is currently less travelled and is blazing the trail for young females and minorities today who are interested in pursuing a STEM centered career.  She believes we all have the #powertomakeadifference.

Meet Sarah DiSalvatore, passionate about bringing gene therapies to patients with rare diseases!

Sarah has more than 25 years of experience in research and development; including scientific research, clinical project management, process development and the implementation and execution of early phase and multi-national clinical trials. Additional roles have included vendor management and relationships, governance structure, business development discussions with potential partners and the engagement of venture capital firms to secure funding.  Most recently, Sarah was employed with Rocket Pharma as AVP, Clinical Operations leading global clinical trials in rare diseases using gene therapy.

Research is not always about success or failure!

How well do we address mentoring issues in research? Is stereotyping prevalent in research? Does inclusiveness and diversity really exist in research? Why don’t we guide students for jobs outside of academia?

An overlooked reason for women leaving academia!

The flexibility to move around which an academic career demands is especially disadvantaging female scientists, even without kids. Why? The average age difference in cis-heterosexual relationships and the according difference in career stage creates pressure to stay in a place where the male part in the relationship already has a job, instead of him giving it up so that they can move wherever the next short-term academic contract takes her.

STEM on the screen. Who is being seen?

Vast amounts of media are consumed through YouTube and television and these platforms are opportunities for positive representation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Does YouTube provide a more inclusive space for women’s voices and what can be done to combat stereotypes associated with female STEM communicators?

Meet Erin Twamley, Award-Winning Author, STEM Educator & Mother of 2 bringing the world of STEM Careers to students!

Erin Twamley is an award-winning children’s book author focused on engaging girls in science, technology, engineering, and math or STEM topics. Her publications and encounters are all about promoting gender diversity and sustainability in STEM. As an avid researcher and learner, Erin’s passion lies in educating elementary-aged children about the diverse women and careers behind every facet of STEM.

Eliminating the Complicity of the Masses: What Gender Gap?

There are still difficulties that we encounter as women in science and we shouldn’t ignore them. We need a system that provides resources for our needs and doesn’t discriminate against us. It’s up to all of us that are aware of the challenges to be agents of change and not be complaisant with any less.

Young researchers: finding passion for science and enjoy the twists and turns of the journey!

Masuma Afrin Taniya is a senior year undergraduate research student studying Microbiology at Independent University, Bangladesh. During her time in the program, she has participated in several public speaking and essay writing competitions notably Famelab international, Hult-prize competition, Nature’s essay writing competition, and Sanger prize competition. From these competitions, She has acquired public speaking skills, good writing skills, confidence to distill complex ideas and communicate effectively to a non-specialist audience. In this article, she shares many vital tips for young readers who aspire to become a researcher.

How my international postdoc experience transformed my career (Part 1: Buffalo, USA)!

Marie received her Ph.D. in biological science at the University of Tokyo in 2017, and soon after, she started working at the University at Buffalo, New York. Currently (11.2020-), Marie is an assistant professor at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, but here she writes about her research life in Buffalo, and why she chose Buffalo.

Meet Dr. Marie Saitou, who was one of the 10% of female STEM-major students at the University of Tokyo, and is now a PI in Norway!

Dr. Marie Saitou is a junior principal investigator at the Centre of Integrative Genetics (CIGENE), Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
She is originally from Japan, and did postdoctoral training in the US, and has opened her laboratory in Norway. She entered the University of Tokyo, the most prestigious university in Japan in 2008, where only 20% of students and 10% of STEM-major students were female. Female professors there enthusiastically encouraged her to study abroad to learn about inclusive and diverse academic environments, which led her to seek my postdoctoral fellowship in the United States. Now Marie has her own research group in Norway, where is one of the most advanced countries regarding gender equality and work-life balance. She is trying to lead the field to promote intellectual diversity and interdisciplinarity.

Meet Dr. Grisselle Centeno, bridging the gap between women and STEM!

Dr. Grisselle Centeno is director of the Health Systems Engineering program and a full professor in the department of Data Science and Business Analytics at Florida Polytechnic University. Her passion for STEM began at a young age, greatly influenced by her father. Now, Dr. Centeno is leveraging the Health Systems Engineering program to attract more women to the field. As a professor in a leadership position, she is a role model for women who seek to rise in the ranks of academia. In addition to, and often hand-in-hand with her professional endeavors, Dr. Centeno immerses herself in philanthropic causes such as ethical development, mental health advocacy, and women’s leadership development.

Challenging the status quo in academia through focusing on training and skill-building!

Academia is a place where knowledge can be gained and shared. However, the system could be improved by focusing more on training “the whole scientist.” This post describes recommendations to improve science training, including a framework for science communication to enable the next generation workforce to positively impact society.

A Message With an Impact From Your Scientific Community!

From Philosophy to Microbiology…from Engineering to astrophysics, regardless which field is holding you in its grip, is firing up your curiosity… we can all agree on the fact that science is in no way boring, it rocks! Unfortunately, too many people choose a path/career out of fear for what they really want, what seems impossibly out of reach or is too ridiculous to expect. So they never dare to take that step towards their true purpose in life, never dare to ask the universe for it.  I am saying, you can fail at what you don’t want so, you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.

Meet Dr. Jill Walker — collaborator, strategist and nontraditional scientist!

Dr. Jill Walker has 15 years of experience in pharmaceutical research, currently serving as Senior Director of Preclinical Development and Translational Sciences at Horizon Therapeutics. Her work centers on preclinical research into the mechanisms of medicines and molecular targets for the treatment of rare, autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases. She received her Ph.D. in molecular biology from Princeton University and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco.

Women in Astronomy: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going!

As a woman in a position of power in STEM, I’ve dedicated much of my energy to ensuring that future generations of young women are empowered and inspired to join the scientific community (particularly in a career in astronomy, but I guess I am a bit biased). For future generations of women to feel comfortable embracing a career in STEM, we must pave the way for them to pursue their personal and professional aspirations in a society that respects and appreciates their contribution. 

How planning around my menstrual cycle has made me more productive (and less overwhelmed)!

As a woman in science, you probably have or had a menstrual cycle. A cycle that affects us physically, emotionally, and also mentally. But it’s something that has been traditionally stigmatized. Something we keep private and don’t often share, especially when working. But that cycle can help us be more productive at work. We can plan the most suitable task for each phase. And most importantly, don’t feel guilty or ashamed when we are not as efficient as we would like at doing a task that is not the best for that phase. This cycle is a source of energy we can learn to harness!

Remember her: Meet Professor Liebe-Leah (Lina) Stern!

Lina Stern (1878 – 1968), a pioneer of neurosciences, was the first female professor at the Geneva University and the first female member of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Besides her research, she was also a humanist, being member of the Women’s Anti-Fascist Committee and the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee in World War II. And that´s not all!

Meet Shyama Vermeersch, passionate about animal bones of the past, gender equity and diversity!

Shyama Vermeersch is a zooarchaeologist and is currently a PhD student at the University of Tübingen (Germany). Her research focusses on subsistence and agricultural practices during the Bronze and Iron Ages in the southern Levant. Previously, she obtained a B.A. and M.A. in Egyptology from the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) and a M.Sc. in Archaeological Sciences from the University of Tübingen (Germany). Over the years, Shyama has become more active on issues of gender equity and diversity in science and is the coordinator of the Lise Meitner Society Tübingen, a non-profit organisation working towards gender equity in STEM.

Meet Dr. Alana Rister, a chemistry researcher passionate about supporting graduate students!

Dr. Alana Rister is a researcher of chemistry and CEO of Science Grad School Coach, a coaching business to help science graduate students complete their degrees with less stress. She completed her Ph.D. in Chemistry with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Her research focuses on the analysis of steroids and lipids in reproduction.

How starting a science blog changed my life!

I always knew I would not stay in academia and research forever, but I had no idea what I wanted to do with my career. Until I discovered the world of science communication and realised I was made for that: I like explaining, exploring and talking about microbes. But to get there took me two years. And it all started with the idea of creating a science blog.

Sustainability and laboratories, are they compatible?

Have you ever thought about how much plastic do you use everyday in the lab? Do you consider yourself as an eco-friendly scientist? Well, I wondered these questions some time ago. There is much more that we can do to without a big effort to be sustainable while progressing efficiently in our research. Go green!

Meet Ayushi Agarwal, an Indian Ph.D. student researching low-power Artificial Intelligence systems – passionate to make a difference!

Ayushi Agarwal is a Ph.D. student in New Delhi, India. She studied a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication Engineering at the National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, before beginning a Ph.D. at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. Her research focuses on bringing Artificial Intelligence to edge devices like smartphones, mobiles, and IoT. Apart from her research, she loves traveling and adventure and is passionate about contributing to bringing social change in the community and bridge the gender gap in science and technology.

Feminism in India: The Perspective of a common woman!

Feminism, something that everyone should be talking about, is a movement/emotion that rose against the inhumane accepted practices we have grown to consider normal in our society. It encompasses female infanticide, gender-bias, domestic violence, and female objectification that are crippling the women in our community. It fights for the right to education, the right to work, equal pay, and the right to safety to empower women.
One of my friends (a male friend who chose to stay anonymous) recently interviewed me on this topic, which is very close to my heart.

Meet Kirsty Smitten, passionate about antimicrobial resistance and microbiology!

Kirsty Smitten is a PhD student at The University of Sheffield, developing ruthenium antimicrobial compounds to treat multi-drug resistant bacteria. She is passionate about this field because AMR already causes 700,000 deaths per year and by 2050 this figure is expected to rise to 10 million. Kirsty wants to use her compounds to reduce these predicted deaths caused by AMR.

Meet Dr. Gabriela Raducan – Researcher & Wildfires Specialist – passionate to make a difference!

Gabriela Raducan is the founder and director of Tech4Future, a not-for-profit focused on research and education, located in Melbourne, Australia. Gabriela is a physicist with extensive knowledge in Advanced Data Science and ICT and a multidisciplinary background. She completed the PhD degree at RMIT University Melbourne, Australia, where she undertook deep research in the wildfires field. Gabriela is very passionate about research and about mentoring and helping younger generations succeed in life.

A Global Initiative to Stop Wildfires!

The last wildfires season in Australia was terrible. Although my family and I weren’t directly affected by the fires, the air was very polluted. We would go out of the house only with masks, and we had air purifiers inside the house, to be able to breathe. There are many countries affected by wildfires, and even those that are not directly affected by wildfires, are affected by the air pollution.

I have an Australian PhD and deep expertise in wildfires, so through my not-for-profit called Tech4Future, I launched a global initiative to stop wildfires called F.I.R.E.(Fire Initiative in Research and Education).

How Media continues to perpetuate gender stereotypes!

