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By Heather King

Elsa Rodriguez is currently the Girls Programs Coordinator at the Chicago non-profit Project Exploration (PE).  She brings professional scientists and middle school girls together in the south-side of Chicago during the after-school program Sisters4Science, and runs a number of summer programs, including the nationally recognized All Girls Expedition and Junior Paleontologists programs.

Elsa’s love of science and learning was fostered early in childhood.  Elsa’s parents are Mexican immigrants, who brought with them to Chicago a deep knowledge and appreciation of the outdoors and the power of nature to support human lives.  Elsa says that the knowledge of rural living she learned from her parents contrasted with the urban environment that surrounded her while growing up in Chicago.  “This led to curiosity and lots of questions asked about the natural world,” Elsa says. This curiosity led Elsa to discover science as a way of knowing, beginning with a kindergarten science project about how rainbows form.

While a student at Whitney Young High School in Chicago, Elsa became involved with Project Exploration.  “They gave me a direction within science, and helped me discover the steps I needed to take to become a scientist,” Elsa says of PE.  During their programs, she met professional scientists and not only learned scientific concepts, but the steps the scientists took in their own lives to succeed.

Elsa enrolled at Dartmouth College, and was set on becoming a paleontologist.  She majored in geology, and enjoyed many field experiences during her college experience.  At the end of her sophomore year, she acted as a mentor in the Summer Enrichment at Dartmouth (SEAD) program, which allows high school students from under-resourced backgrounds to spend time on the Dartmouth campus, interacting with college students.  Elsa’s mentee was a first generation Chinese student from the San Francisco/Bay Area with whom Elsa had a lot in common.  “This was my first experience with education and outreach, and I loved it!” says Elsa of her SEAD experience that summer.  Elsa became more involved in education outreach during the rest of her time in college, including a spring break spent on a South Dakota reservation doing afterschool outreach and working as SEAD staff.

After graduating from Dartmouth, Elsa returned to Chicago, ready to work full time on helping students achieve their goals.  She worked for City Year, a non-profit that partners 18-24 year olds with urban students, and helps the students stay on track to graduate from high school.  Elsa tutored six 4^th graders in Bronzeville for a year, and helped them improve their literacy skills.  She also planned afterschool sessions and got first-hand teaching and classroom management experience.   “At City Year, I further understood what it meant to be a student in an urban area, and saw everything that goes into educating a child,” Elsa says.  “This piqued my interest in working to help students that are falling behind.”

A mantra at Project Exploration is “once you’re part of PE, you’re always part of PE,” and Elsa was no exception.  She had kept in touch with Gabe Lyon, the cofounder, since graduating from high school.  When Elsa’s year at City Year drew to a close, she heard that PE was looking for a Girls’ Programs Coordinator.  “The position was a perfect combination of everything I was interested in, including science, discovery, mentoring, education, and the sharing of different perspectives,” says Elsa.  “And the idea of coming back to the place that sparked my path to science was really cool.”  Elsa applied for the position and landed it, coming full circle in her Project Exploration experience.

Elsa has some advice for aspiring young women scientists, based on her own journey and on what she’s learned from the many students she’s mentored.  “Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” she says.  “It took me a long time to understand who to ask for help, and how, in college, and that was really isolating.”  She also says to find what you’re most passionate about, to figure out what the end game to that passion is, and to learn what steps to take to reach that goal.  “Sometimes people have a romantic vision of what it means to be a scientist, and that can leave you unprepared for reality.  Learning what steps other scientists took to reach their career goals can really help you stay on track.”  Elsa’s final piece of advice applies to all of us: “Never stop wondering and never forget what it’s like to discover.  That feeling keeps you inspired and makes our work meaningful.”

Sometime in the future, Elsa hopes to build on her experiences teaching urban youth by pursuing a graduate degree in urban sociology.  We wish her luck in this and all future endeavors!

Elsa is always looking for scientists to share their knowledge and experiences with urban Chicago middle and high school students.  If you are interested, contact Elsa at erodriguez@projectexploration.org

Article and nomination by Heather King

Know a scientist you think should be featured in an upcoming “Scientist of the Month” article?  Send nominations to communications@awis-chicago.org. Your nominee does not need to be an AWIS member or a woman, but should promote the advancement of women in science, technology, mathematics and engineering.

by Eun Ji Chung, Ph.D.

