International Women's Day 2019 - Sharing SCIEX Customer Success Stories #BalanceforBetter
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Celebrating International Women’s Day 2019 International Women’s Day (March 8th) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day has occurred for well over a century, evolving from the fight for voting rights for women all over the world to a new emphasis on raising women to positions of influence and celebrating their achievements. The 2019 campaign theme of #BalanceforBetter is a call-to-action for driving gender balance across the world. IWD organizers explain this year’s theme on their site: “Balance is not a women’s issue, it’s a business issue. The race is on for the gender-balanced boardroom, a gender-balanced government, gender-balanced media coverage, a gender-balance of employees, more gender-balance in wealth, gender-balanced sports coverage... Gender balance is essential for economies and communities to thrive.”1 We are moving to a very exciting time in history where the world now expects gender balance. The world notices its absence and celebrates its presence. Advancing women’s equality in the countries of Asia Pacific could add $4.5 trillion to their collective GDP annually in 2025, a 12% over a business-as-usual GDP trajectory.2 We know that gender-diverse companies are 21% more likely to outperform their less-diverse counterparts, better able to attract top talent, and have improved rates of customer and employee satisfaction.3 A balanced world is a better world. To help make a difference, we at SCIEX are sharing the stories and celebrating the successes of some of our women customers from across the region. To all our colleagues and customers, happy International Women’s Day! 1. www.internationalwomensday.com 2. THE POWER OF PARITY: ADVANCING WOMEN’S EQUALITY IN ASIA PACIFIC. April 2018. McKinsey Global Institute 3. Vivian Hunt, Sara Prince, Sundiatu Dixon-Fyle & Lareina Yee. Delivering through Diversity. January 2018. McKinsey & Company
Professor Michelle Colgrave Professor of Food and Agriculture, CSIRO Agriculture and Food and the School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Australia Please tell us your story of how you got to to solve complex problems, but this requires trans-disciplinary where you are in your career today. approaches and critical thinking. I like to surround myself with people with different skill sets and from different backgrounds I began my research career as a PhD student at the University because they will not tackle the problem in the same way that of Wollongong in the area of bioanalytical mass spectrometry. I will. In practice, this means that we have a better chance of I then moved to the United Kingdom and spent time in an cracking the big challenges and achieving it in a shorter time frame. instrument development lab looking at interfacing ion mobility with mass spectrometry. I moved back to Australia joining the University of Queensland to apply mass spectrometry to accelerate Who has inspired you in your career in science? natural peptide discovery. I then took a role in industry as a field My PhD supervisor Prof Margaret Sheil AO was an excellent application specialist in proteomics (at Applied Biosystems). In 2007, role model, not only did she demonstrate high level technical I joined CSIRO to establish proteomics and now lead the Molecular skills in a (at the time) male dominated field, her work ethic Analysis team. In October 2018, I took on an additional role as was unbelievable. She was the first female chemistry lecturer in a Professorial Research Fellow at ECU to establish a proteomics Australia and went on to lead the ARC. I am also surrounded by research group which is focussing on food safety and quality with a excellent scientists and managers both female and male who have particular emphasis on grain science. sought to remove the barriers, perceived or real, allowing females to reach their potential. What excites you outside of work? I have a young family who love travel and sport. We recently Do you have any advice for other women in travelled to Japan to ski and snowboard which combined both STEM careers or aspiring for your job role? passions and was a great cultural experience. I also play Oztag, a Find a good mentor and meet regularly. Use the relationship to type of football and will be competing in the Queensland State build on your strengths and find areas wherein you can develop Titles in March, looking to defend our title. new skills. The mentor does not need to be female, nor even in the same field of research, and you can change your mentor after you Have you faced any challenges as a woman in have gained the experience which you first sought, but selecting your role? someone who has been through the same challenges can give you confidence that your issues are not unique and help you find ways Not specifically as a woman. As a scientist, my team faces many to solve them. challenges trying to solve some of the biggest problems facing agricultural science. In the field of food and agriculture, we face some issues