Even today we look at the fulfilment of gender roles as an achievement in our everyday lives. I researched literature around the way mainstream media continues to perpetuate gender stereotypes. Through my writing, I take you through the basics of gender and sex, history and mass media’s continuous portrayal of sticking to gender norms. I highlight how this gender perpetuation affects us unknowingly, and I draw inspiration from (and mention) the famous article ‘Doing Gender’ by West and Zimmerman. 

Resilience: Adjusting your sails in times of a world-wide pandemic!

Resilience is a dynamic, evolving process, during this process, you identify yourself, you grow, you gain confidence, you dream bigger, you inspire others, you tap into your strengths and you improve yourself. As Ann Masten says “Resilience is ordinary magic…” Individuals all over the world have the ability to tap into their ‘magic’ and make use of their strengths, assets and resources. Now, more than ever, we need to build ourselves, support each other and maximize our strengths  in order to emerge as a resilient nation so that we can fight obstacles and fear, and in doing so, we can flourish.

Why scientists need to be trained in science communication!

Scientists spend most of their time trying to improve the world through their discoveries. However, making these exciting discoveries without the ability to communicate their importance to a variety of audiences will severely diminish the potential of this work to positively affect society. To this end, we advocate for a comprehensive science communication training program to be implemented in universities, and a recognition for the value of science communication both within and outside of academia.

Meet Kaylyn Davis Tousignant – communicating the gut microbiome to the public!

Promoting health to others is the biggest driving factor for Kaylyn Davis Tousignant – Scientific Writer with gut microbiome analysis company Microba. Kaylyn is a recent PhD student who has submitted her thesis and is awaiting graduation. She received her Bachelor of Science, Majoring in Biology in 2015 and completed her PhD in Biomedical Sciences in 2019. In 2015 she received the Lumen Prize Research Award. She is a Scientific Writer who works hard to stay up to date on the latest research and translates the information into laymen content for a generalist audience.

Meet Dr Nicola Angel – heading up an Australian gut microbiome sequencing laboratory!

Dr Nicola Angel wants to see Australian scientists progress to make meaningful impacts globally, particularly in the area of gut microbiome analysis and research guided treatment breakthroughs. Nicola is the Head of Laboratory Operations for Brisbane-based Microba’s production laboratory and NATA accredited clinical test. Her role is busy, complex, detailed and covers many areas of operations which she says are ‘interesting’ and ‘dynamic’. She has a Bachelor of Science with Honours I and a Doctorate of Philosophy. She started her training in immunology and drug discovery and design and went on to work in research, management, consultancy and service provision throughout the career.

Meet Neelam Patel, a Canadian Low Vision Specialist competing for Miss Universe Canada 2020!

Neelam Patel obtained her master’s of science degree from Université de Montréal with a specialization in vision rehabilitation and is a certified low vision specialist. She is currently working full time for Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada. She helps visually impaired individuals adjust to their vision loss by educating them on their visual diagnosis, introducing optical and non-optical assistive devices and teaching adaptive techniques. In addition, she is currently competing for Miss Universe Canada 2020 and has designed her platform to focus on promoting higher education and advocating for people with visual disabilities. Since it is 20/20, it is the perfect year to discuss ocular health!

Parenting as a Research Student in the Covid-19 Pandemic!

Whilst being locked in with a 1-year-old is hard work, I count myself lucky that (a) I only have one and (b) I imagine entertaining a 1-year-old I imagine is easier than a 4-year-old (c) I don’t have to compete for broadband with two teenage children. All parents out there, trying to manage the wellbeing of their housebound child(ren) and balance work, and find any item on their shopping list in the supermarket, and keep fit, and stay sane and maybe even home school, you are doing great.

Meet Dr Ipek Saralar-Aras, a Turkish maths teacher conducting research on geometry and educational technologies!

Ipek is a qualified mathematics teacher who works on designing lessons to improve students’ understanding of spatial geometry. She has worked, volunteered and trained in numerous schools in Turkey and England. She graduated from the Middle East Technical University in June 2014 with a BSc and in April 2016 with an MSc in Mathematics Education. She joined the University of Nottingham’s Learning Science Research Institute in September 2015 as an MA student in Learning, Technology and Education. Successfully completing the requirements for her MA degree in September 2016, she continued her studies with a PhD in Education in the same institute. She worked as a doctoral researcher and a research assistant at the University of Nottingham in the School of Education. She successfully defended her PhD thesis in March 2020 and received her doctorate in Education from the University of Nottingham, England. She is currently an academician and an education expert at the Turkish Ministry of National Education.

How to increase your employability from home!

Looking for inspiration on how to increase your employability during this undeniably difficult period? Read below for some quick, easy and free ways to spend your days at home productively and for the most part enjoyably. Great for those who are currently unemployed and ready to enter the job-hunting arena when lockdown rules are paused, also great for those who are employed but are looking into self-development and / or changing their career.

The purpose of each section in a thesis!

One of the common questions I get asked by students is how to structure a thesis, and how to decide what to include in each section. This article provides a very short summary of the structure of a thesis, and the purpose of each section. In 500 words or less!

Five tips for student group success!

Does your research centre have a student group? Georgia and I know first-hand how important having a connected social group is to survive and thrive in the graduate research environment. Research studies can often be a stressful and challenging time for the individual; our work can be independent, we may be studying off campus and away from a main group, and we are often learning as we go whilst being constantly reminded that we are competing with our peers for post-doc jobs. With that said we know how vital it is to have social connectedness, and like-minded people to share this unique journey with.  Here’s 5 tips to get the best from your student group!

Meet Hannah Savage, an Australian PhD Student researching threat and safety in the human brain!

Hannah Savage is a PhD student in Melbourne, Australia. She studied a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours) at the University of Queensland, before beginning a PhD at the University of Melbourne. Her research focuses on how our brains process changing threat and safety signals and looks into whether this process is disrupted in people with an anxiety disorder.

How to do things faster!

With our global efforts in finding a COVID-19 vaccine and other issues such as addressing climate change and poverty, there is an expectation that scientists need to work faster. While the tools are becoming available to enable this, we can also talk about how to work faster as an individual. I use the example of speed chess.

Why do I want to stay in academia?

Through the media and social media, I’ve been reading a lot about the issues of being in academia: questions around why we do what we do, why people want to leave, is it effective at training for skills, and do we need stronger statements of academic freedom. I struggled through this myself recently, and I applied my skills as a scientist to create a model. In this article, I discuss my understanding of the purpose of academia, and why I want to stay.

Spectral and atmospheric characterisation of a new benchmark brown dwarf!

A team led by astrophysicist Emily Rickman has announced the direct detection of a new benchmark brown dwarf around the star HD13724. Brown dwarfs, objects that are bigger than a planet but not quite a star, are important analogues to understand atmospheres of planets orbiting other stars.

Technical writing skills and how to improve them!

What happens when someone is trying to convey technical information in a “non-technical” way? For example, for my PhD I looked into, you know, how to clean water, remove stuff from it using this powder which looks like sand actually it’s sand. So, I made the powder as we do in the lab and then I used it to put some enzymes in, it’s like baking a raisin bun, very cool. And then I put it in coloured water and I saw it going, it was great!  It does not sound very technical or professional. I do not sound like someone who knows what they are talking about.

The benefits of supervising undergraduate honours research students!

I’ve supervised a lot of short-, medium-, and long-term student research projects in the past eight years. The only thing I expect is that every student’s needs are different! In this article, I have identified the key traits that I develop in each student, so that by the end of the project I am satisfied that they have developed into a novice scientist.

Why practising pitches is good for your academic writing!

How does a pitch help your academic writing in technical fields?

Meet Rose Waugh, a PhD Student researching stellar magnetic fields!

Rose is a PhD student at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, researching stellar magnetic fields and the formation of “prominences” (stellar clouds). She loves space (of course) but also art, and enjoys combining the two with the hope of making science more accessible to all people. She’s also a new mum, and is enjoying the challenge of juggling work and life!

Meet Daisy Shearer, an experimental quantum physicist finding ways to control the spin state of electrons!

Daisy Shearer is a PhD student at the University of Surrey working primarily within the Photonics and Quantum Sciences group at the Advanced Technology Institute (ATI). She holds an integrated master’s degree in Physics with first-class honours from the University of Surrey (2014-2018). During her degree, she cultivated a passion for experimental physics and quantum technologies. Now, she conducts applied spintronics research by finding ways to carefully control the spin state of electrons in semiconductor materials. Daisy is enthusiastic about encouraging girls to pursue STEM subjects and making science accessible to everyone.

When life teaches you a few good lessons the hard way!

I never really had to stand on my own two feet before. Until recently. This past year, I experienced a few major life changes all at once. I’ve learned that I had to go through the pain to come out the other side. But I also learned that you won’t ever get back up unless you choose to. I saw a quote recently that said “Something will grow from all that you’re going through. And it will be you.”

How to deal with FOMO in a literature review!

I have a confession to make. I have fear of missing out (FOMO) in my literature search. How do I deal with this condition?

Contributing to climate action as a female non-expert scientist!

Social media is an opportunity to contribute to global discussion after some thought. But social media also has excessive bullying, and made me fearful of participating. This is my story of getting over my fear of social media, by contributing to the climate change discussion as a female, non-expert scientist.

How is researching and job hunting similar, especially when things get rocky?

Have you ever thought that being a researcher can help when looking for a job? There are so many similar aspects to the process followed during experiments and the process followed during job hunting. Many analogies can be drawn, expecially when things do not work out so well…

A personal story of how life’s setbacks helped me discover myself!

I recently felt inspired by a video from Michael Phelps, where he talked about his struggles with depression and anxiety. It was interesting that someone whom the world considers immensely successful and seemingly having his life together is an actual human being who experiences similar issues to many other people. His story is very relevant to my life, as someone who recently experienced a rather drastic life transition. It broke me down to a level that I didn’t know was possible, but it’s also building me back up now into a person who is stronger and more authentic than ever. This personal story tells how setbacks can help you discover yourself, and how they don’t have to define you, but can be used as fuel to improve and to help others along the way.

What I wish I knew before I started my PhD!

Have you ever wished there was someone to guide you through the rough patches of a PhD (or a research project in general)? Have you ever said “oh, I wish I knew that earlier!”? Coming from this side as someone who found out bits and bobs as I progressed and managed to get something other than research out of my PhD, I gathered some tips that some of you might find useful.

Meet Dr. Christine Bauer, who takes a human-centered approach in researching interactive intelligent systems!

Christine Bauer is an Austrian-based researcher investigating interactive intelligent systems with a focus on context-aware recommender systems. Recently, she concentrates on music recommender systems where she leverages her knowledge and background in music as well as the music business.
Her particular asset are her interdisciplinary background and her in-depth knowledge and experience in the music domain.

How my speaking tour became possible!

After publishing an article in The female Scientist about how she organized her own speaking tour, Dr Fiona Cross was asked how she received the funds to make her tour possible. Here, she shares her experiences.