Ramille N. Shah has been an Assistant Professor at Northwestern University in the departments of Material Science and Engineering and Orthopaedic Surgery since 2009. Dr. Shah is a native of the Chicago area and graduated with a B.S. in Material Science and Engineering from Northwestern before moving to MIT to pursue her Ph.D.

In high school, Ramille knew her strengths were in art and math and had a desire to pursue architectural engineering in college. She first attended a local community college during freshmen year in order to save costs before transferring to Northwestern as a sophomore. Northwestern didn’t have an architectural engineering major, so she declared her major as civil engineering. However, through her first research experience with Dr. Hamlin Jennings, her interest in materials was ignited. By studying highly flowable cement, she was quickly drawn to the structural, processing, and property relationships of materials and felt this field had more opportunities for her. She switched majors and took her first biomaterials class with Dr. Samuel I. Stupp during her senior year. The class immediately sparked her interest in the field and she asked for an opportunity to work in Dr. Stupp’s lab for her senior thesis project. It was during this experience where her enthusiasm for biomaterials and tissue engineering research became evident. Studying biomaterials was not only exciting, but it had a direct connection to health and provided an opportunity to improve the quality of life for patients. In addition, Ramille’s then boyfriend, now husband, was pursuing a career in medicine. Through both personal and educational influences, it became clear to her that developing technologies for regenerative medicine was her passion.

At MIT, Ramille studied cartilage tissue engineering with Dr. Myron Spector, first at the Brigham and Women’s hospital and later at the VA Medical Center when the lab relocated. Not only did these settings provide an ideal environment for collaborations between medical and research scientists, but it also provided a great motivation for her research because patients who may one day benefit from the type of research she was pursuing were also present. At the same time, back in Chicago, her boyfriend’s medical interests were also in orthopaedics (which would eventually lead to collaborative projects together). As both interests converged and Ramille finished graduate school, she decided to return back to Chicago for both professional and personal reasons. There was an opportunity to continue research in orthopaedic tissue engineering with her former advisor Sam Stupp, and she also wanted to be in the same location as her boyfriend to continue to develop their relationship.

Although unsure of whether academia or industry would be her career path, she knew the post-doc experience in the Stupp group would be ideal. During her time in Boston, the Stupp group had developed a research presence in the field of bionanotechnology, especially regarding the development of self-assembling peptide amphiphiles for applications in regenerative medicine. This was a research area in which Ramille wanted to expand her knowledge and skill set. After a year and half as a post-doc, Dr. Stupp promoted Ramille to a research assistant professor position in his laboratory, and also appointed her as the assistant director for research at IBNAM (Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine), where he is still currently the director. In these new roles, Ramille took on more administrative responsibilities and acted as a liason between scientists and administrators, making decisions on various aspects such as space allocation, equipment purchasing, and staff hiring. She also played a significant role in preparing applications for grant submissions.

Dr. Stupp gave Ramille many opportunities to expand her network and develop her leadership skills. For instance, not only was she able to attend conferences and meetings to present her own research, but she also gave talks on behalf of Dr. Stupp, presenting the group’s research as well.  This ultimately became great practice for giving more comprehensive talks, and exposed her to many different areas in regenerative medicine. In addition, these experiences allowed her to gain a sense of confidence in herself that contributed to her  decision to pursue a career in academia.

Six months later, with significant publications under her belt, an opportunity arose to attend Rice University’s workshop about negotiating a faculty position. Fortuitously, the workshop was led by committee members who were looking to hire a faculty member within the field of tissue engineering. Ramille applied for the position and was invited for an interview that eventually led to a job offer. In the mean time, Ramille applied for the NIH Pathway to Independence grant. Although not granted, her application fell into the hands of a reviewer from John’s Hopkins University where they were looking to hire a new faculty member in the Biomedical Engineering department, and another interview resulted.

With momentum and timing on her side, but accepting the reality that her life was more than just herself (she was soon to be married) and that Chicago would be the ideal location, she sought out the Chair of the Material Science and Engineering department at Northwestern and presented her case for a position. The Chair responded positively, and an official interview and negotiations resulted in the faculty position she holds today.

Ramille attributes her success to always taking advantage of important opportunities and making the most out of experiences. She believes in making your own luck by proactively seeking opportunities and knowing what you are worth. Especially “for women researchers, developing a sense of what you are worth and asking for what you deserve would help females move up into higher positions,” she says. Instead of waiting for opportunities to be offered to us, Ramille encourages everyone to seek out opportunities to be had.