attracting funding at the same level that might be achieved in the medical/health sciences. As such, working with industry is critical to not only understand the problems that “Balance is critical, industry face and how our science can answer these questions because whether it be but also deliver the foundations for future research. We can achieve excellent science, but one of our key challenges is effective based on gender, culture communication of our research outcomes and how we can use this to increase the impact of our research. or any other factor, diversity brings a wealth The theme for International Women’s Day this year is “Balance for Better.” What does this of ideas.” mean to you and what action do you think we need to take? Balance is critical, because whether it be based on gender, culture or any other factor, diversity brings a wealth of ideas. We look International Women’s Day 8th March 2019 Visit us at sciex.com >
Sharon Paterson Medical Laboratory Scientist, Toxicology and Workplace Drug Testing Laboratory, Canterbury District Health Board, New Zealand Please tell us your story of how you got to Who has inspired you in your career in science? where you are in your career today. My Year 11 high school teacher, Mr. Fife, was my inspiration to I left high school for a position as a laboratory technician in Clinical pursue a career in science. I went to a girls only high school where Biochemistry at Christchurch Hospital and studied part-time studying the sciences and math was actively encouraged. There working towards my qualification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. was also a big push during that time that “Girls can do anything.” After three years in the general biochemistry laboratories, I got the opportunity to specialise in Toxicology. This role has involved Do you have any advice for other women in developing methodologies for therapeutic drug monitoring, STEM careers or aspiring for your job role? occupational exposure monitoring, medical drug screening and Go for it! more recently the area of workplace drug testing. Technology has changed enormously over my 35 years in this field, from thin layer chromatography in the 1980s, to LC-MS/MS and now to the most recent addition to our laboratory, a SCIEX X500R which has enabled our lab to keep up with the constant stream of new synthetic drugs that are in our communities. My job is constantly changing and every day I am learning something new. I guess that is why I still love coming to work after 35 years in the laboratory. What excites you outside of work? I have three children and one grandchild. I am a keen netball and rugby supporter and I also enjoy watching cricket. I like to garden in my spare time as well as walk my dog along the beach or through the forest, both of which are on my doorstep. Have you faced any challenges as a woman in your role? Occasionally others think they have more expertise and know better how to go about things but I stick to my plan and usually the outcomes speak for themselves. “Equal pay for equal work The theme for International Women’s Day this year is “Balance for Better.” What does this and flexibility to allow for mean to you and what action do you think we family commitments are two need to take? We need to give women the same voice and respect in the world things that will improve the as men, but also realise there will be times when family must come gender-balance” before everything else. Equal pay for equal work and flexibility to allow for family commitments are two things that will improve the gender-balance in all areas for both men and women. International Women’s Day 8th March 2019 Visit us at sciex.com >
Prof. Ute Roessner Head of School, School of BioSciences and Node Leader, Metabolomics Australia, The University of Melbourne, Australia Please tell us your story of how you got to your manager your desire to climb the ladder, to take on additional where you are in your career today. responsibilities, to push hard on the research, and request their help to find those opportunities. Talk to as many people in upper During my studies at the University of Potsdam, I could not wait management as possible and respond to calls for leadership to get into the lab, so I signed up as a casual at the Max Planck positions so that your name becomes known. Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology. I quickly learned that I really had to deal with my fear of speaking in English, so went off and did my MSc at the John Innes Institute in the United Kingdom, followed The theme for International Women’s Day this by a PhD back at the Max Planck Institute. This was an exciting time year is “Balance for Better.” What does this - I was part of the pioneering team that developed the concept mean to you and what action do you think we of metabolomics, and even witnessed Prof Oliver Fiehn come up need to take? with the name at a party! In 2003, Prof Tony Bacic convinced me All I say, yes and yes and yes. We have to thrive towards gender to move to Australia, where we established the Australian Centre balance everywhere, but we also have