Men as advocates for women in STEM!

Power imbalances in academia are so prevalent, and women are fighting many battles. Truly changing the landscape for women to feel more powerful in academia will require the participation of various groups, and a conscious effort from men to help with this change at multiple levels. This post will describe this issue and provide a few possible solutions on how the scientific community can contribute.

Let’s talk about menstruation – end of a stigma!

All around the world (including Western countries), girls miss school days because of their menstruations. I chose to discuss the consequences of the menstruations stigma and how we can fight the educational gender gap.

On the impact of mentors and friends!

They say some people come into our lives for a short time, and others stay for a lifetime. But even if they were only in our lives for a very short time, that doesn’t mitigate the impact they’ve had on us. This includes both professional and personal influences in the form of mentors and friends, whose impact is sometimes felt long into the future. This article explores various types of impact which individuals can have on our life’s journey.

Meet Sam Athey, an environmental chemist studying microfiber pollution!

Sam Athey is currently a PhD student at the University of Toronto with a focus in environmental chemistry. She studies the sources and solutions to microplastic and chemical pollution. Sam earned her MSc and BSc with honors in marine science from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she conducted research on the impacts of plastic pollution in marine and estuarine ecosystems. Sam is currently a member of the U of T Trash Team, where she spends her free time cleaning up local shorelines and participating in community outreach.

Life goes on after sexual misconduct (or does it?)

This is the story of Clara, a fictional character, re-encountering a stalker at an academic institution, told by a third-person narrator. Clara was not provided any sense of closure after reporting circumstances of sexual misconduct to the school leading to a lack of sense of self. In other words, I am using my interest in creative writing to illustrate a type of trauma hindering the development and progress of a student. The academic culture needs to change such that students are treated as human beings, their needs are heard, and that policies can be implemented with a transparent due-process where perpetrators encounter tangible consequences for their behavior. A safe workplace is crucial for the professional development and retention of trainees.

Professor Catherine Lubetzki picks up the mantle for prestigious MS Charcot Award!

Professor Lubetzki is professor of Neurology at Pierre and Marie Curie University and head of the department of neurological diseases in Salpêtrière Hospital. She coordinates the Salpêtrière Multiple Sclerosis clinical research centre. Her research focuses on the pathophysiology of MS, notably uncovering the interactions between myelin and axons, showing that the electrical activity of axons induces myelin formation, and that positive or negative axonal signalling can impact the repair mechanism. 

Fostering a sense of belonging in academia!

Fostering a sense of belonging for early career scientists in academia is critical for improving the system and ensuring that the individuals within it will be happier and more productive. This article explores a few potential actions that can be taken in this regard at various levels in academia. 

An opinionated guide on what to wear to a scientific conference!

Is a “feminine” appearance still viewed as incompatible with good science?

Meet Dr. Elizabeth Bernays, entomologist, naturalist and author of Six Legs Walking, Notes from an Entomological life!

Liz grew up in Australia and has had a varied career in several different countries, ending up as Regents’ Professor at the University of Arizona, Tucson.  She has mostly focused on plant-herbivore interactions.

Outreach activities in STEM: my experience & key points for success!

Why should researchers engage with outreach activities? How can we tackle issues arising during public engagement events? What can we learn through such activities and how can we use them to “boost” our CV?

Infertility: the unspoken sickness of healthy people!

“Making a baby is so much fun!” Luckily, for the majority of couples it is and it does not take particularly long for women to get pregnant. However, worldwide one in six couples have severe problems to conceive with an increasing tendency and I unfortunately drew the short straw. Before I was confronted with this topic, I did not know that so many people are affected and what it really means, because it is a taboo subject in our society. It took me quite long to understand that it is a disease like any other and that it can affect everybody no matter how healthy you are otherwise. Although our most private body zones are affected, we need stop hiding in shame and we need to open up in order to get the support and understanding that we need from our surrounding to live a more normal life.

Meet Paula Iturralde-Pólit, a PhD student who is interested in studying how the environmental factors influence fitness in species!

Meet Emma Strand, a PhD student studying acclimatization of coral and passionate about science outreach!

Emma Strand is a Ph.D. student at the University of Rhode Island in Dr. Hollie Putnam’s lab. She studies ecophysiology and epigenetics of coral reefs under climate change stressors like ocean acidification and warming waters. Her research focuses on the patterns of gene expression, DNA methylation, and physiological stress response in order to inform effective, long-term coral restoration and conservation efforts. Outside of lab projects, she is an active science communicator and educator.

Meet Eleni Routoula, a passionate researcher about colours and science communication!

Eleni is a chemical engineer that got trained to be a materials scientist. She is currently finishing her PhD in chemical and biological engineering, at the University of Sheffield, looking on how to design, prepare and test novel biocatalyst, focusing on water treatment. Her research involves colour transformations and she honestly did not think she would be so excited to see solutions changing colours. Besides her research, Eleni enjoys “spreading the science” and promoting equality in STEM through public engagement.

Meet Saloni Rose, a passionate neurobiologist from India!

Saloni grew up in Kalpakkam, a small town south of Chennai, India. She completed her masters in biological sciences from the Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research, Mohali. She will start her PhD this fall. Her research focuses on learning mechanisms and brain structure in invertebrates. In her spare time, Saloni loves to photograph birds and butterflies. Saloni is very passionate about science communication and outreach. Through her research, she wishes to educate the public with evidence-based factual information and dispell pseudoscientific ideas.

Scientists are Conducting Fundamental Research With ‘Speed Machines’!

Particle physicists claim they understand the universe, but the complexity of this surprising paradox behind our universe reveals to us that still 95 percent of the universe is yet not understood nor has it been seen directly. Mind dazzling indeed but if our universe would not contain e.g. entropy, wiggling particles possessing their own “wiggle-room” so to speak and slow, non-excited, as they seem to be, “hippy particles” as some of its fundamental components, we would not have the complex world we see today, including you and me.

The discovery of three new planets and two new low mass brown dwarfs!

Planet hunters at Geneva Observatory have been carrying out an ongoing planet search using a technique called ‘radial velocities’ for the past 20 years on a telescope located in the Atacama Desert in Chile. In a paper led by researcher Emily Rickman they report the discovery of 3 new massive planets and 2 low mass brown dwarfs (objects that are bigger than a planet, but not quite a star).

Meet Dr. Isabella Mandl, who is working towards protecting animals by understanding their behaviour!

Isabella was born in Austria but spent her early years in the UK. She was awarded BSc in Biology from the University of Vienna, Austria in 2011 and then went on to do a MSc by Research in Animal Cognition and Welfare at the University of Lincoln, UK. Isabellas PhD was co-supervised by the Bristol Zoological Society and awarded by the University of Bristol, UK, in 2018. She currently works for the NGO Dahari in Comoros, where she is a technical assistant to the ecology research team. Isabellas interest in animal behaviour stems from a desire to understand the world around her (some may call it control-issues) and her passion for conservation comes from seeing first-hand what happens to the natural world if we do not protect it.

How I Learned to Leave My Guilt Behind and Gave my Last F@#$!

When I decided that academic research was no longer making me happy, I received a lot of reactions from those around me. Many were surprised, others excited. But I found that there was only one opinion I really cared about, and I already knew what it would be: disappointment.

We Are Human Scientists!

The word human relates to the characterisation of humankind and as scientists I believe we aim to show the better qualities of humankind. In spite of this, I have long felt the need to defend my ‘human’ status as a scientist, in particular as a female scientist. We are often made to feel that emotion is a weakness and that as a scientist we must focus on logic alone.

Female and male butterflies are in a fight for control over female mating frequency!

In some butterfly species, females have control over with whom and how many times they mate, and males have to dance during courtship to convince females that they are worthy. But in a group of South American butterflies, females and males are in conflict.

Meet Amanda Rossillo, a paleoanthropologist studying how we are related to extinct human species!

Amanda is a PhD student in Evolutionary Anthropology at Duke University studying human evolution. Her research uses 3D models of fossils to clarify a problem known as “the muddle in the middle,” which describes the poorly understood evolutionary relationships of human species during a time period called the Middle Pleistocene epoch (130,000-800,000 years ago). She is also interested in science outreach and education, especially concerning controversial topics in science.

Science Journalism: The Communication Channel between Complex Research Findings and the General Public

Clinical speaking, the aim of a science journalist is to render very detailed, specific, and often jargon-laden information provided by scientists into a form that non-scientists can understand and appreciate while still communicating the information accurately. We want to be your communication channel… your bridge between complex scientific data and the theories of the general public.

Meet Arwen Nugteren, Chemistry student, lab assistant and passionate science communicator!

Arwen is an enthusiastic and passionate undergraduate student in the wonderful field of Chemistry with a grand plan to go into research. Until then, she’s working as a lab assistant, preparing samples and extracting DNA in an animal genetics lab. She’s an active science communicator through her science blog, Scientia Potentia Est and on Twitter because she thinks science is fascinating and wants to share knowledge with the world.

Approaching a PI – a Guide for Undergraduates in STEM!

Your inexperience can be a huge asset. You have a lot of questions to ask. These questions may never have been asked before! You have fresh curiosity on your side. You are not influenced by the status quo or ‘established’ way of thinking or doing things.  Academia can be tribal about ideas so the more objective and unbiased about the work you can be, the better.

A new play tells the story of the 1st Canadian Female Nuclear Physicist!

Actor and playwright Ellen Denny is on a mission to tell the world about her great great aunt Harriet Brooks.

Growing up, Ellen knew there was a scientist in her family, but it wasn’t until she read Harriet Brooks: Pioneer Nuclear Scientist by Geoffrey Rayner-Canham and Marelene Rayner-Canham that she began to understand who her great great aunt truly was, and what she was able to accomplish. As an established theatre actor curious to try playwriting, Harriet’s story of perseverance and sacrifice was the igniting spark for Ellen to write her first play, entitled Wonder. Now, more than four years into the creation process, her passion for telling this story has only increased…

How graduate school with a baby should look like!

Many say graduate school, or for that matter academia, and kids don’t mix, especially if you are a woman and “want it all.” Despite an emotional rollercoaster that comes with an early miscarriage, my experience with planning a child along with earning a Ph.D. was probably the best case scenario, including a supportive advisor, department, and home life.

Meet Stephanie Canington: an anatomist who studies how lemurs eat!

Stephanie is a PhD Candidate in the Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  She studies the physical and mechanical challenges of foods consumed by lemurs and how the masticatory morphology of primates is adapted for such challenges.  She completed her Bachelors in Anthropology at Auburn University while completing internships at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in the Division of Mammals.

The Importance of Mental Health Awareness in STEM!

Following Mental Health Awareness Week, the overwhelming impact of mental health disorders is ever apparent within STEM. From PhD students at the start of their careers to Professors at the pinnacle of theirs, mental health does not discriminate.

