Narratives from biomedical research scientists

These true stories are from women who have trained or worked in the U.S. biomedical research enterprise and across the globe. Each story explores individual life journeys through careers in science, and provides perspective on their personal values and beliefs.

These scientists’ faiths span the gamut of Judaism, Christianity and Islam to beliefs in socialism and Confucianism. Their historical origins and living experiences span different countries including Brazil, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Chechnya/Russia, Palestine, Jordan, China, Germany, France, and of course, the U.S.

Isabel Scheid is a retired veterinarian and a pioneer as the first woman, arguably, specializing in swine reproductive medicine and research in southern Brazil. Having a mixed German heritage against a background of Roman Catholicism, she rather forged her own beliefs in the power of community and her faith in humanity. Read more…..
Shanthi is from Sri Lanka where she did her medical training and continued with graduate studies in North America. As a University lecturer, she enjoys teaching students and making them question and think deeply about what they truly understand. While she studied Buddhism in high school; read some Buddhist philosophy as an undergraduate; and identified as Buddhist in her formative years, she describes herself today as a feminist who is committed to social justice and the project of decolonization. Read more……..
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Mosque-Samarkand-Uzbek-5-150x150.jpg
Nehal is a chemical engineer with a biomedical research focus on how cells under stress react with surfaces. Her faith in Islam influences her work in science, and science in turn has reinforced her belief in the ultimate power of God. Read more...
Kawkab is a senior academic researcher who enjoys teaching and is energized by her passion for education and interacting with students. During her adolescence, her father, a Muslim and self-taught chemist, would conduct experiments in a makeshift lab in their home. Her hunger for knowledge started early in her childhood and was sparked through her father’s love for science. Read more…….
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Synagogue-Rochester-150x150.jpg
Joan grew up in New York state with a strong Jewish faith. She worked as a scientist for a biotechnology company for 15 years before going on to start two companies with her husband. In addition to being a researcher, entrepreneur and angel investor, she currently uses her science expertise to help startup life science companies. Read more.……
Kwan is a mid-career scientist in Thailand. She is dedicated to her family, to her work as a university lecturer and to her practice of Buddhism. She has many hobbies including open water scuba diving. Read more…….
Delores is a biomedical scientist and a member of the Baptist Christian church. She values family and community and is devoted to worship and serving the Lord. Her memories span her birth in Germany, transitioning to her parents’ home in South Carolina during the years of school busing and segregation, and her growing confidence and work in science and research. Read more…….
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Church-Kazakh-150x150.jpg
Cathy lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, dog, and two cats. After postdoctoral research in immunology, she went into medical regulatory writing with pharmaceutical companies. She devotes time to her faith in Catholicism as well as social welfare, educational and activist projects, yoga, Reiki and meditation, and a cappella singing. Read more…...
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Hindu-Chennai-150x150.jpg
Nithya was raised as a Hindu Brahmin in India. After her PhD in Biochemistry, she joined the U.S. National Institutes of Health as a post-doctoral fellow. Her focus was on infectious disease research as well as teaching and organization of scientific meetings for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. With her Irish Catholic husband, she shares a love of Golden Retriever dogs, and she also enjoys gardening. Read more….
Chris is a New Yorker, a neuroscientist, and a devoted teacher. Her values are grounded in her upbringing as a Chinese American and on Confucian principles of community well-being. Read more….

To read more about this project……