She also stresses the importance of networking and collaborating with many people. In addition to being a new faculty member, Ramille is also a new mom with a 5-month old baby girl. These combined new roles have been extremely rewarding and pivotal, but at the same time, test her time-management skills. Although she could have waited to start a family until after receiving tenure, Ramille did not want to compromise a smooth pregnancy or risk potential complications. In the end, she counts this as the most satisfying decision of her life, and speaking to many others who have experienced it beforehand helped make the decision clear. Although her to-do list includes researching neighborhoods with good school systems as well as applying for grant funding for supporting her group’s research – which all at once can be overwhelming – Ramille gets through this busy time by disciplining herself to take care of urgent matters well while making sure she doesn’t miss out on her constantly changing daughter. In addition, she realizes that being a good delegator and giving up control in various areas is necessary.

Ramille feels lucky to have a supportive work environment and talented research group that allows her to be creative in science while giving her the flexibility needed during this time of transition. Looking onward professionally, she strives to attain tenure and become a scientist respected in the field. She also looks forward to the future discoveries and technological developments made in her lab that can eventually lead to clinical applications. On a more personal level, she wishes her family to be healthy and happy, and is looking forward to reaching that state of equilibrium where she can have time to take a breath and enjoy the simple things in life.

Article and nomination by Eunji Chung-Yoo:

“I recently graduated from Northwestern and am currently a post-doc in Ramille’s lab. Part of my decision in coming to a smaller lab was because I also wanted to understand, learn, and prepare for how a female assistant professor balances the critical and urgent nature of both professional and personal life. I feel fortunate to have Ramille as my PI and friend because not only does she give me the freedom to be creative scientifically, but she is open and transparent about the busyness in this chapter of her life. With pursuing academia as part of my future ambition, my month in the lab has already proved to provide much insight into managing professional and personal life well. Like Ramille mentioned, learning and talking to others who have gone before you may just be what is needed to prepare you for your next big step.”

Know a scientist you think should be featured in an upcoming “Scientist of the Month” article?  Send nominations to communications@awis-chicago.org. Your nominee does not need to be an AWIS member or a woman, but should promote the advancement of women in science, technology, mathematics and engineering.

By Marina Pazin

In science, success is often measured not by one’s ambition and determination, but rather by the more easily quantifiable evidence of conferences attended, manuscripts accepted to prestigious journals, and the number of awards and grants received. Judging by the work she’s done thus far, Isabel Rodriguez, a senior majoring in biology, with a concentration in biophysiology, at Northwestern University, is well on her way towards achieving success, no matter how it is measured. She fell in love with science in middle school and started doing research in her father’s lab at just sixteen years of age. At first, the ‘research’ performed by Isabel consisted of nothing more than learning basic laboratory techniques. Pipetting solutions was originally a project of its own, as she tried to pipette as much soap solution as she could into the pipette without creating bubbles. However, she quickly moved on from learning techniques and procedures to elucidating protein-protein signaling mechanisms in various disease models. For her persistence and dedication to biomedical research, Isabel is September’s ‘Scientist of the Month.’

For her first research assignment, Isabel was asked to analyze the effect of different stimuli on apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells. As she got more comfortable in the lab, the questions she was addressing became more sophisticated. While a high school student, she spent most breaks from school in her father’s lab in Evanston Hospital analyzing the differential signaling mechanisms by which progesterone and omega-3-fatty acids regulate ovarian cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. Three years ago, as a freshman in college, Isabel joined the lab of Drs. Tamas Jilling and Michael Caplan as a summer student. This allowed her to experience a different area of research from what she had been working on. “I work with rat intestinal epithelial cells, and have been concentrating on the interactions between different cell surface receptors. My first two summers in this lab I looked at the interaction between TLR4 and NOD2 receptors. This summer I’m focusing on the effect of stimulating TLR4 on cell migration.” Though her current research topic is very specific, Isabel ultimately is hopping to identify how pro-inflammatory molecules (in this case, TLR4) regulate cell migration, a process necessary for proper immune response, organ development, and tissue regeneration after injury.