to acknowledge that there for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG). This was followed by is much more to diversity and inclusion. We have a lot more work setting up a national metabolomics service facility (Metabolomics to do to make diversity and inclusion possible. I acted for two Australia), of which I became node leader in 2011. years as Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at the Faculty In 2013, I was awarded an ARC Future Fellowship and established of Science, UoM, and realised that addressing gender balance my own research program in temporal and spatially-resolved is rather easy compared to considering all other diversity our metabolomics of plant roots. In 2018 I became Head of School of population represent, and which we want to have represented Botany, which is such an exciting place to lead. Not a single day at our University. As a head of school it is one of our foremost passes without good news, and I enjoy being part of the positive responsibility to establish the environment, acceptance, tolerance change at the University. Although I am now far away from the lab, and respect for all and everyone in our community, across gender, and even further away from a mass spectrometer, my heart still sits age, disability, ethnicity, indigenous or LGBTQ+. with metabolomics and I hope that I can maintain my passion and keep on developing cool new methods to measure the amazing Who has inspired you in your career in science? diversity of chemistry we find in biology! There have been many great people who have inspired me. In the plant sciences its people like Profs Mark Tester and Tony Bacic, What excites you outside of work? plant metabolomics Dr Joachim Kopka and Profs Lloyd Sumner and My family, husband and a 17-year old son and two lovely Kazuki Saito, lipidomics Profs Ivo Feussner and Markus Wenk. As stepdaughters. Joy of every day are my two fluffy puppies Rudi and a leader I have been inspired by Profs Lothar Willmitzer and Mark Oscar. I love outdoors, bush walking, travelling. I read a lot, mostly Burgman and Dick Strugnell, and many more. crime novels, but only in German! Do you have any advice for other women in Have you faced any challenges as a woman in STEM careers or aspiring for your job role? your role? Be persistent. Keep going. Put in the effort. Be passionate and love This is a difficult question to answer. Probably yes, in some ways, your work, most importantly. If you don’t love what you do, you but it is always difficult to differentiate if hurdles are there because will not excel, that is what I believe, and this applies to everyone, you are a woman, or because you are lacking specific skills. I have not just women! always interpreted hurdles or drawbacks in my career as the latter, and then identified opportunities to learn about myself, identify my weaknesses and strengths, and work on improving and learning new skills. This has given me more confidence in my own abilities and allowed me to put up my hand when leadership opportunities came up. I also think an important aspect is to communicate with International Women’s Day 8th March 2019 Visit us at sciex.com >
Dr Sarit Kaserzon Senior Researcher, the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), University of Queensland, Australia Please tell us your story of how you got to it is not enough. Women and mothers are a strong, determined where you are in your career today. nurturing force that are essential in STEM to make useful and safe innovations. There is a clear need for change to supporting women Growing up in Israel, I had always been very passionate about enough to stay in STEM! animals and our environment. After graduating from high school and completing compulsory military service my goal was to study environmental health sciences. However, options in Israel were The theme for International Women’s Day this virtually non-existent at the time, so I started a career in marketing year is “Balance for Better.” What does this communications. After several years I recognised I had drifted mean to you and what action do you think we too far from my passion, so went off to explore a different career need to take? path. I moved to Australia and began a BSc(Hons) in environmental We need both a bottom-up (educating our kids from early years) biology and chemistry at RMIT, and knew immediately I had found and a top-down (from the highest levels in government, corporate my calling. Studying in another language and country away from and private industries) approach to tackle gender balance. This friends and family was initially very challenging, but it goes to show will require full involvement of leaders, the community, and the that a determined mind can achieve anything. I was awarded a individual. For me it is about challenging my bosses about the scholarship to complete a PhD at the University of Queensland, dwindling of women representation at senior academic levels, and developing sampling and analytical strategies to better understand educating my boys when they tell me “boys can do it better than toxic environmental pollutants. I have held several postdoctoral girls!” positions, which bring me to the Research Fellow position I hold today. The opportunity to continue to explore, experiment and hopefully contribute to a healthier planet by working on Who has inspired you in your career in understanding and reducing human and environmental exposure to science? toxic pollutants is what drives me. If we respect and look after our There are so many inspiring women and young girls that I cannot planet, she will certainly look after us! name them all. Recently, I absolutely love how inspiring 16-year old What excites you outside of work? Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is and how she is providing I get most excited about travelling and exploring different places, such strong leadership and a prime cultures and cuisines. There are always new places to explore and example of how young people new things to learn about the beautiful diversity in this world, can use their voices to move and and it is the most enriching and fun way to educate oneself about shake the most senior leadership. society and our planet. I also have to say my mother, who Swedish climate supported my dad and his business activist Greta Have you faced any challenges as a woman in for most of her life. Much later in her Thunberg your role? life, Mum decided to follow her passion and started studying and For the most part, my journey has felt very balanced. It was practicing yoga and shiatsu, eventually becoming a teacher herself. not until after my first child was born midway through my PhD She showed me what following your own path with tenacity grit, studies when I experienced the immense pressure to juggle my resilience and education can achieve. Thanks mum! studies and raise a tiny human. My maternity leave was short - only four and a half months – and with every day back at work, Do you have any advice for other women in the exhaustion grows and the gap you feel between yourself STEM careers or aspiring for your job role? and fellow researchers widens. My second child came 6 months Find a niche that you love, that excites you and apply it to your job after I completed my PhD. Today, my kids are 4 and 6 and while and your future. Be challenged by what you love and that will keep the juggling and exhaustions subsides ever so slightly with every you motivated. Ignore the “nay-sayers”. Help your fellow STEM passing year, the legacy of the physical and mental burdens are colleagues, as it is within collaborations that we can achieve the still strongly felt. While some efforts are made to assist mothers in greatest influence. STEM, (e.g. ‘career Interruptions’ in competitive grant applications), International Women’s Day 8th March 2019 Visit us at sciex.com >
Valentina Valova Manager, Biomedical Proteomics, Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI), Australia Please tell us your story of how you got to where you are in your career today. My career began with a MSc (Biotechnology) from Sofia University in Bulgaria. After two years at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia, I moved to Sydney where I completed a MAppSc (Biopharmaceuticals) at the UNSW. This is when I was first introduced to mass spectrometry and I was lucky enough to find myself at the forefront of a rapidly developing field. My training in mass spectrometry combined with a strong background in science and engineering helped me embark on an exciting new career in 1998, when I joined Professor Phil Robinson at CMRI. Our pioneering work in phospho-proteomics and in the development of methods for identification of protein-protein interactions provided the necessary basis for establishing Proteomics as a core technology in the Westmead Research Precinct. I am a Co-Founder of Biomedical Proteomics, The ACRF Centre for Kinomics and ProCan - The ACRF International Centre for the Proteome of Cancer. I led the design of the above multimillion-dollar, state-of-the-art facilities and their establishment, operation and expansion over the last 20 years. What excites you outside of work? My whole family is engaged in helping with wildlife and pet rescue. Over the last few years we have rescued and rehomed kittens, lorikeets, budgies, canaries and a talking cockatoo. We are getting Valentina and her team at CMRI better at it. The theme for International Women’s Day this year is “Balance for Better.” What does this mean to you and what action do you think we need to take? Being heard, being taken seriously is still an issue for many women. Who has inspired you in your career in science? “Being heard, being taken My mother. seriously is still an issue Do you have any advice for other women in for many women” STEM careers or aspiring for your job role? Be kind to yourself. International Women’s Day 8th March 2019 Visit us at sciex.com >