Meet Emily Rickman, an astrophysicist hunting for planets!

Emily is a PhD researcher at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. Her work involves hunting for planets using a technique called direct imaging at some of the world’s biggest telescopes. She completed her Masters in Physics and Astrophysics between the University of Sheffield and the Australian National University where she got to complete research in both planet hunting and binary star systems.

Meet Dr. Grace Manley, an immunologist working on influenza virus!

Grace is an immunologist working on the cells that line the airways and how they respond to viruses. In people with asthma, viral infection causes the airways to swell up, making breathing difficult. Grace is studying how these cells regulate the inflammatory response, with the aim of identifying new targets for anti-inflammatory drugs.

Where are the guides for Undergraduates in STEM?

As an undergraduate STEM student, I can find limited advice for STEM undergraduates as a lot of the advice is aimed at “young career scientists” aka PhD students and above. Which is why I contacted The Female Scientist, to see if anyone could answer my questions about undergraduate experiences as a female in STEM.

Note: This is supposed to be a growing guide. Can you help our author answering those questions?

Meet Safiyyah Iqbal, a Functional Morphologist specialised in digital analysis!

Safiyyah is a PhD student at the Evolutionary Studies Institute (ESI) situated at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. She focusses her research on understanding the form related to the function or vice versa of prehistoric species. This allows her to expand her abilities by studying a variety of species in different environments.  During Safiyyahs research at the ESI, she underwent training on the microCT scanner and helped advice the Palaeontology honour students working with GM methods.

Should I stay or should I go?

Changing institutions during your studies is not an easy choice, but taking the risk might be worth it!

Meet Dr. Arianna Piccialli, a planetary scientist studying Mars and Venus atmospheres, and passionate about science communication!

Arianna is a postdoc at the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy in Brussels, Belgium. Her research is focused on studying the atmospheres of Mars and Venus. She is originally from the sunny city of Naples, in Italy, of which she misses the beautiful view of the blue sea. She got her PhD at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research located in the small village of Katlenburg-Lindau, in Germany. As a researcher and as a woman in science she is convinced of the importance of combining her research activity with that of science outreach.

How I organized my own speaking tour!

While it may be scary for many people, experience in public speaking has a lot of benefits. But what is it like to organize a speaking tour? Dr Fiona Cross shares her experiences and adventures.

Meet Megan Sharrock, a PhD student researching haemarthrosis of the ankle joint!

Megan is a PhD student at the University of Leeds and part of the CDT TERM iMBE 2017 cohort. Her research is focused on haemarthrosis of the ankle joint and how the biological process contributes to mechanical effect within the ankle joint. 

Meet Monique Wilhelm, a Chemical Hygiene Officer working to keep scientists safe in the lab, passionate about scicomm!

Monique Wilhelm is an academic Lab Manager and Chemical Hygiene Officer.  She has a B.S. in Chemistry with ACS certification in Biochemistry and an M.S. in Chemistry.  She currently holds a position on the board of the American Chemical Society Division of Chemical Health and Safety.  Her previous research experience includes organic synthesis and characterization of less toxic dyes to be used to kill cancer as well as biochemical studies of protein-DNA interactions and enzyme kinetics to better understand the mechanism of type I diabetes. Her current career allows her to support multiple scientists who do research on a variety of topics.

Women scientists don’t need fixing!

The suggestion that women need ‘fixing’ via upskilling or behaviour modification to address workplace inequity fails to consider the workplace and social structures in which women exercise their choices. Here I debunk three of the most pervasive myths about women in STEM.

Equality between parents: really an achievement of our times?

A Plautine passage captures the essence of a new conception on the equality between mothers and fathers within Roman families and shows its predictive value for subsequent development of family law.

Let’s talk about Academia and Parenthood!

I don’t have children, but I want to have them someday, and I want to hear about the experiences women in science have had taking time out from their academic careers to have children.

Note: This is supposed to be a growing guide. Can you help our author answering those questions? Would you like to add your experiences?

The side effect of academic life: How to deal with depression and anxiety!

Meet Teresa Ambrosio – scientist – woman – advocate!

Teresa is a PhD student in Sustainable Chemistry at the University of Nottingham. She graduated cum laude from La Sapienza – University of Rome in 2014. Her current research is based on C-H activations and how to develop more sustainable chemical reactions. Teresa runs a YouTube channel (Teresa Ambrosio) where she talks about her research and interesting facts about the periodic table. You can also find Teresa on Instagram @teresa_ambrosio_com and Twitter @teresaambrosio_.

How do we encourage more women to get into STEM?

This article is a summary of a report published by the Royal Society of Chemistry on the diversity landscape of the Chemical Science. The vast majority of this report is focused on women, which are clearly underrepresented in chemistry, and science in general. Women account for only 35% of scientists in STEM and earn less than their male counterparts. The current research suggests that women are less confident when it comes to putting themselves forward for leadership positions or in salary negotiations.

Searching a post-doc: men vs women 1:0!

I am graduating from a Ph.D. program, but don’t even think of a post-doc. If I want to start a family, I need to face almost a two-year break in my scientific career. Meanwhile, my male friends will leave for and come back from their abroad contracts. Here’s what men do not know about being a female scientist.

Meet Dr. Kaitlyn Sadtler, an immunoengineer working on how our body’s defense system can help build new tissue!

Being a postdoc – What does it mean?

I  am a postdoc at a University in a developing country and I know exactly what this means. But not everyone does! From governments to the University itself, there are plenty of misconceptions. Before accepting a position like mine, be aware of these issues.

Meet Dr. Adriana Bankston, a science policy researcher passionate about data, transparency and systemic change in academia!

Adriana Bankston is a bench scientist turned science policy researcher. She is a member of the Board of Directors at Future of Research, a nonprofit organization with a mission to champion, engage and empower early career scientists with evidence-based resources to improve the scientific research endeavor. Her goals are to promote science policy and advocacy for junior scientists, and to gather and present data on various issues in the current scientific system. Previously, she was a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Louisville. Adriana obtained a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences from Clemson University and a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology from Emory University.

Ebony in an Ivory Tower

Representation of women of colour in academia is a global problem and in order to address it, we need people to talk. Race is seen as taboo, but no longer will we allow the conversation to continue without our input, no matter how uncomfortable it may be.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Embrace Social Media…for Science!

Putting yourself out there on the Internet can be terrifying – but I promise, it can also be one of the most useful and rewarding things you do as someone just starting out. Here are some things I’ve learned from the past year in creating a social media presence as a scientist…

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Q&A Sessions!

The gender gap in asking questions is problematic because doing so is good for your career. Here are some tips on how to overcome your nerves and to get involved in Q&A sessions!

Meet Amy Bottomley, a microbiologist working out how bacteria grow and divide!

Amy Bottomley is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the i3 institute, University of Technology Sydney (UTS).  Her research focuses on how bacteria grow and divide, and how this process is regulated under different conditions such as nutrient limitation or during infection.  She is also passionate about developing science careers for young people, including giving a voice to early career researchers, and engaging with a younger audience to get them interested in science.

Meet Annelies Van de Ven, an archaeologist working in the Middle East!

Annelies is a postgraduate researcher looking into the archaeology of the Middle East, and its ramifications in the present. She recently submitted her Ph.D. thesis at the University of Melbourne in Australia, and is currently waiting (quite impatiently and nervously) for her examiner reports. Before this, she completed a Masters at the University of St Andrews in Scotland looking at the politics of archaeology in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Annelies thinks that the deep past and its material traces strongly influence how we identify ourselves in the present. These things impact how we engage with our environment and with one another. By better understanding what people did in the past, the complexity of their actions, and how this relates to the present, she believes we can improve our lives and interactions in the present.

Meet Dr. Alex Alexandrova, a researcher who brings accelerator science to the industry!

Meet Jacinta Yap, a particle accelerator scientist working on proton beam therapy!

No, it’s not okay to sleep with your students!

In the wake of the sex scandals coming to light in other industries, I think it’s time to address the elephant in the room: the supervisor who is “hands on”… and not in a good way.

A date with myself!

Tasleem shares a quick view of her stressful everyday life as a woman in science and asks: If you don’t fill your cookie jar, who will?

Meet Dr. Viki Male, an immunologist working out what NK cells do in the liver!

Viki started her scientific career as a PhD student at the University of Cambridge, where she worked on the development of NK cells in the human uterus before moving to Imperial College London to find out how NK cells develop in mouse bone marrow. After spending a year at home with her baby son, she moved to UCL to start her own research group, which focuses on the development and function of NK cells in the liver. She has recently returned from maternity leave with her second child.

Meet Alex Fitzpatrick, a zooarchaeologist and science communicator who uses social media to increase public knowledge of zooarchaeology!

Meet Elle Barnes, an urban ecologist interested in the microscopic communities around us!

Elle Barnes is a Ph.D. student in the Biological Sciences Department at Fordham University. Before coming to Fordham to study ecology and evolution, she was an undergraduate in the Environmental Studies program at New York University. As an urban ecologist in New York City, she has researched how humans influence their environment and other organisms living among them—from the largest trees to the smallest microbes in the city. Currently, she is studying an urban salamander species and the role of its microbiome in protecting it from wildlife disease (the chytrid fungus). The long-term goal of her research is to better understand how ecological communities assemble and how this process can impact the function of that community. Working with microbes has allowed her to rewind and playback the process of community formation to seek out why ecological communities vary over space and time.

Meet Dr. Sophie Acton, working in stromal immunology and anti-tumour immunity!

Sophie studied Pharmacology at the University of Bath, before spending a year working at Millenium Pharmaceuticals. She then started a PhD at the Cancer Research UK London research institute, studying mechanisms of metastasis in melanoma. Sophie´s first postdoc position was located at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School, working on mechanisms of dendritic cell migration. For her second postdoctoral training, back in London with Caetano Reis e Sousa, she worked on mechanisms of lymph node expansion. Sophie started her own group at the MRC Laboratory for molecular cell biology at UCL in 2016. She was supported through as a postdoc by a Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship, and her lab now is funded by Cancer Research UK and the European Research council.

Help! I have to do a statistics course!

Whether the idea thrills you or chills you, data and its analysis are central components of all sciences. Data is the main story in any piece of research, and as such most disciplines expect you to learn how to analyse, interpret and communicate this vital information. This can come as a shock to some people, especially those entering into “social sciences.” Fear not! After seven years of tutoring and lecturing in statistics for psychology, I have analysed a sample of over 1000 new statistics students and the results are in. Here are 10 tips to give you a leg up in any mandatory statistics-for-sciences course you have to undertake.

Meet Victoria van der Haas, an archaeologist who examines the diet of prehistoric people!