Being able to contribute to multitude of research projects around her is just one reason why Isabel keeps coming back summer after summer to work in lab despite her commitments to her sorority, crew team, and course work. “I enjoy the act of doing research. I genuinely like running experiments and analyzing results and trying to figure out what to do next. In a lot of ways, research is a really complicated puzzle.” Although this eager senior is nervous and excited about starting medical school next year (where she hopes to focus on oncology), she in no way wants to forget about the basic science research in which she has invested so much time. “I’m looking forward to learning about the clinical side of medicine, but think that my background in research will help me understand the many dimensions of disease. I do hope to do research during med school, and am looking at a lot of programs that have a research thesis as a graduation requirement.” With her dedication to research, it is likely that Isabel will make great contributions to science as she embarks upon her career.

Nomination and article submitted by AWIS Chicago Staff Writer Marina Pazin.  Ms. Pazin is a PhD candidate at NorthShore University Health System.

Know a scientist you think should be featured in an upcoming “Scientist of the Month” article?  Send nominations to communications@awis-chicago.org. Your nominee does not need to be an AWIS member or a woman, but should promote the advancement of women in science, technology, mathematics and engineering.

By Marina Pazin

In one of her megahits, Whitney Houston proudly proclaims: “I believe the children are our future.” As true as the statement is, it’s also unfortunately the case that the future of many children, particularly those born prematurely, lies often in the hands of skilled neonatologists.  Prematurity poses a severe risk factor for these tiny infants for development of Necrotizing Enterocolitis, NEC, a common complication characterized by necrosis of the intestinal tissue within the first few weeks of life.  Depending on the severity of NEC that follows, the symptoms of the disease could range from moderate to severe, with extreme NEC leading to mortality. This realization is all too real to Dr. Brandy Frost who, as a neonatologist at the Evanston Hospital branch of the NorthShore University Healthcare System, frequently has to come to terms with the reality that sometimes human life just can’t be saved.  Yet, being part of a miraculous process by which the opposite occurs is what keeps her going. “The most interesting thing about my job is watching a premature baby go from a tiny, fragile being to a strong, resilient infant- initially they are completely dependent on technology for survival, but as they approach term gestation, they become quite like a full term baby that can breathe, eat, and maintain temperature. I think it is truly amazing! “

For Brandy, the decision to become a neonatologist was an easy one. While during her undergraduate career she toyed with the idea of becoming a physical therapist, an eye-opening experience in children’s hospital in her hometown, Kansas City, uncovered her love for pediatrics once and for all. “I found it fascinating, and I loved watching my uncle (a pediatric anesthesiologist practicing at the same hospital] help people feel better… I truly loved pediatrics. Kids are amazing in that they are so resilient, and I really wanted to be part of helping them heal.”  With a predisposition towards the pediatrics field, Brandy  successfully completed Kansas Medical School, deciding to specialize in neonatology in the process.

For her continued training, Brandy moved to Illinois and completed her fellowship under the supervision of Dr. Michael S. Caplan, a world-renown leader in the NEC field. Being a neonatologist allows her to work with kids while being very intellectually engaged and to form close relationships with parents whose children she treats. Moreover, serving as a neonatal fellow uncovered her love for clinical and basic science research, both of which she continues to pursue today. “During the time I spent in Dr. Caplan’s lab as a fellow, I was able to learn basic laboratory techniques, and develop a sense of what a challenge it can be to do good research.”  Paralleling her clinical work, the focus of Brandy’s basic research has been to uncover the signaling pathway by which TGFβ growth factor modulates proinflammatory response triggered by toll-like receptors, which, in some models has been shown to lower the incidence of NEC. Although she admits that, at times, inconsistencies in data from bench-science studies make her work as a research scientist quite frustrating, she nonetheless finds working toward a goal of further understanding diseases that affect premature infants a very enjoyable process. As a faculty member at the same hospital where she once served as a fellow, Brandy is also a principal investigator on several clinical studies. The focus of these projects ranges from comparing TGFβ levels in breast milk (which has been shown to be more beneficial over formula at lowering NEC incidence rate among preemies) among the mothers whose babies develop NEC relative to those who do not, to assessing treatments and therapeutics options to curb the incidence and the severity of this disease.

Being busy with all the projects and her patients has not precluded her from creating a family of her own. She is a mom to a preschooler and a toddler and feels fortunate to have found a balance between her working and family life. “I have been lucky… I have managed to balance all of my responsibilities as well as I can.” As someone who has gotten to know Brandy as an accomplished doctor, scientist, and a mother, I couldn’t agree more.

