At Molecular Devices, we’re committed to supporting and celebrating women in STEM. We have many inspiring stories of female associates who have consistently defied stereotypes, overcome obstacles, and played a pivotal role in pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery, engineering, and innovation. By highlighting their remarkable achievements, we aim to inspire future generations of scientists, engineers, and innovators, while fostering an inclusive and diverse environment that empowers women everywhere to continue shaping the future of our industry.

1. Dr. Antia Veal

Dr. Antia Veal is a Field Application Scientist whose childhood curiosity about the world around her – ranging from the ingredients in foods and their effects on the body to the mysteries of the stars and moon – set her on the path to a career in STEM. With her family's unwavering support, pursuing science was an obvious choice for her. Antia brings a uniquely personal perspective to her work; she has been both a scientist and a patient, not only testing therapeutics but also witnessing their clinical outcomes firsthand. Her dedication extends beyond the lab; she is passionate about spreading awareness and inspiring the youth through pioneering STEM programs, making complex topics accessible and engaging.

One of Antia's biggest challenges was navigating the transition from academia to industry careers in STEM, a shift that requires adapting to different environments, expectations, and cultures. Despite this challenge, she views the opportunity to mentor and guide others looking to embark on STEM careers as one of the most meaningful aspects of her journey, enabling her to pay it forward. Antia's vision for the future of women in STEM is clear: diversify and expand the pool of women in the field. She advocates for creating more platforms that empower women, ensuring they have the opportunities and support needed to thrive in STEM careers. Her journey reflects a deep commitment to both scientific inquiry and fostering a more inclusive and supportive community for women in science.

2. Prathyushakrishna Macha, PhD

Prathyushakrishna Macha, PhD, is a Research Scientist who embarked on a journey in the STEM field driven by her profound passion for learning and exploration. Her career in science is marked by an insatiable curiosity and a dedication to answering the myriad unanswered questions that science poses. With an ever-evolving landscape in her field, Prathyushakrishna – or Krishna as she is fondly called – thrives on the dynamic nature of scientific inquiry.

Bringing a unique set of perspectives and strengths to her work, she is celebrated for her open-minded approach, innate curiosity, and her remarkable ability to learn quickly and apply new knowledge effectively. These attributes not only enhance her contributions to her field but also underscore the unique value that women bring to STEM disciplines.

Throughout her career, Krishna has faced and overcome several challenges, notably the steep learning curves associated with delving into new areas of interest within the vast expanse of science. Despite these hurdles, her resilience and eagerness to grow have propelled her forward.

One of her most meaningful experiences has been the trust and belief her teams and scientific communities have placed in her abilities. This faith in her potential to tackle new challenges and apply her insights for impactful results has been a cornerstone of her success, providing her with invaluable opportunities to hone her skills and contribute significantly to her field.

If given a magical ability to effect change for women in STEM, Krishna would focus on continuing to inspire the next generation. She finds immense satisfaction in the evolving perception of women in science, as evidenced by children's drawings that now frequently depict women as scientists. This shift reflects a broader cultural change towards recognizing and celebrating the role of women in STEM, a vision she passionately supports for a future where women are increasingly empowered to excel in these fields.

3. Serena Cervantes, PhD

Serena Cervantes, PhD, embarked on her scientific journey at the tender age of seven, inspired by the groundbreaking concepts of genetic engineering showcased in "Jurassic Park." This early fascination led her to UC Riverside, where she pursued a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a PhD in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology. Her academic career was characterized by a deep-seated love for microscopy, despite initial challenges in cloning while researching worms as an undergraduate. Her graduate studies delved into the complexities of the human malaria parasite, utilizing high-content imaging systems, which paved her path toward becoming a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) fellow at UC San Diego. Here, she explored vesicle trafficking in yeast.