Victoria is an archaeologist working towards her Ph.D. at the Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta. She graduated with a B.A. in Archaeology and an M.A. in Palaeolithic Archaeology from Leiden University. Her current work is under the auspices of the Baikal-Hokkaido Archaeology Project (BHAP) where she investigates the life histories of Mid-Holocene hunter-gatherers from the Cis-Baikal area in Siberia, Russia. She does this through stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis on human tooth dentine, allowing her to examine short-term dietary changes.

Meet Dr. Tara Clarke, a primatologist and conservationist passionate about all things lemur!

Tara Clarke is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Evolutionary Anthropology Department at Duke University. She earned a Ph.D. from the University of Victoria. Tara is a member of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group Member and has been working in Madagascar for over ten years. She is the Director of Outreach for Lemur Love, Inc. Tara’s research examines the impacts of habitat fragmentation and isolation on the genetic health of ring-tailed lemurs. Most recently, her work aims to understand the motivations driving the illegal pet trade of lemurs within Madagascar. This work employs a multi-disciplinary approach, including conservation genetics, formal and informal surveys with local communities, collaborations with local and international NGO’s, as well as conservation outreach and education initiatives.

It’s not just in STEM: Sexism outside of work holds scientists back

Sexism in STEM is rampant; you don’t need me to tell you that. From 113 pages of sexual assault/harassment allegations (U of R, 2017) to the Google engineer memo (also 2017), there are dozens of examples each year of sexism inside STEM environments. But it isn’t just the sexism that women experience in their fields – at conferences, in the office/lab, etc. – that makes it harder for women to succeed in STEM. Misogyny and sexism outside of the workplace can also negatively impact women’s performance at work, and thus the progress of their career and their science. How do two things, seemingly happening in different spheres, overlap?

Unable to clear your mind? Here are some things that might help!

Being a scientist, and probably just being a human being, can be quite stressful from time to time, with so many things that you need to care and think about. This is challenging, and you might end up as a nervous wreck if you don´t find good counter strategies. Here are some ways that hopefully can help you to take good care of your mental health, and to free your mind of all that thoughts for a while!

Meet Dr. Olga Shimoni, a scientist captivated with nanotechnology who wants to transform it for ground-breaking biomedical solutions!

Olga is Senior Lecturer and NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). She graduated with a BSc and MSc from Technion-Israeli Institute of Technology in chemical and materials engineering, respectively. She relocated to Australia to undertake her Ph.D. at the University of Melbourne in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, graduating in 2012. In 2014, she joined UTS as Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow after a relatively short post-doctoral training in the School of Physics (University of Melbourne) in the field of diamonds. She is the founder of the Australian network of researchers working with nanoparticles for brain research (ANNxBBB, nano4brain.com.au). In addition, she promotes evidence-based science awareness, STEMM education, and advocates for women in STEMM issues.

Professional Responsibility in Research Science (and the lack thereof)!

The job of a scientist is immensely rewarding – but also technically challenging, and often riddled with administrative and institutional red tape. Learning how to navigate these challenges is critical for mastering the practice of science and advancing early career scientists (students, interns, post-docs, etc). The role of good mentors can set the stage for success. However, there is little discussion about the damage that can be wrought by a bad mentor.

Meet Dr. Alicia Pérez-Porro, a marine biologist who´s fighting climate change from underwater!

Alicia is a marine biologist who studies marine sponges and analyzes their genomes to answer questions about climate change. Here, she gives a deep dive on her passion for science, work-life balance, how sponges can help us think about climate change and the barriers of being a woman in science.

Meet Dr. Lucille Bellegarde, an applied ethologist passionate about making a difference for farm animals!

Lucille is an applied ethologist who wants to make a real difference for farm animals! After her MSc at AgroParisTech (France) in Animal Production, she did her PhD in Edinburgh on farm animals’ emotions. Lucille currently works as Food Business Manager at CIWF France, an animal welfare charity dedicated to improving the welfare of farm animals and implementing better animal welfare solutions across all sectors of the food business industry.

How do seals regulate their fat stores?

Being too fat is bad for humans. But for seals, being fat is essential. They use blubber to stay warm in the water and to supply fat to fuel their metabolism when they come ashore. There’s a lot we don’t understand about how they regulate their fat reserves. How can they be so fat and stay healthy? How do they withstand and manage the big changes they experience in fat stores throughout the year? How does their energy balance respond to rapid natural or human-induced changes in their environment?  In this Royal Society and NERC funded collaboration between Abertay University, the Sea Mammal Research Unit, and Plymouth University,  Dr Kimberley Bennett borrowed a method from biomedical science to investigate how seal fat works to start to answer these questions.

Meet Dr. Emily Messer, a Primatologist studying social behaviour!

Emily is a primatologist who studies behaviour in monkeys and children and is passionate about science communication. Emily loves studying social behaviour and learning in monkeys and children as they provide the most interesting study species, with never a dull day! She finds that one of the major joys of working in a zoo with monkeys, and schools, and museums with children, is that your research is in the public eye, this gives Emily lots of great opportunities to talk about science with lots of different people, something that she also really enjoys spending her time doing. So it is no surprise that her current postdoctoral position at the University of St Andrews allows her to combine these things through helping to develop some science resources to engage with others about different research themes in Psychology and Neuroscience, making science more accessible for all.

Meet Katie Peterson, a biologist excited about science education, invertebrates, and her burgeoning botany skills!

Katie Peterson is currently pursuing a PhD in Biology at the University of Idaho. She is from White Bear Lake, Minnesota and received her BA in Biology from Gustavus Adolphus College and a Masters in Natural Resources at the University of Idaho and an environmental education certificate. She is passionate about the field of ecology and evolutionary biology because it is so diverse and exciting with endless possibilities and questions to explore. Katie’s research system is located in Southern Idaho where she uses a naturally fragmented system to explore its effect on communities.

Meet Susan Rapley, a behavioural neuroscientist and science communicator, passionate about sharing knowledge!

Susan has recently finished her PhD work at the University of Canterbury (NZ) where she studied a novel signalling system in the brain and how it is affected during memory loss. Susan earned her BSc and Honours degrees in Psychology before completing a Master’s in behavioural neuroscience, all of which has turned her into more biologist than a psychologist. She is currently between jobs and waiting to defend her Ph.D., but intends to work in Science Communication and combine her passions for teaching, data, and teaching about data.

Targeted enhancement of placental function.

Four years after Lisa´s Masters of Research in Maternal and Fetal Health at The University of Manchester, her paper “Placental Homing Peptide-microRNA Inhibitor Conjugates for Targeted Enhancement of Intrinsic Placental Growth Signaling” is finally published in Theranostics. In simple terms, it’s all about targeting the placenta in order to enhance its function by delivering therapeutic molecules to it. Here, Lisa´s going to talk about why on earth they did this research, how they did it, the results and what they mean!

Running for relaxation and productivity: how to get started

How aerobic exercise helped one graduate student meet deadlines without losing her mind.

Meet Charlene Ronquillo, a nursing informatician/implementation scientist interested in figuring out how to develop and implement digital health technologies!

Charlene is a PhD student at the University of British Columbia School of Nursing and an Associate Research Fellow in implementation science with the PenCLAHRC at the University of Exeter. Her PhD work investigates the factors that influence nurses’ decisions and behaviours related to the adoption and usage of mobile technologies as part of their work. Her work with the PenCLAHRC is focused on understanding the science of implementation in health systems and all its accompanying complexities.

Meet Tasleem Hassim Sayed, a researcher on resilience! What is your forte?

Tasleem Hassim is a lecturer at the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 2009, an honours degree in Psychology in 2010, a master in Social Work in 2012 and a master in Positive Psychology in 2016. Tasleem has been acknowledged for her 75% and above achievement as well as the golden key international honour society. Tasleem considers herself a passionate and dedicated person in terms of teaching and learning, and she would like to pursue her career with a specific interest in students and the use of technology in the classroom. Her interests in resilience started back in 2011 during her master’s degree. Tasleem always wanted to know what makes some people grow and flourish despite challenges in their lives.

Meet Meghan Barrett, a cognitive ecologist and science communicator who got her start by singing to bees!

Meghan Barrett is a Ph.D. student at Drexel University, studying cognitive ecology in a variety of arthropods. She earned her B.S. in Biology and English/Creative Writing at SUNY Geneseo in Upstate New York, where she first bowled for bees. Her senior thesis was on the impact of the Emerald Ash Borer; she has also studied intracolony relatedness in Formica pergandei and caste differences in the brains of paper wasps. In her free time, she enjoys science communication, particularly through poetry, plays, and narrative non-fiction, and learning about evidence-based teaching for undergraduate STEM education.

Meet Dr. Noushin Nasiri, a passionate young researcher, inspired by the thrill of discovery and committed to making a difference in the world!

Noushin Nasiri is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), the ARC Research Hub for Integrated Device for End-user Analysis at Low-levels (IDEAL) and the Initiative for Biomedical Materials & Devices (IBMD). She has received her Masters of Engineering in Materials Engineering from the University of Tehran in Iran and then pursued her research at the Nanotechnology Research Laboratory of the Australian National University (ANU) where she received her Ph.D. in Nanotechnology, in 2017. Her research lies at the intersection of science, technology, and engineering as she is focusing on early stage detection of diseases just with a puff of human breath.

Meet Dr. Sibyl Anthierens, a primary care sociologist passionate about qualitative research and converting people to become antibiotic guardians!

Sibyl is a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for primary care medicine, Department of Interdisciplinary and Primary Care, University of Antwerp, Belgium and a core member of the University Center of Qualitative Health Research Antwerp. She is a primary care sociologist specialized in researching prescribing behavior with a focus on the way in which evidence based treatments and management strategies are used or not used in everyday practice by both patients and professionals. She also leads projects looking at new ways to support the frail elderly and their caregivers. She has used a wide range of research methodologies, but with a particular focus on qualitative research. She supports several national and international Ph.D. students on the qualitative research components of their research.

Meet Dr. Caitlin Looby, a biologist passionate about the tropics, climate change, and science communication!

Caitlin Looby is a microbial ecologist and science writer with a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Connecticut, an M.S. in Biotechnology Science from Kean University, and a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of California, Irvine. Much of her work focuses on how climate change affects soil in a cloud forest in Costa Rica. As a science writer, Caitlin work includes scripts for radio, feature articles for magazines, and an op-ed article for The New York Times. Her bylines include: Association for Women in Science Magazine, Canoe & Kayak Magazine, Cultures Magazine, Mongabay, the Loh Down on Science, Pacific Standard, and SUP Magazine.

Meet Dr. Olivia Hurley, an accredited sport psychologist passionate about all things sport and performance psychology related!