Nomination and article submitted by AWIS Chicago Staff Writer Marina Pazin.  Ms. Pazin is a PhD candidate at NorthShore University Health System.

Know a scientist you think should be featured in an upcoming “Scientist of the Month” article?  Send nominations to communications@awis-chicago.org. Your nominee does not need to be an AWIS member or a woman, but should promote the advancement of women in science, technology, mathematics and engineering.

by Beth Sefton

“Have you thought about scheduling your next committee meeting?” Dr Margrit Urbanek asks me. She continues, “I always thought that committee meetings were a pain when I was a graduate student. Now I realize how helpful they can be. You should really consider setting one up.”  These kind of thoughtful statements are characteristic of Dr. Margrit Urbanek, an influential woman in my graduate studies. I first met Margrit when I spent the summer working in her lab at Northwestern University prior to beginning my graduate program and she continues to be involved in my research by serving on my thesis committee. I recently spoke with her about how she became interested in science, and the challenges she has faced in securing her position at Northwestern.

Dr. Margrit Urbanek’s interest in genetics began at a young age, while she was attempting to learn English as a second language. Her family had relocated to the United States from Switzerland when she was in the fourth grade. While learning English she read many books, some of which had stories about Native American culture. These stories made her think about how people migrate and establish new cultures. This joint interest in genetics and anthropology continued into college – in fact, when she was at Pennsylvania State University she debated between undergraduate majors in biology or anthropology. She found a compromise in majoring in biochemistry while taking a large number of elective in anthropology, allowing her to begin her career as a scientist without giving up her intellectual curiosity in cultural development.

For her doctorate thesis, Margrit studied growth hormone receptor expression in human placentas with Dr. Stephen Liebhaber. After receiving her doctoral degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1993, Margrit looked for a post-doctoral position that would allow her to unite her interests in genetics and Native American ancestry. At the National Institutes of Health (NIH), she worked on one project that focused on the population substructure of Native American populations of the American Southwest, as well as a second project dealing with the genetics of alcoholism. After being exposed to the genetics of human disease at the NIH, Margrit returned to the University of Pennsylvania to complete a second post-doctoral position, this time focusing on the genetics of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

After her second post-doctoral position, Margit began searching for tenure track positions in academia. Her search was complicated by the fact that her husband, Dr. Greg Smith was also looking for an academic position in virology. Fortunately for them, Northwestern University was conducting faculty searches for both a geneticist and a virologist, and they both managed to secure tenure track positions at Northwestern University’s Chicago campus in 2001. Margrit feels that they were able to do so because both she and her husband were on a similar time frame, and each was worthy of a position independent of the other, both of which she realizes were important factors in their hiring.

Newly tenured at Northwestern University, Margrit is enjoying her life as an academic principle investigator. While her interest in human disease may have made her a good candidate for jobs in industry, she feels she can experience more scientific freedom in academia than she would have in industry. Margrit feels that the study of genetics can often lead to surprises, since the “next gene or pathway associated with a condition can be unexpected”. Margrit is happy that when such discoveries occur, she appreciates the collaborations that can develop across broad disciplines and finds that she always has colleagues to consult with. In addition, Margrit enjoys mentoring young scientists, while learning new ideas from her mentees. She equated the graduation of her first graduate student to the “bittersweet feeling of having a child leave for college”. However, academic life is not without its drawbacks. According to Margit, “The largest disadvantage of academic institutions is securing funding.” While she enjoys the process of writing grants, as she feels it helps to “focus her thinking”, she finds it stressful that both her career, and that of her lab personnel depend on successful grant applications.

While being a woman in science has not presented Margrit with any particular challenges, she has found herself as “the only woman in the room,” highlighting a lack of women scientists. Even though Margrit believes that striking a balance between work and home life is an ongoing challenge for women and men, she does see differences between the ways men and women handle such situations. From her experiences, she believes that women will not push for higher level professional positions because they believe that such positions may compromise their abilities to attend to family matters. She has also found that men and women approach professional issues differently- while women tend not to ask for items that they need on a basic level, many men will not think twice about addressing the same issue. She thinks this stems from a tendency in women to deal with the issues at hand, rather than ask for assistance from others.  She remembers, “When I grew out of my current lab space, I did not even think to ask for more.” She encourages parents and educators to teach young women how to ask for what they need.

