In celebration of Women’s History Month, we recognize some of the extraordinary women changing the world through their work at the Wyss Institute
Right now, women make up half of the college-educated workforce in the United States, but only make up 34% of the total number working in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This is not because they lack the necessary skills – there is no scientific, cognitive difference between men and women’s abilities in these areas. Instead, the gap exists because of sociological issues like gender stereotypes, male-dominated cultures, and a lack of successful examples.
One way we can fix this problem is by increasing the amount of representation and number of role models for young women. The more they see evidence that women can thrive in these fields, the easier it is for them to see themselves as future STEM professionals.
We know that women from Marie Curie to Rosalind Franklin to Katherine Johnson have made groundbreaking or history-making discoveries that allow us to better understand ourselves and the world around us, but here at the Wyss, you don’t have to look very hard to find many more of them making history. Each day, women at the Wyss are shaping the future, not only through their work, but also by serving as role models for girls thinking about pursuing careers in STEM.
Join us in celebrating Women’s History Month by browsing the gallery below and learning how they are impacting the world.
1/13 "I am making history by developing a DNA origami-based cancer vaccine against HPV positive cancers. These cancers include cervical and oropharyngeal cancers, of which more than 50% of cases are HPV positive." -Hawa Dembele, Graduate Student 
2/13 "We are making history by working as part of an all-female clinical research team to meticulously coordinate and oversee the execution of cutting-edge research studies focused on advancing and innovating solutions, while ensuring the ethical conduct of human subject research, safeguarding participant rights, and upholding the highest standards of integrity in research." -Keysa Garcia and Kiley Baker, Clinical Research Coordinators 
3/13 "I am making history by developing clinically relevant in vivo models for vaccines against the most critical infectious diseases." - Shanda Lightbown, Scientist 
4/13 "I am making history by developing tissue- and cell- responsive materials for diagnostic and therapeutic applications." -Natalie Artzi, Associate Faculty member "I am making history by developing brain targeted lipid nanoparticles that efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier to provide a platform for gene therapy for brain diseases." -Maria Poley, Postdoctoral Fellow 
5/13 "I am making history by discovering new disease biomarkers and drug targets through proteomics and Organ-on-Chip technology. Through my research, it is possible to identify unique molecular signatures using proteomics and recreate realistic physiological environments with Organ-on-Chip models. This approach enhances diagnostics and advances precision medicine." - Jéssica Freire Feitor, Postdoctoral Fellow 
6/13 "I am making history by pioneering the development of brain organoid culture systems, enabling automated and high-throughput screening of novel therapeutics for bipolar disorder." -Michelle Yue, Research Assistant 
7/13 "Together, we are making history by supporting the Wyss scientific community in their pursuit to develop live-saving diagnostics and therapeutics while ensuring proper animal welfare." -Vivi Dang (Research Assistant), Melinda Sanchez (Research Assistant), Saraí Bardales (Research Assistant), Andyna Vernet (Veterinary Services Supervisor) and Amanda Graveline (Director of Veterinary Services) 
8/13 "I am making history by working as part of a diverse team to develop ultra-sensitive analytical platforms to improve the diagnosis of infectious diseases and neurodegenerative disorders and to increase our understanding of the underlying pathobiological processes." -Zoë Swank, Postdoctoral Fellow 
9/13 "I am making history by making it possible for anyone who wants to lactate to be able to do so." -Kasia Kready, Graduate Student 
10/13 "We are making history by providing strategic financial solutions that support the Wyss Institute Faculty and our Advanced Technology Team to develop exciting research and innovative technologies." -Lily Zheng and Ty Allen, Senior Financial & Planning Analysts 
11/13 "I am making history by developing the Wyss' sustainability and green tech projects portfolio with the goal of building a more sustainable future through technology innovation." -Emily Stoler, Principal Scientist, Sustainable Materials 
12/13 "I am making history by enabling our brilliant scientists and staff members to realize their full potential, so we can make our shared dreams a reality and bring world-changing ideas to society." -Angelika Fretzen, COO & Technology Translation Director 
13/13 "We're making history by crafting dependable pre-clinical Organ-on-Chip models for female reproductive tract diseases, aiming to revolutionize the treatment of debilitating conditions like infertility, bacterial vaginosis, and preterm birth." -Aakanksha Gulati (Postdoctoral Fellow), Anna Stejskalová (Postdoctoral Fellow), and Ola Gutzeit (Research Fellowship in Reproductive Health)