Olivia is a Chartered Psychologist with the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and an accredited Sport Psychologist with the Sport Ireland Institute (SII). She completed a BSc (Hons) in Psychology, an MSc and a Ph.D. in Sport Psychology in UCD. Olivia works as an assistant Professor of Psychology and Sport Psychology in the Institute of Art, Design, and Technology (IADT, in Dublin). She is a Guest Assistant Professor in UCD also. Olivia has published a number of academic papers and book chapters. Her new book on Sport Psychology and Cyberpsychology will be published in 2018. Olivia is a former international sprinter and passionate about all things sport and performance psychology related.

Meet Dr. Rosana Zenil-Ferguson, a statistician that fell in love with plants and evolution!

Rosana is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Idaho working in the development of phylogenetic comparative methods. She creates statistical tools to understand how and how quickly chromosome numbers and genome sizes change in angiosperms. She is interested in developing tools that allow for statistical inference of difficult biological datasets and collaborates with students and researchers in diverse topics in Ecology and Evolution. Rosana advocates for a diverse and inclusive academic environment where women and URM students can be integrated and respected.

Meet Dr. Willa Huston, a microbiologist passionate about Chlamydia and how we can better treat and diagnose it to improve women’s health and even save the koala!

Willa is a Senior Lecturer and Research Group Head at the University of Technology Sydney. Her lab works on Chlamydia, how the infection causes serious problems like infertility in some cases, and how we can better diagnose and treat chlamydial infections in humans and animals (including Koalas). She is also passionate about learning and ensuring students get to learn the most up to date material in active and fun ways in the classroom. Willa and her lab group are passionate about outreach so the wider community can see the benefits of STEM (including by school visits and outreach activities) and they have work experience high school students in the lab and several undergraduates do research projects within the team each year.

Problems of scientific publishing – Is it scientists vs. journals? 

I clearly remember the moment when my first paper was published – oh, how proud I was. Finally, I felt like a proper scientist! When I told my (non-academic) family about it, one of the first things they asked was Great, so finally you get something out of your work! How much did they pay you for it? My answer, actually a little bit embarrassed: Uhm, nothing. But I did not have to pay THEM for publishing it, so that´s great! They did not get it. Why should they?

Meet Vasso Kalaitzi, a political scientist passionate about communicating science!

Vasso studied at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Athens University of Economics and Business. She works as an EU Projects Communications Officer. Her professional interests lay in the alignment and promotion of Open Access policies, Open Science and the engagement of relevant communities, to make scientific research and data accessible to all levels of society. She believes that Open Science is the key to improving the transparency and validity of research, and the best way to communicate scientific knowledge. Vasso originally comes from Greece and lives in the Netherlands.

Meet Dr. Megan Sebben, a hydrogeologist and science communicator, passionate about STEM outreach and closing the science gender gap!

Megan is a hydrogeologist and science communicator with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (Honours), a Diploma of Language (German), and a Ph. D. (Groundwater Hydrology) from Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia. She now resides in Melbourne and works for the water and environmental services firm, CDM Smith. Megan advocates for gender equity in STEM, and has appeared as a guest on ABC TV News Breakfast, in print, and in broadcast media coverage across Australia. She also mentors for programs such as Curious Minds and Scientists and Mathematicians in Schools, and is a founding member of Flinders University’s STEM: Women Branching Out.

Meet Dr. Celeste Donato, a microbiologist studying virus evolution!

Celeste Donato earned a Bachelor of Biomedical Science and PhD from La Trobe University, Australia. After two years at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore she returned to Australia as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Laboratory of Virus Evolution at Monash University. Her research combines clinical, experimental and computational approaches to study the evolution of RNA viruses; in particular rotavirus, influenza B and enterovirus 71. Celeste is passionate about science outreach and communication, in particular encouraging female high school students to pursue careers in STEMM.

Meet Morgane Merien, an entomologist working on the various reproductive modes of stick insects!

Morgane is a postgraduate honours student at the University of Auckland. She has come straight from finishing a BSc also at UoA. Morgane currently lives in New Zealand, and has for the past 10 years. She is originally from New Caledonia and English is her second language. Morgane is passionate about biology and especially insects because it allows her to quench her curiosity by asking questions, and then trying to answer them! Insects are pervasive throughout our planet, and there is still so much we don’t know about them!

Meet Mary Burak, an ecologist passionate about understanding how humans and carnivores can coexist in landscapes!

Mary Burak is a Ph.D. student at Yale University’s School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Providence College and comes from a research background that integrates wildlife ecology, landscape ecology, and population genetics (i.e.: landscape genetics). She currently studies human-carnivore conflict in Tanzania, using genetics to infer how human activity can both help and hinder wildlife conservation. Mary is passionate for both applied research and bridging the natural-social science gap. Outside of work, her interests include thrift shops, Stranger Things, and finding ways to eat chocolate for every meal.

Meet Dr. Cat Hobaiter, a primatologist working on communication and cognition in wild apes!

Cat is a field primatologist and lecturer working for the School of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of St Andrews. She has spent 12-years working at the Budongo Conservation Field Station in Uganda, focusing on communication and cognition in wild chimpanzees.

Meet Laure Spake, a physical anthropologist studying the patterns of human growth!

Laure is currently a Ph.D. student in Physical Anthropology at Simon Fraser University. She has a B.A. from McGill University and an M.A. from Simon Fraser University. She researches child skeletal growth and development, and is interested in the biological impacts of socioeconomic and health inequalities.

Meet Tamara Robertson, Host of “The Feeding Tube” and “Mythbusters: The Search” Finalist, passionate about Outreach and Inspire Kids to the pursuit of S.T.E.M.!

Tamara Robertson is an Engineer turned Science Communicator working to inspire young children in the pursuit of S.T.E.M. She received her Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering degree from N.C. State University in her home state of North Carolina. Following graduation, she spent a little under a decade working in Plant Designs, Vaccines Development, Additive Development and Packaging Design before moving into a role as an Engineer Consultant so that she could pursue Outreach and Science Communication Full Time in 2015. She remains passionate talking to kids across the nation about the exciting world of Science and showcasing to them that where their journey started doesn’t define where it ends.

Meet Natasha Tracey, a biologist working on the resistance mechanisms to breast cancer treatments!

Natasha is in the third year of her Ph.D. at the IGMM, part of Edinburgh University. She studies how breast cancers can become resistant to targeted therapies and is trying to find a way we can overcome it. She loves any kind of science communication, and spends her spare time blogging, traveling and baking.

Meet Dr. Kathleen Grogan, a geneticist and behavioral ecologist who studies genetics of behavior, survival, and reproduction!

Katie grew up in Kentucky, surrounded by a zoo of pets, including dogs, cats, turtles, snakes, birds, even a baby raccoon for a day! After finishing her undergraduate education at Vanderbilt University, Katie completed a Ph.D. in Behavioral Ecology, with a minor in Genetics, from Duke University, where she studied genetic diversity and fitness in ring-tailed lemurs. From there, Katie transitioned to studying gene expression in white-throated sparrows as a postdoctoral fellow in the IRACDA Fellowship in Research and Science Teaching at Emory University. This fall, Katie will be starting a position as a postdoctoral fellow studying human genetics at Pennsylvania State University.

Meet Diana Lucia, a developmental neuroscientist and science communicator, passionate about engaging the public with science and inspiring the next generation of scientists!

Diana is in the final year of her PhD in developmental neuroscience at the School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Australia. Her research is focused on the impact of maternal alcohol consumption around the time of conception on cognitive outcomes in offspring. Along with her research Diana is also a science communicator and is the founder of a science communications and consultancy firm. Her work has featured online, in print and on the radio with her interests and expertise stretching across several areas: neuroscience, promoting scientific inquiry and STEM education, advocating for women in science and examining the important issues of science in society.

Meet Dr. Jacki Liddle, an occupational therapist passionate about increasing life quality for older people and people with neurological conditions!

Jacki Liddle is an occupational therapist and research fellow. She completed her PhD at the University of Queensland exploring the needs related to driving cessation for older people, and developed a clinical program to help improve outcomes. She is involved in research focussing on quality of life and life transitions for older people and people living with neurological conditions. She is currently working on co-development of technology to support communication with people living with dementia.

Meet Dr. Rachel Buxton, a conservation biologist studying the effect of noise pollution on wildlife and the importance of natural sounds!

Rachel Buxton is a conservation biologist at Colorado State University. She did her MSc. in Canada (where she is originally from) studying seabirds in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Having fallen in love with remote oceanic islands, Rachel then got her Ph.D. studying island restoration in New Zealand. Her postdoctoral research at CSU involved the ecology of sound – how we can use natural sounds, like bird song, to study biodiversity; and how human sounds affect wildlife. Having done fieldwork from Antarctica to Africa, Rachel is passionate about conserving the natural world.

Meet Samantha Andrews, a marine conservation scientist passionate about taking better care of the ocean’s nomadic and migratory species!

Samantha is a marine conservation biologist/ecologist who is fascinated by those mobile marine critters that travel throughout the ocean, and how we can take better care of them. When she is not busy doing her own science, Samantha can be found talking to people or writing about the ocean, its inhabitants, and marine science in all their splendour.

Meet Dr. Chelsea Magin, a biomedical engineer passionate about innovative solutions to healthcare challenges!

Chelsea Magin earned her BS and Ph.D. from the University of Florida and then went on to complete a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Colorado, Boulder. After a four-year term working in the industry, she got her dream job! Chelsea is currently an Assistant Professor in Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine and Bioengineering at the University of Colorado, Anschutz. Her research focuses on inventing new materials to help us discover ways to better treat lung diseases. She is passionate about education, outreach, and innovation with a focus on improving human health.

Meet Dr. Lysanne Snijders, a behavioural ecologist passionate about understanding animal behaviour to contribute to their welfare and protection!

Lysanne finished a Bachelor and Master in Biology at Utrecht University and Wageningen University, respectively. Last year (2016) she finished her PhD in Behavioural Ecology (Wageningen University & NIOO-KNAW), studying the role of personality in the social networks of great tits (Parus major). During this time, Lysanne contributed to development of the EdX MOOC ‘Introduction to Animal Behaviour’ of Wageningen University and is now working on a project studying the social network dynamics of Trinidadian guppies in the wild at the Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB-Berlin). Animal behaviour continues to fascinate Lysanne throughout her life. By understanding animal behaviour and sharing the knowledge she hopes to contribute to improving animal welfare and to the protection of individual animals and animal species.

5 little things you can do to increase your happiness

Being a scientist comes with a lot of stress and days of feeling like a non-achiever. Caring for yourself is crucial to stay sane in this fast and crazy business. So, are you having a bad day? Here are a few tips to increase your mood and train your happiness science-style.

Meet Melissa Marquez, a shark scientist passionate about the diverse representation of sharks, their relatives, and the scientists that study them!

Meet Marion Leary, a resuscitation scientist passionate about saving lives from sudden cardiac arrest by integrating technology and digital strategies!

