For this March’s newsletter, in honour of International Women’s Day on March 8th, we chose to highlight female trainees performing ground-breaking research at UHN. We sat down with three trainees and asked them questions about their scientific work and experiences in science.
Sana Smaoui(SS) is a PhD Candidate at KITE Research Institute under the supervision of Dr. Catriona Steele conducting research exploring tongue pressure resistance training for individuals with post-stroke dysphagia.
Dr. Barbara Grünwald (BG) is a postdoc and a mother, working in the lab of Dr. Rama Khokha at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center. Her main project aims to interrogate the composition of the pancreatic cancer microenvironment and uncover novel therapeutic options.
Dr. Sumaiyah Rehman (SR) is a postdoc at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center, working in the lab of Dr. Catherine O’Brien. She studies mechanisms of therapeutic resistance in colorectal cancer and is also involved in preclinical studies, to help identify new therapeutic options for patients.
1. Did you have a role model that influenced your decision to work in science?
SS: My decision to work in science was mainly influenced by the many teachers that helped me develop the skills needed for success in science.
BG: (…) I grew up on a farm with amazing parents who taught me you can do anything you want, but you might have to work hard for it.
SR: My parents (…) fostered that interest of science and learning in all of us kids (…). When I learned about the field of microRNAs in a talk by Phil Sharp during my undergraduate studies, I knew right then that there was a whole ‘world’ to be discovered.
2. If you had the option to give advice to a younger version of yourself, what would that be?
SS: Remember that no time spent on learning a skill is truly wasted.
BG: (…) Most importantly: trust your gut and be more patient.
SR: Be patient and persevere, you are on the right track. And learn to code!
3. In your opinion, which changes, if any, are needed in the scientific system to be more attractive to women in science and possible future scientists?
SS: To change the ongoing gender disparities that continue to persist in the scientific community, a dedicated initiative to reduce bias in hiring and creating conditions to retain women scientists may assist in creating this balance.
BG: Women in science who wish to have children are still at a major disadvantage during critical career stages. Getting this covered at the institutional and fellowship level (…) would help a lot.
SR: For many women, career building and family planning intersect in life. (…) A dedicated coach to help navigate the expectations and demands of both realms might aid in relieving the stress new mothers face. (…) Subsidizing (…) (certain) expenses or providing affordable on-site childcare services would be ideal for working parents.
4. What is the funniest or most memorable thing that has happened to you while working in science?
SS: My most memorable experience has been the opportunity to meet many pioneers in the field of swallowing disorders through various conferences who have continuously inspired me to pursue my own research questions.
BG: The best thing about science is that I get to have fun EVERY day.
SR: My first northern blot was awful, but the blotches resulted in a clown-like smiley face. (…) Interestingly, persistence with that northern blot led to discovering defects in microRNA processing in our model that spun off an exciting project!