Serena's professional journey transitioned from academia to industry, sparked by a suggestion from a technical sales rep and further encouraged by a recruiter who introduced her to the live cell monitoring system, IncuCyte. After several company transitions, each contributing to her expansive knowledge in drug discovery and high-content screening, Serena found her place at Molecular Devices. Here, she is valued for her unique identity and expertise, particularly as part of the DD1 team—a remarkable all-women team encompassing sales reps, service engineers, and application scientists.

Facing tokenism and navigating the challenges associated with being a mixed, first-generation, LGBTQIA+ ally, and disabled woman in STEM, Serena's career has been a testament to resilience and perseverance. She has encountered disbelief in her capabilities, yet her tenacity and vulnerability have transformed obstacles into stepping stones, emphasizing the importance of not suffering in silence.

At Molecular Devices, Serena finds meaning in her work, empowering scientists to optimize their research and share significant findings with confidence. Her role allows her to blend her passion for capturing beautiful images with the satisfaction of solving analytical puzzles, enriching the scientific community's capabilities.

Serena's advice to women early in their careers is to embrace vulnerability and persist through failures, viewing each setback as a learning opportunity and a stepping stone to greater achievements. Her journey underscores the significance of finding environments that value authenticity and provide the freedom to pursue one's passions and professional growth, highlighting the essential role of support and mentorship in navigating the challenges of a STEM career.

In recognition of Women’s History Month, Labcompare recently spoke Serena Cervantes, along with her colleague Corena Grant on their journey in a male-dominated field, “Overcoming Challenges in STEM to Build a Successful Career.”

4. Shawn Alvarado, PhD

For Shawn Alvarado, PhD, the path into the world of neuroscience was deeply personal, rooted in a desire to understand her sister's epilepsy and how various factors, like hormones and stress, impact memory for emotional events. This quest for knowledge led her to study the intricate interactions within the brain, ultimately driving her toward a career in STEM that transcends traditional research paths.

As a working mother, Shawn embodies the versatility and adaptability that STEM careers can offer. Her journey highlights that there isn't a singular "correct" path within STEM; whether conducting one's own research or aiding others in theirs, every contribution propels the field forward. Her decision to transition from academia to industry reflects a conscious choice to seek balance between professional aspirations and family life, a decision many women in STEM face. Walking away from a promising academic future, including an F32 postdoctoral grant and numerous publications, Shawn chose a path that would allow her to support her family while still making significant contributions to her field.

The opportunity to author a book chapter on steroid hormones and memory stands out as a pivotal moment in Shawn's career. This work not only encapsulated her extensive research and findings but also made her insights accessible to a broader audience, bridging the gap between academic research and public knowledge.

Shawn envisions a future where the traditional path to becoming a principal investigator (PI) is more accommodating to women who wish to balance family life with their academic and professional goals. She advocates for a reimagining of the tenure track and academic careers to be more inclusive and supportive of women's diverse life choices and commitments, ensuring that the pursuit of scientific discovery and personal fulfillment can coexist harmoniously.

5. Corena Grant, PhD

Corena Grant's journey to her current career as a female field application specialist at Molecular Devices has been anything but linear. Initially drawn to forensic toxicology, Grant's passion for research and bench science led her to pursue graduate school. Throughout her education, she considered various career paths, including teaching, research in the pharmaceutical industry, and even becoming a dietitian. However, it was during her post-doctoral studies, where she worked with breast cancer patients, that Grant realized her calling to advance our understanding and treatment of diseases.

Seeking a career that would enable impactful scientific discoveries, Grant reached out to her network for guidance. Serendipitously, a field applications scientist position opened up at Molecular Devices, a company known for its fulfilling work culture and growth opportunities. With a well-crafted resume and remarkable interviews, Grant secured the position and embarked on her journey in the male-dominated field of STEM.

Grant's experience highlights the importance of mentors and advocates in the field of STEM. She emphasizes the significance of seeking out supportive and strong mentors throughout one's education and career. Mentors offer guidance and insight, while advocates stand in one's corner, pushing for success and serving as references. Grant values the constant support of her mentors from her undergraduate training, as well as the advocacy provided by individuals who serve as her "hype person" during challenging times.