Marion Leary is the Director of Innovation Research for the Center for Resuscitation Science at the University of Pennsylvania, Course Director for the Research Residency Program and the Innovation Specialist at the Penn School of Nursing. She is also an Instructor in the Penn Master of Public Health program and a consultant with the Penn Medicine Digital Health Lab. Marion is a contributor to the Huffington Post and is also on the board of Start Talking Science a free public event to increase the public awareness of — and interest in — cutting-edge, local research. Furthermore, she is the founder of the ImmERge Labs, focusing on using mixed reality platforms to improve training and education for emergency response conditions.

How to trick yourself to work (and live) smarter, not harder!

Working in science also means that there are lots of different tasks to have on your mind, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed and so stressed that you don’t even know where to start. This is obviously not making your work more productive, and quite likely both work as well as private life suffer – as does your health! So, what can we do to manage all of our tasks without burning out?

Meet Dr. Susanne Brander, an ecotoxicologist researching the effects of environmental stressors in marine and estuarine organisms!

Susanne is an ecotoxicologist and endocrinologist (for fish at least). Her Ph.D. is from the University of California, Davis and her M.S. is from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. Susanne received her B.S. from a small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania – Elizabethtown College, about 2 hours west of where she grew up in Philadelphia. Susanne currently works as an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington but is moving to Oregon State University (in Corvallis) in the fall to start a position in the OSU Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology.

How to get involved!

Are you unsatisfied with the situation of women in science? You would like to receive more attention for your work, or have recently published a paper that you would like to be read by a larger audience? You have a story to share? Get involved!

Meet Dr. Manuela Rossol, an immunologist researching human blood monocytes to help patients with rheumatoid arthritis!

Manuela is an immunologist, who is working on human blood monocytes, cells of the innate immune system, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. She studied Biology and received her Ph.D. in Immunobiology at the University of Leipzig in Germany. Recently, she finalized her postdoctoral research with the habilitation thesis and now holds a faculty position in the „Experimental Rheumatology“ group at the University of Leipzig.

Meet Dr. Claire McCarthy, a toxicologist and science-writing enthusiast!

Claire McCarthy was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on March 19, 1989. She attended Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio and graduated summa cum laude in May of 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biochemistry and a minor in Biomedical Humanities. She began doctoral studies in Toxicology at the University of Rochester in July of 2011. During her first year of graduate school, Claire joined the laboratory of Dr. Patricia Sime and began researching the toxicological effects of dung biomass smoke inhalation. She passed her qualifying exam and received her Master of Science degree in Toxicology from the University of Rochester in October of 2013. She was awarded a Toxicology Training Fellowship from 2012-2016.

Meet Dr. Circe Verba, a geologist passionate about STEM education and science-based LEGO!

Dr. Circe Verba is a research geologist for the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory. She has a Ph.D in geology with a focus in civil engineering (University of Oregon and Oregon State University). Dr. Verba specializes in studying wellbores in carbon sequestration settings, oil-gas shale petrophysics in unconventional systems, and characterizing rare earth elements in coal and respective by-products. She is passionate about STEM education and building science based LEGO sets.

Meet Rachel Harrison, a primatologist focusing on behavioural flexibility, innovation and social learning!

Rachel is finishing a Ph.D. on behavioural flexibility, innovation and social learning in chimpanzees and human children, at the University of St Andrews, where she also completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology and an MSc in Evolutionary and Comparative Psychology. For her Ph.D. research, she worked with chimpanzees at Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland and the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage in Zambia. She is currently working at the University of Birmingham, on a project examining the impact of educational television programmes on children’s problem-solving skills.

How to write a scientific paper – a few basics

Writing a scientific paper is hard work, and it takes a lot of practise for each of us to be able to write a manuscript that readers can follow and consider interesting. No matter if you are about to write your first paper, but do not know where to start, or if you are currently halfway stuck in your manuscript and have lost focus – here are some tips that (hopefully) might help you on your way to a great publication!

Meet Dr. Stephanie Hing, a veterinarian and conservation scientist passionate about the wellbeing of animals and their environment!

Stephanie is a veterinarian and conservation scientist with experience working in clinics, zoos, wildlife parks, laboratories, field research and advocacy. She is passionate about the health and wellbeing of animals and the environment and currently works for an animal charity.

Meet Laurie Winkless, a physicist, science writer, and author of Science and the City!

Laurie Winkless is a physicist and science writer with a BSc in Physics with Astrophysics from Trinity College Dublin, and an MSc in Space Science from University College London. As an undergrad, she received a scholarship to NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre. She then joined the Functional Materials team at the National Physical Laboratory, where she investigated topics from nanotubes to thermoelectric energy harvesting. Since leaving the lab, Laurie has worked as a science communicator and writer. She has had her work featured in print, online, as well as on radio and TV, and is a regular contributor to Forbes. Laurie’s first book, Science and the City, was published worldwide by Bloomsbury in 2016, and she is working on her second book, called Sticky.

How do I write an article? Our FAQs.

You consider contributing to this project? Read the FAQs to help you get started with registration and writing your text. We are thrilled to have you here!

Meet Dr. Genevieve Crowle, a forensic scientist turned materials chemist, passionate about scicomm!

Genevieve obtained a Bachelor of Forensic Science from Deakin University, followed by an Honours year working on novel biomaterials for bone regeneration. This experience in materials chemistry led Genevieve to undertake a Ph.D. through CSIRO and Deakin University studying the dyeing behaviour of cotton, which she completed earlier this year. Genevieve is currently working as a research assistant at Deakin University producing silk-based materials for applications in textile treatments. Genevieve is also passionate about science communication and its importance in breaking down the barriers between scientists and the public. Genevieve’s interests outside of science include roller derby, pole dancing, and baking.

Meet Dr. Jillian Garvey, a zooarchaeologist who is interested in the role of native fauna in past and modern diets!

Jillian is an Australian Research Council (ARC) DECRA Fellow in the Department of Archaeology and History at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. She also graduated with a BA/BSc Honours (1999) and Ph.D. in Zoology (2005) from La Trobe. Jillian has combined her training in zoology and archaeology to focus on ‘zooarchaeology’ the role of animals in Indigenous Australian archaeology. Currently she is involved with several research projects, but her main interest is in ‘native bush tucker’ where she is undertaking a series of modern butchery/economic utility experiments (to determine how much meat, fat, and marrow a particular animal will provide) coupled with its nutritional quality (how healthy it is for you to eat). She is building up the most comprehensive database of its type which can be used for interpreting the archaeological record as well as helping to inform on our own modern diets.

Meet Kimberleigh Tommy, a palaeonathropologist focussing on functional morphology and the evolution of upright walking!

Kimberleigh is a Masters student at the Evolutionary Studies Institute (ESI) at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa where she also earned her undergraduate degree. Her current research interest focuses on functional morphology in the context of palaeoanthropology and the evolution of upright walking. She is passionate about exploring our shared common origins, our African roots and using the palaeosciences to encourage unity and conservation. She is also passionate about science communication and encouraging the pursuit of the sciences as a career choice in African women.

Meet Dr. Lauren Griffin, a sociologist studying how the media shapes people’s perceptions of climate change!

Lauren Griffin earned her BA from Purdue University and her Ph.D. from the University of Florida. She currently manages the Journal of Public Interest Communications, housed in the College of Journalism and Communications (CJC) at the University of Florida. She is also the director of external research for Frank, an organization in CJC at UF. She’s passionate about climate change communications because of the massive threat climate change poses to people and ecosystems, and the unalterable link between environmental justice and racial, gender, and economic justice.

How to survive in the field – physical and mental healthcare

This article provides a rough guide “what to think about” whilst you are preparing your field work in remote areas. It will not tell you everything you need to know, but hopefully, it gives you a good idea what you have to consider and to get informed about before starting your work. The points mentioned are based on my own experience at the very remote research station Ankarafa in NW-Madagascar, and the questions that I was frequently asked by research students that were preparing for research. Furthermore, I hope to answer the questions students should ask but usually, do not think about. In this part, I´m concentrating on physical and mental health care!

Meet Dr. Lisa Komoroske, a conservation ecologist using molecular tools to understand human impacts on wildlife!

Lisa is a postdoctoral fellow at NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, California. Her research integrates conservation genomics, physiology and ecology to understand how wildlife are affected by the natural environment and human activities. As a curious kid always wanting to be outdoors and figure out how things work, Lisa caught the science bug after spending middle school summers at science camp and has been hooked ever since. Lisa’s work has included understanding pollution impacts and population genomics of sea turtles, and climate change impacts on coastal fishes. She is also passionate about improving science communication and literacy and works closely with educators to integrate inquiry-based learning into K-12 classrooms. Lisa completed her Ph.D. in Ecology at the University of California, Davis, and will soon embark on a new adventure as an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in fall 2017!

Meet Dr. Maribeth Latvis, a botanist studying patterns of plant biodiversity!

Maribeth obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in 2005. She worked as a research assistant at Oregon State University and as a lab manager at Harvard University, before returning to graduate school at the University of Florida, where she earned her Ph.D. in Biology in 2013. Since then, she has worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Idaho, and will begin a tenure-track faculty position at South Dakota State University in 2017. Maribeth loves being outside and gets a lot of inspiration from exploring new places, hiking, and learning about natural history. She has made a career out of understanding patterns of plant biodiversity. This allows her to do field work, spend time in a molecular lab, and learn new computer skills. Maribeth is also passionate about teaching, public policy, and getting others excited about biodiversity.

The paper review, or: emotional rollercoaster, here I come!

You handed in your first paper a while ago, and now you are waiting on the journal’s response. You are annoyed with them taking so long to finish their review, but on the other hand, you are getting really nervous every time you open your e-mails because they might have answered you?

Maybe your first paper was already rejected, or you had it accepted with major revision, and now you are absolutely terrified and have the impression that you might be incapable of being a proper scientist?

It´s not just you!

Meet Dr. Kelly M. Andersen, an ecologist studying plant-soil interactions in the Amazon Fertilisation Experiment!

Kelly is a Research Fellow based in the UK at the University of Exeter and employed by the University of Edinburgh to work on a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funded project examining nutrient cycling in the Brazilian Amazon Forest. She is originally from the United States and lived in Panama for over 10 years. Science has no borders!

Meet Andrea Paz, a biologist focusing on species distributions and diversity in neotropical amphibians!

Andrea is currently a Biology Ph.D. student with a focus on ecology, evolution, and behavior at the City University of New York. She earned her BS and MS in Biology at Universidad de Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia. Andrea is amazed by biodiversity and loves spending time in the field, especially looking for frogs. Currently, her research focuses on patterns of species distributions and diversity and its potential causes with a special focus on amphibians in the Neotropics.

Meet Francesca Gissi, an environmental scientist trying to minimize human impacts on the environment!

