Today is the 10th anniversary of UNESCO’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science. We know first hand that when we bring together a diverse team with a wide range of perspectives and experiences, we can solve some of the world’s biggest problems. To celebrate both the legacy and the future of women in science, we asked the Antheia team to share their thoughts on what we all gain when women pursue scientific careers, and what they hope for the next generation of girls in STEM.
Alex Tietsort, Research Associate III
“Women in STEM have been a continuous source of support and mentorship throughout my life. In both high school and college, women educators inspired me to pursue science, as well as helped me navigate my career trajectory. I had always intended to become a medical doctor but after a formative two years studying neurodegenerative diseases with Dr. Susan Liebman at University of Nevada, Reno, I realized that my true passion is in laboratory science. Even now at Antheia, the women leaders of the company, including my manager Arlie and CSO Kristy, are some of my biggest champions.”
Arlie Lehmkuhler, PhD, Scientist II, Bioanalytics
“Honestly, cornstarch was what first sparked my interest in science. When I was a kid, I grew up cooking alongside my mother with my siblings. We often made pretzels or stirred or tied knot rolls – these are some of my favorite memories and also became the origin of my interest in science! One example of how cooking with my family sparked my curiosity in science was sticking my hand in a bowl of cornstarch and water. There’s a hydrophobic quality about cornstarch that makes it look like a liquid mixture but feel like a solid underneath. I’ve always asked ‘why’ at different times of my life, and this was the “why” that led me to a career in science.”
Jessica Ibarra, Chemistry/DSP Research Associate II
“Growing up, I wasn’t very exposed to the sciences and was honestly very intimidated – I always figured being a scientist was ‘too hard.’ After taking a biotech lab course in high school, I realized that I loved the idea of being a scientist and that I wanted to work in a lab. I’ve worked very hard to grow into the chemist that I am now and see how important it is to get more women and girls in the sciences. Representation matters. Little girls should be able to look into any career and see someone that reflects them and shows them they can be whoever and whatever they want to be! I was always the only Latina in all my upper division chemistry classes and my hope is that in the future, this won’t be the case for young Latina women studying chemistry.”
Jordyn Lee, Director of Communications
“I discovered my interest in science later in life and it totally changed the direction of my career. For a while, I believed that lacking an advanced degree in the field would hinder my ability to effectively lead a scientific company’s communications strategy, but I’ve since realized that having a different educational and professional background is also an asset. You don’t have to be a scientist to appreciate the vast potential of synthetic biology — or any STEM discipline for that matter — and I feel grateful to have found a way to merge my communications experience with my passion for biotech. It’s never too late to discover a new interest!”
Pablo Maravilla, Research Associate II
“The women I’ve worked with in my academic studies and professional career have been instrumental in helping me achieve the current success I have now. I believe that having more women in STEM helps give different voices that may give solutions to problems that might not have been possible without them. With STEM fields leading the way to a more prosperous future, it is of importance that women are there along the way.”