When asked what advice she would give to young women scientists interested in academia, Margrit thinks the most important thing is that they work to gain confidence to apply for tenure track positions. While the landmarks required for tenure may seem intimidating at first, it is really just a series of steps that can be addressed systematically. However, if a scientist is afraid to start taking those steps, she can never succeed professionally. Having the confidence to take the first step, and then the next, is the key to achieving one’s goals. In Margit’s opinion, “Women just need to go for it!”

Nomination and article submitted by AWIS Chicago Staff Writer Beth Sefton.  Ms. Sefton is a PhD candidate at Northwestern University.

Know a scientist you think should be featured in an upcoming “Scientist of the Month” article?  Send nominations to communications@awis-chicago.org. Your nominee does not need to be an AWIS member or a woman, but should promote the advancement of women in science, technology, mathematics and engineering.

Want to keep yourself up-to-date on AWIS Chicago activities? Follow AWIS Chicago on Twitter! You can request to be added to our listserve by clicking here, and join the AWIS Chicago group on LinkedIn and Facebook by clicking the icons on the bottom right of this page.

By Beth Sefton

I first met Dr. Julie Kim when I was a summer rotation student in my first year of graduate school. During my rotation, I found that  enjoyed working in the lab and appreciated Julie’s mentoring style. I opted to join the lab and have been a graduate student in the Kim lab for the past  three  years. . From the time that I rotated, Julie has never made me feel as if  I am “just a graduate student”. She treats me as an equal and respects my opinions.  As I am exploring multiple career paths, I feel that Julie will be very respectful of whatever career choices I will make, which is not always the case in academia.. Julie is extremely supportive of my participation in extra-curricular activities and taking on leadership positions that will  help me prepare for my life after graduate school. I believe Julie’s own career path and family life give her a realistic approach to life inside and outside of science. She is very  supportive of  women scientists in her lab and encourages young women to explore science careers.

 Julie received a Microbiology degree from the University of Toronto in 1990. She then went on to receive a Ph.D in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Laval University where she studied with Dr. Patricia Quinn and Dr. Michel Fortier. Her PhD research introduced to her to reproductive biology, but she implemented  her microbiology background to study how infectious agents affect the bovine endometrium. After graduate school, Julie moved to the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) to train with Dr.Asgi Fazleabas from 1995-1998. While in Dr. Fazleabas’s lab Julie studied the how the primate endometrium prepares for embryo implantation, a process known as decidualization. In 1998, Julie joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UIC as a Research Assistant Professor and continued to research decidualization of the endometrium but with a focus on the progesterone receptor. Currently, Julie is an Assistant Professor at Northwestern University in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department. Her lab researches the role of the progesterone receptor and AKT pathway in female reproductive tract diseases, such as uterine fibroids, endometrial cancer, and endometriosis.

 Have you always liked science even as a small child?

As a child and growing up, I enjoyed doing well in school and learning.  Science was interesting to me and came easy to me.

 What sparked your decision to pursue science as a career?

Upon completion of my undergraduate degree, I was unsure of what I wanted to do. I worked in a research lab at Laval University in Quebec City for the summer, under the direction of Dr. Patricia Quinn who was a Professor at the University of Toronto and was doing a sabbatical in Quebec City for a year with Dr. Michel Fortier. I enjoyed working at the bench, discussing science with Dr. Quinn and Dr. Fortier and designing experiments. I fell in love with Quebec and the people. Naturally, I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to not only go to grad school but to learn French at the same time. Neither was easy but I got through it.  I defended my thesis in French and got my PhD degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology. 

 Did you always want to work in academia? Why or why not?

After obtaining my PhD, I did a postdoc at UIC.  I was open to exploring different options for my career so I didn’t have a preference to work in academia. I knew that I enjoyed research and the intellectual workout it gave me on a daily basis.  However, I knew that there were lots of additional opportunities. To explore, I taught some classes at UIC, shadowed an embryologist in an IVF lab, talked to scientists in industry, considered medical school, as well as continuing in academia. I went to many scientific meetings and talked to people regarding a future in research. I was overwhelmed with all the different paths that I could take.  I decided to try out academia and told myself, if I didn’t like it, I’d do something else.  I’ve been at Northwestern University for over 7 years now and I think it was the best decision that I made.  I love what I do.  I love being intellectually challenged on a daily basis and every day holds something different.  I can’t see myself doing anything else. 

 What has been your greatest challenge as a woman in academic science? 