Francesca is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Wollongong and the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), based in Sydney, Australia. Her Ph.D. project is entitled “Development of new risk assessment tools for nickel in tropical marine environments”. The aim of this project is to contribute to the development of ecologically relevant risk assessment tools such as water quality guidelines to manage and minimize the impacts of mining activities on tropical coasts. Francesca began her career over 10 years ago at the University of Technology Sydney where she did a Bachelor of Environmental Science. As a big animal lover Francesca had planned on doing veterinary science but didn’t get the marks, so she opted for environmental science and discovered her true passion for doing research that contributes to minimizing human impacts on the environment.

Meet Dr. Kirsty Graham, a primatologist trying to decipher meaning in primate communication!

I’m a psychologist studying animal communication and cognition. I did my undergrad at Quest University Canada, a small liberal arts university in Squamish, British Columbia. Then I worked as a field assistant for 6 months before starting my PhD at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. During my PhD, I studied how wild bonobos use gestures to communicate. Now I’m starting a postdoc at the University of York, England, where I’ll be working with Sulawesi crested macaques in Sulawesi, Indonesia. My job is pretty amazing – getting to travel and spend a lot of time in forests with cool animals, finding ways to study how they think and communicate with one another. My favourite way to communicate my research so far has been performing stand up comedy with Bright Club! Sharing knowledge and having a laugh!

Meet Martha Milam, passing on her love for chemistry to the next generation!

Martha earned her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Furman University and my Master’s degree in Physical Chemistry at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She began her career as a chemist at Michelin Tire Corporation in Dothan, Alabama. After moving with her husband to Texas, Martha realized she missed the teaching days of my graduate school years, and in 1995, she began teaching school at Cypress Creek High. In 1999, Martha started her family, and she stayed home for nine years with her daughter and two sons. She started working again in 2008 at East Coweta High School in Sharpsburg, Georgia. Martha teaches chemistry and coaches Science Olympiad. She tells her students that science drives all innovation and that effectively communicating science can create a positive impact on our future.

Meet Melinda Ashcroft, a Computational Microbiologist interested in scicomm!

Melinda uses the computer to study the DNA of bacteria to try to understand their virulence mechanisms and overcome antimicrobial resistance. She completed her undergraduate degree in Applied Science (Biotechnology) and a Master of Biotechnology in 2013. Mid-way through her masters, Melinda realised it was possible to combine her two passions, computers and biology and in 2014 decided to undertake a PhD in computational microbiology at the University of Queensland in Australia. In addition to her research, Melinda is both a tutor and mentor and is an Australia Society of Microbiology communications ambassador. Melinda is most passionate about science education and communication.

Meet Steph Halmhofer, a Bioarchaeologist on the Southwest Coast of British Columbia!

From Steveston, BC, Steph is a bioarchaeologist in southwestern British Columbia, Canada.  Bioarchaeologists are archaeologists with specialized training in excavating and analyzing human skeletal remains.  Think of the skeleton as a book written in a language bioarchaeologists can understand and translate.  Though skeletons bioarchaeologists can look at what life was like in the past, including diets, population movements, pathologies, and occupations.  Steph holds an Associate of Arts degree in criminology (Kwantlen Polytechnic University), a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology (focused on bioarchaeology) and Indigenous studies (University of Alberta), and is nearing completion of a Master of Arts degree in archaeology (University of Toronto).  In addition to working with archaeological companies in BC and Ontario, she is also part of the shíshálh Archaeological Project.

Meet Leanne Paterson, a computational chemist passionate about understanding experimental results at the molecular level!

Leanne uses computer modeling and calculations to visualize and help understand why reactions or material, behave in a certain way. She was born in Glasgow, Scotland, where she did her Bachelors degree in chemistry. Leanne moved to Germany to do her master’s degree in molecular science, focusing on computational chemistry to understand the processes happening in a nanostructured photocatalyst for the water splitting reaction. She is now a Ph.D. student at the Max Planck Institute for polymer research, where she is developing software to compute the movement of charged carriers through organic semiconducting materials.

Do we really still need to empower women in science?

Are women and men perceived and treated equally in science? Do we still need special programs to support female scientists? This is what science tells us!

Meet Sasha Ariel Alston, teen author of the children’s book “Sasha Savvy Loves to Code”!

Sasha Ariel Alston is currently an Information Systems Major with a minor in Marketing at Pace University in New York in the Lubin School of Business. With successful information technology and business internships at Microsoft, EverFi, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Many Mentors, and National Academy Foundation behind her, she is a sought-after speaker to encourage youth, especially girls of color, to pursue educational and career opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Sasha was the recipient of the Prize for Achievement Award by Kurt Giessler Foundation, and Imani Awards, a Finalist in the Youth Essay Category of the Larry Neal Writers’ Award presented by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and was published in the Harvard Educational Review – Youth Voices.

How to survive your field work – the field site

This article provides a rough guide “what to think about” whilst you are preparing your field work in remote areas. It will not tell you everything you need to know about your research site, but hopefully, it gives you a good idea what you have to consider and to get informed about before starting your work. The points mentioned are based on my own experience at the very remote research station Ankarafa in NW-Madagascar, and the questions that I was frequently asked by research students that were preparing for research. Furthermore, I hope to answer the questions students should ask but usually, do not think about. In this part, I concentrate on the conditions at the field site.

Meet Dr. Sylviane Volampeno, primatologist, conservationist and founder of Mikajy Natiora!

Sylviane studied Animal Biology at the University of Antananarivo (Madagascar). She received her Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), focusing on the Blue-eyed black lemur in the Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park, Madagascar. Sylviane is the President and Founder of Mikajy Natiora, a Madagascar-based conservation association and acts as a lecturer in the Department of Animal Biology at the University of Antananarivo.

Meet Dr. Claudia Segovia-Salcedo, conservation biologist and co-founder of the Ecuadorian Network of Women in Science!

Claudia obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biology at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador and her Master of Science degree in environmental and plant biology at Ohio University. In 2014, she received her Ph.D. in Biology with a graduate certificate in Tropical Conservation and Development (TCD) at the University of Florida. In addition, she has been involved in Women in Science activities during her career. She was an active member of WISE-UF, co-founder of UF-Ph.D.-Moms and facilitator of participatory workshops of professional women in environmental sciences and sustainability. Currently, she is working at the Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE as an associate professor and she is the Coordinator and co-founder of the Ecuadorian Network of Women in Science (REMCI).

Meet Tara McAllister, a freshwater ecologist passionate about protecting water for future generations!

Tara is a 24-year-old Māori Ph.D. student at the University of Canterbury. She was born in Tokoroa but grew up in Whakatāne. Tara is passionate about water and protecting water for future generations. Her aim in life is to embody the whakataukī (Māori proverb) ko au te awa ko te awa ko au, which means I am the river the river is me.

Meet Lexi Moore Crisp, a biologist working on the comparative biomechanics and functional anatomy of digging animals!

Lexi Moore Crisp is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She currently lives outside Philadelphia with her husband, Larry, their dog and their 2 cats. Lexi grew up in Howland, a suburb near Youngstown in Northeast Ohio. She attended the University of Pittsburgh from 2002-2006, where she earned a BS in Psychology and a BA in Philosophy and History and Philosophy of science. Lexi earned an MS degree in Biological Sciences from Youngstown State University in 2011. Her master’s thesis explored the functional anatomy of the forelimb muscles of the American badger.

Meet Dr. Holly Jones and learn about her journey as a woman in STEM!

Holly studied marine biology and ecology and evolution at the University of California, Santa Cruz as an undergraduate. Fun fact: UC Santa Cruz doesn’t care much about sports so their mascot is the banana slug. She studied island restoration following mammal eradication on New Zealand islands through Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies for her Ph.D. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor joint-appointed to the Department of Biological Sciences and Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability, and Energy at Northern Illinois University. Her best day in science was banding once-thought-extinct New Zealand storm-petrels on Hauturu-o-Toi island. One of her worst was when she fell in the Bering Sea while working in the Aleutians. She has two daughters, and balancing a life in science with life at home is very important to her.

Interspecific Semantic Alarm Call Recognition in the Solitary Sahamalaza Sportive Lemur

In this study, conducted in collaboration between Bristol University, Bristol Zoo and Torino University, we demonstrate that the Sahamalaza sportive lemur is capable of using information on predator presence as well as predator type of different sympatric species, using their referential signals to detect predators early, and that the lemurs’ reactions are based on experience and learning.

Meet Sophia Frentz, a geneticist trying to untangle the mysteries of life!

Sophia grew up in Tauranga, New Zealand, with a few years in Beirut, Lebanon. She completed her undergraduate BSc (Hons) at the University of Otago and then jumped ship for warmer climes, starting her Ph.D. in Genetics in 2014 at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the University of Melbourne. Sophia also holds a position as a councilor for the Royal Society of Victoria, where she regularly smells the books. She is passionate about untangling the mysteries of life in a way that can help alleviate suffering.

Common mistakes when writing a scientific paper

Writing a scientific manuscript takes a lot of practice, and often we tend to make the same mistakes over and over again. By summarizing the most common ones, including ways to avoid them, this text will (hopefully) help you on your way to a great publication!

Meet Dr. Melanie Seiler – primatologist, behavioral scientist and founder of The female Scientist!

Melanie studied biology at the University of Cologne (Germany) and conducted her dissertation on the social behavior of capuchins in different European zoos. For her Ph.D., which was based at the University of Bristol, U.K., she spent over a year in the forests of northwestern Madagascar researching the impact of habitat degradation on the critically endangered Sahamalaza sportive lemur. For her Postdoc she focused on comparative behavioral science, before leaving academia to work as the managing director of an NGO for animal welfare and conservation. In her current position, Melanie works for a NGO and focusses on lobbying for animal welfare . Based on her experience as a woman in science, Melanie founded The female scientist in 2016 to raise attention for the work of women in science and thus to help to empower them.

Meet Tanya Dapkey, an entomologist working on the exciting Barcode of Life project!

Tanya is an entomologist, research technician, and a mother of two, who is currently working at the University of Pennsylvania for Dr. Daniel Janzen on the exciting Barcode of Life project! She studied freshwater ecology for her Bachelors of Science degree at West Chester University and combined DNA barcoding and Macroinvertebrate sampling to assess water quality for her Master’s degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Tanya now works on cataloging the Lepidoptera and their parasitoids of the ACG, which will enable us to see the huge diversity of this planet and quantifies and gives value to the millions of species out in the world. Tanya can be contacted at contact@tanyadapkey.com.

Meet Abigail Harrison alias Astronaut Abby – her dream: to be the first woman to walk on mars!

Present your work and write your portrait!

Would you like to present yourself and your work to a larger audience? Why don´t you start by writing your own portrait? To help you, here is a range of questions that might help you get started! We look forward to reading about you!

What are the aims of The female Scientist?

What is the idea behind The female Scientist? What are our aims? Why are you needed to reach our goals and change the current situation?