Conversations with inspiring women in science:
the path to becoming a successful female scientist

Despite the significant progress women have made toward increasing their participation in higher education, a gender gap persists throughout the years at all levels of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines worldwide. In an effort to shine a light on the women who paved the way for a better society through their involvement in sciences, in 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the International Day of Women and Girls in Science to emphasize the need for equal opportunities for women and men in STEM-related fields.

At Lunaphore, we want to highlight female role models and their work in STEM, to inspire the next generation of women to pursue careers in sciences. In this blog series, we share stories of women who are changing the world through their effort in their respective fields and have made a significant contribution to a positive change in attitude towards gender roles.

Today, on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we are delighted to profile leading scientists from prominent research institutions and core facilities in the spatial biology field: Dr. Charlotte Stadler, Head of the National Spatial Proteomics Facility and Co-Director at the Spatial and Single Cell Biology Platform at SciLifeLab; Prof. Inti Zlobec, Professor of Digital Pathology at University of Bern; and Dr. Hinda Joseph Najem, Post-doctoral Fellow at Northwestern University.

You developed different interests within scientific disciplines during your academic studies. Did you have female inspirations who served as a turning point in your decision to pursue a career in science? Who were your biggest inspirations throughout your career?

Dr. Najem: I got introduced to fundamental sciences during my last year of pre-med. My goals and career objectives became clear after my exchange program at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC), in the Department of Neurosurgery, where I got to work with pioneers in the field like Prof. Sujit Prabhu [Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center and an Adjunct Professor at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston] and Prof. Amy Heimberger [Prof. Heimberger is now the Vice Chair for Research, Department of Neurological Surgery, Jean Malnati Miller Professor of Brain Tumor Research, Professor of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University]. This was when the true story began. I was eager to move forward in my career and get the hands-on experience in the field I had been fighting for, and Dr. Heimberger gave me that opportunity. Now, there is no turning back for me; my compassion and enthusiasm for this field run deep and keep growing, thanks to her mentorship.

Dr. Stadler: It all started when I worked with the Human Protein Atlas as part of my master’s thesis. When I started my Ph.D. studies, Prof. Emma Lundberg, a pioneer within subcellular spatial proteomics, became my supervisor; since then, she has been my biggest inspiration and role model. It has been ten years since I got my Ph.D. We still work together, and she is the one I turn to for advice. [Prof. Lundberg is now an Associate Professor of Bioengineering and Pathology, Stanford University]. Much later in my career, it was a couple of years ago; my mother passed away from ovarian cancer. All she went through makes me extra dedicated and wanting to contribute to how these new technologies could be used to improve cancer diagnoses early on. It is not exactly an inspiration but rather an inner drive to make things better so that people, maybe now or maybe in five or ten years, will not have to face the same destiny as she did.

Dr. Zlobec: I believe my interest in science was always undeniable. I was taking physiology courses, and I still remember when we dissected a fetal pig. For the first time, I saw how anatomy and function are connected, a truly fascinating experience. Later during the histology and anatomy courses, we worked with patients who donated their bodies to science, which was another turning point. Then, I was lucky to have two powerful female role models who paved the road for me early in my career. The first was Dr. Carolyn Compton, the Chair of the Department of Pathology at McGill University at the time. Even though she was extremely busy, she always had time for me. It was a fundamental lesson that I learned. The second person was Prof. Nilima Nigam, a mathematician working at McGill University. She was also one of those people who had been fighting for her career by being a strong female in a male-dominated area.

What are the most fulfilling aspects of being a scientist?

Dr. Zlobec: The knowledge that I can make a difference, maybe the research that I do, will be able to make a difference in somebody’s life in the future. The other thing is seeing my students embracing this environment, seeing them enjoying learning, and becoming excellent in their work.

Dr. Stadler: Being in a position where I can contribute to drive reserach forward for the benefit of future generations. And the ability – and responsibility – to inspire younger scientists and students in the field. I meet a lot of young researchers and students in my role, both from projects but also during different recruitments I have done over the years.

Dr. Najem: What is the most fulfilling for me, as a woman neuroscientist and physician, is being an example to other younger generations, teaching and encouraging them to speak up and engage. This field is a lifestyle, hard for everyone, with the same endurance, commitment, and intellectual capabilities that both women and men have proven to possess.

Can you tell us about an achievement you’re particularly proud of?