In her current role as a field application specialist, Grant works closely with research groups, assisting them in furthering their studies. She finds joy in experiencing diverse research topics and contributing to scientific discoveries. Grant also looks forward to becoming even more involved in her customers' research and guiding their methods of research in the future.

For women starting their careers in STEM, Grant advises against closing the door on oneself. She encourages them to embrace their genuine selves, ask for help when needed, and learn from failures and rejections. Grant highlights the importance of resilience and the understanding that failure is an integral part of the learning process. She shares her own experience of persevering through two years of a project that seemed to be going nowhere until a troubleshooting session led to a breakthrough, reminding women that failure can pave the way for greater things.

In a field where women continue to fight for inclusivity and diversity, Corena Grant's journey serves as an inspiration, demonstrating the importance of resilience, mentorship, and staying true to oneself in pursuing a successful career in STEM. Read her interview with LabCompare in, “Overcoming Challenges in STEM to Build a Successful Career.”

6. Dr. Vicky Marsh Durban

Dr. Vicky Marsh Durban is the Director of Custom Organoid Services at Molecular Devices, with a successful career in STEM. She obtained her PhD from Cardiff University, focusing on cancer genetics, and pursued post-doctoral research at UCSF and a Research Fellowship at the European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute. Her journey in STEM began with a passion for practical sciences and hands-on work. Dr. Durban highlights the importance of travel and cultural exposure in shaping her career.

She faced challenges in academia, including the competitive grant landscape and the need to balance lab work with grant applications. After a maternity leave, she transitioned to industry and discovered a passion for the business side of science, particularly in commercialization and strategy. Dr. Durban's most impactful project involves the industrialization and commercialization of organoid technology, which replaces animal models in research.

As a woman in STEM, Dr. Durban believes in staying true to oneself and working to individual strengths rather than conforming to stereotypes. She emphasizes the value of empathy, collaboration, and strategic partnerships in her work. Her advice to young women considering STEM careers is to challenge imposter syndrome and embrace learning on the job. She also acknowledges the need for greater representation of women in senior leadership roles.

Regarding the future of women in STEM, Dr. Durban expects to see increased representation in leadership positions as more women progress through the ranks. She emphasizes the importance of female role models in boardrooms for inspiring future generations. To create a more inclusive and supportive environment, organizations should offer flexibility to accommodate work-life balance, particularly for working mothers.

Dr. Durban's work in STEM has contributed to advancements in the field of organoid technology, particularly in drug discovery. Organoids, which accurately model human biology, have the potential to revolutionize the drug screening process and reduce failure rates. Molecular Devices, under Dr. Durban's leadership, has helped develop a proprietary bioprocess technology to produce organoids at a large scale, enabling high-throughput drug screening. The goal is to discover groundbreaking drugs that would otherwise be impossible to find.

In Drug Target Review’s Women in Stem series, they interview Dr. Marsh Durban about her journey in STEM, what inspired her to pursue a career in the field, and the challenges she encountered along the way.

Your journey starts here

Through the inspiring biographies of our women associates at Molecular Devices, we have witnessed the power of resilience, determination, and supportive communities in the journey of women in STEM. Their stories serve as beacons of inspiration and motivation for aspiring scientists, engineers, and innovators around the world.

As we celebrate the contributions of women in STEM and acknowledge the ongoing work needed to achieve true inclusivity and diversity, we invite you to join us at Molecular Devices. We are committed to fostering an environment where women can thrive and make significant contributions to the field. With a supportive network of mentors, advocates, and cutting-edge technologies, we provide the platform for you to pursue your passion and advance scientific discovery.

Start your journey with us and be part of the next generation of women shaping the STEM field. Visit our Careers page.

Recent posts