 If I were to pinpoint a particular challenge in my life as a woman in science, it’s hands down, work/family balance.  This can be a challenge that is faced by both men and women that have families, and not just for women. I am married with 2 children, ages 11 and almost 7.  My husband is very dedicated to his career in the corporate world and successful.  At the same time he’s extremely supportive of my career and is my biggest fan. My children were in daycare by the time they were 6 months old until they were ready for first grade at the local public school.  They also attend before and after school programs. We never had a nanny and our extended family was far away (Canada to be exact!).  So, the biggest challenge was to be able to juggle work and family life and do well in both. 

 How have you dealt with that challenge?

I can’t say that I no longer struggle to balance work and family. However, I can confidently say that I have come to a point where the juggling family and work has become a way of life for me that I find extremely gratifying. I was able to come to this point after some soul searching and implementing appropriate support systems. While my career and my family are very important to me, my family has taken that number one slot and my career comes a close second.  When faced with a tough decision where I have to choose between work and family, I weigh the pros and cons and lean towards the decision that will be best for my family.  Luckily, this doesn’t happen very often and this approach has not kept me from succeeding in my career. Another issue that I had to come to accept is that I don’t have to be the best nor have things perfect all the time. I am more realistic in what I am able to do with the time that I have. But, I began to realize that I could change the way I work to get more accomplished in a shorter time, like multi-tasking and delegating.  From a practical standpoint, it was essential that I implement a solid support system to make sure both career and family are taken care of and happy.  My husband is extremely supportive and does his best to contribute. My children went to a fabulous child care program at Northwestern University. Currently, my kids attend a great school with wonderful before and after school programs. At Northwestern, I have exceptional colleagues with whom I can truly be myself. My lab consists of dedicated and talented people who generate data and ensure smooth daily functioning. The particulars of everyday life change all the time and I have learned that flexibility is essential. It’s an incredible thing to have come to this point in my life where I feel extremely fulfilled and satisfied as a woman in science.  Recently, I asked my children, “would you rather have a mom at home all the time to take care of you and be with you whenever you want?”  And their response was, “No way Mom, your job is so cool and fun. And you’re doing something really important!”

 What do you think is the greatest obstacle for young women scientists today?

According to studies that have been done at the NIH as well as other big institutions, one of the main reasons why women leave science is because of their personal choices regarding family.  I have experienced first hand, women leaving the field because of family.  I think these choices are very personal and should be respected to the fullest. We need to realize that all women are different and have specific lifestyle preferences. Some women choose a family over career and some choose a career over family. If there are young women who want both and they are realistic about it, it is absolutely possible to be a scientist and have children. It comes with hard work but the rewards that come with having both are far beyond what can be imagined. Personally, I would like to see more women in basic science research and continue on to be tenured professors and head of departments. 

 What aspects of your job do enjoy most? What don’t you like?

I enjoy mentoring people.  I find great joy in seeing someone learn the scientific process and getting excited about the data they’ve generated. I love exchanging ideas with my trainees and coming up with new ones together.  I enjoy making discoveries together.

 I do not like the negative criticisms that sometimes come with reviews of papers and grants.  I think we should be encouraging each other more. 

 Any advice for young woman scientists?

Definitely, more women are needed in science. As with anything else, if you are good at it and are passionate about it, there is always a way to work things out to achieve your goals.  If those goals include being a successful woman scientist and having a family, YOU CAN DO IT!

Nomination and article submitted by AWIS Chicago Staff Writer Beth Sefton.  Ms. Sefton is a PhD candidate at Northwestern University.

Know a scientist you think should be featured in an upcoming “Scientist of the Month” article?  Send nominations to communications@awis-chicago.org. Your nominee does not need to be an AWIS member or a woman, but should promote the advancement of women in science, technology, mathematics and engineering.

Want to keep yourself up-to-date on AWIS Chicago activities? Follow AWIS Chicago on Twitter! You can request to be added to our listserve by clicking here, and join the AWIS Chicago group on LinkedIn and Facebook by clicking the icons on the bottom right of this page.

