Meet some of the incredible women at the Institute who are having a positive impact on the world through their work
You’ve probably heard of Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, and Thomas Edison, some of the most famous scientists and engineers who have transcended their respective fields and gained notoriety for their work. While their impact is obviously important, they only paint one specific picture of what a STEM professional can look like.
Women like Rosalind Franklin, Ada Lovelace, and Katherine Johnson have also changed the world through their contributions to the discovery of DNA’s structure, computing, and aerospace technology, respectively.
For years, women have driven scientific progress while facing barriers that have limited recognition and opportunity. Although progress has been made, only 28% of STEM jobs worldwide are held by women, with an even wider gap in engineering fields.
Encouragingly, perceptions are changing. When children in the 1960s were asked to draw pictures of scientists, fewer than 1% drew a woman. In 2016, that number rose to 34%.
Increasing visibility and expanding opportunities remain critical. When girls see women leading research teams or labs, launching companies, and solving global challenges then they can see themselves doing the same.
Women of the Wyss are making an impact through their research and by serving as examples for future STEM leaders. Browse the gallery below and join us in celebrating just a few of the extraordinary women making history at the Institute.
1/12 "I am making history by pioneering critical vaccine research against malaria and using macrophage-activating cellular backpacks to accelerate wound healing in the battlefield and trauma care." -Ana Isabel Peinado, Research Assistant 
2/12 "I am helping make history by shaping an inclusive culture at the Wyss Institute that empowers world-class innovators and the entire Wyss community." -Starr Thomas, Assistant Manager of Administrative Services 
3/12 "I am making history by advancing automated, high throughput brain organoid technology to uncover the molecular circuitry of bipolar disorder, understand its impact on behavior and mental health, and establish organoids as a transformative platform for identifying novel neuropsychiatric therapies." -Katharina Meyer, Scientist 
4/12 "I am making history by advancing our understanding of the genetic and cellular mechanisms driving chronic kidney disease and hypertension. Using cutting-edge microscopy and organ-on-chip technologies, I study how kidney cells respond to mechanical stresses during blood and urine filtration, identifying targets for novel treatments that will improve resiliency and restore normal function." -Di Feng, Associate Faculty member 
5/12 "I am making history by building bridges between our Wyss bioinspired research teams and their technologies and commercial and clinical partners. I secure funding and design collaboration strategies so our great ideas and technologies leave the Wyss and move into the hands of patients and providers to solve healthcare problems." -Gretchen Fougere, Senior Director of Business Development - Commercialization 
6/12 "I am making history by integrating biology, engineering, and data to create biosensor technologies that transform biochemical signals into actionable insights, empowering healthier lives, protecting our environment, and paving the way for a more sustainable and personalized future." -Nandhinee Radha Shanmugam, Research Associate 
7/12 "I am making history by building DNA and RNA nanostructures for therapeutics and diagnostics." -Anastasia Ershova, Scientist 
8/12 "I am making history by adapting Organ-on-Chip technology to uncover how spaceflight reshapes the immune system. By integrating Bone Marrow Organ-on-Chip systems, proteomics, and single-cell genomics, I study how the human body responds and adapts beyond Earth. Together with a multidisciplinary team, we are advancing safer deep space exploration and redefining what’s possible for medicine here on Earth." -Ela Contreras-Panta, Scientist 
9/12 "I am making history by harnessing both next-generation sequencing technologies and molecular engineering to transform how we diagnose disease and discover new medicines." -Sarah Sandler, Postdoctoral Fellow 
10/12 "I am making history by establishing a platform for RNA detection in extracellular vesicles derived from human biofluids. This platform can be applied to diagnostics for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases." -Gina Wang, Postdoctoral Fellow 
11/12 "We are making history by navigating the complex and diverse tasks involved in obtaining and managing sponsored funds, empowering researchers to focus on their groundbreaking discoveries and advancements." -Luz Sosa (left, Senior Sponsored Projects Administrator) and Van Ferrell (right, Associate Director of Sponsored Finance) 
12/12 "I am making history by increasing delivery of therapeutics to the brain for the treatment of a myriad of diseases, ranging from rare diseases to ALS to breast cancer brain metastasis." -Amy England, Research Assistant