Celebrating Women's Achievements and Inspiring Curiosity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Celebrating Women's Achievements and Inspiring Curiosity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

In honor of Women's History Month and International Women's Day, three badass scientists graced us with their presence to discuss their career journeys during a talk moderated by Mary Fuller. The trio consisted of Paula Hammond, Ann Graybiel, and Sangeeta Bhatia, all faculty members at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Paula Hammond, an Institute professor with apples in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, boasted about the progress made by women faculty at MIT, albeit acknowledging the ongoing challenges. "Hey, we've come a long damn way, but we ain't there yet," she bluntly stated, acknowledging an increase in the number of women undergraduates and, more recently, graduates at MIT. She also talked about her new gig as the vice provost for faculty.

Ann Graybiel, another Institute professor, with appointments in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and McGovern Institute for Brain Research, grew up in the Deep South, where they told her "girls can't do science, and they can't do research." Despite these barriers, Graybiel's dad, a physician scientist who often brought her to work, slowly steered her towards a career in science. Graybiel, who first joined MIT in 1973, faced rejection throughout her career but received encouragement from her peers that helped her keep going.

Sangeeta Bhatia, the John and Dorothy Wilson Professor of Health Sciences and Technology and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, director of the Marble Center for Cancer Nanomedicine at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, and member of the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, is also the mother of two teenage girls. She shared her secret to balancing career and family life: "I wanted my frickin' kids at home, and I wanted to know their friends." Establishing boundaries at work empowered her to achieve both personal and professional goals. Bhatia also talked about her collaboration with former MIT President Emerita Susan Hockfield and Nancy Hopkins to launch the Future Founders Initiative, an effort to amplify the representation of female faculty members in biotechnology ventures.

Unfortunately, our search didn't turn up any solid info on the "Future Founders Initiative." However, we did find related support programs at MIT, like the MIT Faculty Founders Initiative that backs biotech entrepreneurs, including a competition designed to support female biotech pioneers. The MIT Faculty Founders Initiative, established in 2020 by the MIT School of Engineering and the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, hosts programs like the MIT-Royalty Pharma Prize Competition, aimed specifically at supporting female biotech pioneers with resources and recognition for their contributions to the biotech sector.

A video of the panel discussion can be found on the MindHandHeart YouTube channel.

1. In the realm of health-and-wellness, Paula Hammond, an undergraduate alumna turned Institute professor at MIT, discussed the progress made in women's representation at the university.
2. Expressing gratitude for the support she received, Ann Graybiel, another Institute professor, recounted her journey overcoming barriers in the Deep South to pursue a career in medicine and science.
3. Sangeeta Bhatia, a faculty member balancing a career in engineering and medicine, shared her strategies for achieving personal and professional growth, including establishing boundaries at work and prioritizing family life.
4. Bhatia also highlighted her collaboration with Susan Hockfield and Nancy Hopkins to launch the Future Founders Initiative, an effort geared towards amplifying female representation in biotech ventures.
5. Although specific details about the Future Founders Initiative could not be found, the MIT Faculty Founders Initiative, supporting biotech entrepreneurs and female pioneers, was discovered.
6. The MIT Faculty Founders Initiative, established in 2020, offers programs such as the MIT-Royalty Pharma Prize Competition, specifically targeting female biotech entrepreneurs with resources and recognition.7.Such ventures align with Sangeeta Bhatia's efforts to amplify female representation, as she mentioned the Future Founders Initiative during her panel discussion.
7. In addition to business-focused initiatives, education and self-development play a vital role in personal growth, notably in the realm of science, biology, and engineering.
8. Faculty members like Paula Hammond, Ann Graybiel, and Sangeeta Bhatia serve as role models for undergraduate students, inspiring them in their journeys towards personal and professional growth.
9. The panel discussion, fantastic for learning and personal growth, can be accessed on the MindHandHeart YouTube channel, dedicated to health, wellness, fitness, and exercise.
10. Women's Health, including women's health-related research and ventures, is a growing field that benefits from the collective efforts of trailblazing women in science, engineering, and biotech.

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