Lisa Gilbert-Hill, Illinois State Police, Forensic Scientist

By Heather King

Lisa Gilbert-Hill, a forensic scientist with the Illinois State Police, is always bubbling with positive energy, but becomes noticeably more excited when she talks about her ideas for outreach and education. “I’ve been working on a total immersion science program for youth for a few years with the help of Project Exploration, and I think it’s finally coming together,” she explains, then launches into a description. The program would include everything needed to allow high school students to get a taste of what it would really be like to be a forensic scientist (in real life, not on TV), including training, a crime scene, the use of a laboratory, help from lawyers and other scientists, and a real courtroom for them to testify in. “They would actually be able to walk in our shoes and learn what it is really like to be us!”  Hearing not only how fun, but educational and beneficial this would be to the students, I am ready to enroll in high school again just so I can sign up. This is just one of the many things Lisa excels at- inspiring people and getting them excited to help others.

Lisa grew up in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, where she became interested in science at a very young age. “My mother likes to tell the story that I had two crushes when I was little – one was Tom Jones and the other was Jacques Cousteau. My first professional claim was that I wanted to be an oceanographer, because I would sneak out and watch Jacques Cousteau on TV after I was supposed to be asleep, and my mother had to follow me to see what I was doing before she figured out why I kept talking about oceanography!” This early interest was the foundation for a life-long passion for science, which led Lisa to major in biology and dabble in pharmacy courses at Xavier University of Louisiana. Lisa finished her bachelor’s degree in biology at Governors State University in University Park, Illinois, in Chicago’s south suburbs. With advice from her advisors at Governors State, Lisa decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry. Her master’s project with Dr. Karen D’Arcy focused on chelating agents used to remove contaminants from well water.

Lisa was presented with an unexpected opportunity when Mary McCarthy of the Illinois State Police came to Governors State to recruit graduate students for employment as forensic scientists. Until that time in the early 1990s, the city of Chicago performed its own forensic investigations, but due to political tensions between Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Illinois Governor Jim Edgar, forensic investigations was to be run by the Illinois State Police starting at that time. A new, state of the art forensics laboratory was being built in Chicago, and the center would be filled with the choicest scientists from around the country. Mary encouraged Lisa to apply, and after a year-long process, Lisa was hired as part of the first team of 85 scientists responsible for forensics in the Chicago area under the new system.

“Real life as a forensic scientist is very different from what you see on TV,” Lisa tells me. I ask her how she became involved in outreach, and she tells me a story from a few years ago in which she was testifying about a case in court. “I was addressing the jury, as is protocol when testifying, when I realized that one of the jurors was actually shaking her head at me while I was speaking, as if she disagreed with my testimony.” Lisa recalls that this was during a time in which the ‘CSI effect’ was in full force, and her experiences showed her that people often confused what they saw on television with the reality of her occupation. “I was so bothered by her head shaking that I stopped my testimony and told the judge that one of the jurors seemed to disagree with me, and he called a recess. When we came back, the head shaking had stopped.” But Lisa didn’t forget this, and the experience fueled her involvement in education and outreach. “I see outreach as a chance to inform the public,” Lisa says.

Lisa had previously spoken with students through requests that came in to her department, but branched out after meeting Jameela Jafri (see AWIS scientist of the month September 2010) at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Jameela asked Lisa to do an experiment with some students through Project Exploration’s (PE) Sisters4Science program in 2007, and Lisa has been involved ever since. “I love PE’s mission and work, and it’s so important to help expose youth to what’s out there, and to let them know that someone other than their family cares about them, and is cheering for them to succeed. In some ways, I think this makes the child feel as though they are accountable, that someone is paying attention to what they’re doing and wants them to do well.” Lisa knows how important it is to be exposed to new ideas and how this exposure can lead to important opportunities. “I don’t think I really knew what forensics were until I applied for my job!” she tells me candidly.

In 2009, Lisa joined PE’s board of directors, giving her even more opportunities to help the community and inspire young people to become interested in science. She hopes that her ‘total immersion’ forensic science program will be launched soon, potentially this summer. We wish Lisa luck in this and all future endeavors.

Nomination and article submitted by AWIS Chicago Staff Writer Heather King.  Ms. King is a PhD candidate at the University of Chicago.

Know a scientist you think should be featured in an upcoming “Scientist of the Month” article?  Send nominations to communications@awis-chicago.org. Your nominee does not need to be an AWIS member or a woman, but should promote the advancement of women in science, technology, mathematics and engineering.

Want to keep yourself up-to-date on AWIS Chicago activities? Follow AWIS Chicago on Twitter! You can request to be added to our listserve by clicking here, and join the AWIS Chicago group on LinkedIn and Facebook by clicking the icons on the bottom right of this page.