Dr Shalona Anuj Scientist, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, Australia Please tell us your story of how you got to Do you have any advice for other women in where you are in your career today. STEM careers or aspiring for your job role? After finishing my PhD, I worked as an analyst for QPharm located You have to do what you are passionate about in life and will get at the Clive Berghoffer Centre in Brisbane. Funnily enough, Andy you out of bed in the morning. Money is good but a purpose de Jager (then a Field Applications Specialist at SCIEX) was my is better, so if STEM is where your passion is, just keep going, manager. After a couple of years of working at QPharm, the because you never know where the road will take you. company restructured, and Andy suggested I try applying for a position at QHFSS, as they were after someone with experience using the SCIEX instruments. Ten years on, I am still at QHFSS, using the 4000, 5500 and soon to be 6500 instruments, to develop methods with both environmental, public health and forensics applications. What excites you outside of work? Climbing and nature. Have you faced any challenges as a woman in your role? Well, most of my colleagues are males, so you can say, females are not well represented in the technical/ analytical field. However, that has not posed any significant challenges, as my colleagues and workplace happily accept that women can also work in highly technical science focused roles. If anything, being a woman has helped open doors and opportunities. The theme for International Women’s Day this year is “Balance for Better.” What does this mean to you and what action do you think we need to take? There is not a great representation of women in scientific technical “You have to do what you roles, especially at a leadership level. That said, thanks to social and other media platforms, there is a greater awareness now for are passionate about in the need for balance in relation to women, not just at work, but in all areas of life. This can be achieved by empowering women with life and will get you out mentoring tools and opportunities to progress in their careers and of bed in the morning.” other pursuits, while acknowledging the need for a balanced life which may encompass time away to build and care for a family. Who has inspired you in your career in science? My chemistry teacher in year 12, he thought I was the worst student he had taught in a long time. International Women’s Day 8th March 2019 Visit us at sciex.com >
Claire Sutcliffe Supervising Scientist Toxicology, Western Diagnostic Pathology, Australia Please tell us your story of how you got to Do you have any advice for other women in where you are in your career today. STEM careers or aspiring for your job role? I have always loved science and finding out how things work since Just be confident and yourself. You’re already a smart woman so I was a child, and doing well in science at school it was an easy don’t let anyone believe that you’re less than. choice to follow this into university where I completed a degree in Biomedical science, Molecular Biology and Forensics. From there I applied anywhere and everywhere and was lucky to get into a pathology lab and found that I really loved it and wanted to move up and into the toxicology department. From there I moved laboratories a couple of times before settling at WDP and being given the tools and freedom to forge out a great department with a great group of people. What excites you outside of work? I love my two little cockatiels, gardening, hitting the gym, catching up on RuPaul’s Drag Race and Netflix, and hanging out with friends! Have you faced any challenges as a woman in your role? Yes! But I see every day as an opportunity to help educate people and show that women are important in the future of STEM as they are just as hard working, and can often bring a fresh perspective to the table. The theme for International Women’s Day this “We need to give [women] year is “Balance for Better.” As written on the IWD website: “Balance is not a women’s issue, an equal voice at the table it’s a business issue. The race is on for the gender-balanced and actually listen to what boardroom, a gender-balanced government, gender-balanced media coverage, a gender-balance of employees, more gender- they have to offer.” balance in wealth, gender-balanced sports coverage…” What does this mean to you and what action do you think we need to take? I think that we need to see more women on all of these areas, but not just to prove a point or make up the numbers. We need to give them an equal voice at the table and actually listen to what they have to offer. We also can’t expect this to happen overnight, especially in the world of sports for example, popularity and sponsorship takes time, so we can’t always be directly comparing these to the well-established men’s leagues. We also can’t always expect business/government/media systems to be able stay the same as many were set up by a straight white male dominant societies without ever allowing for anything different to enter the conversation. International Women’s Day 8th March 2019 Visit us at sciex.com >
Shilpa Akshay Karvir-Joshi Laboratory Manager, Manuka Health, New Zealand Please tell us your story of how you got to women playing key roles and holding top positions, however, where you are in your career today. we are not yet where we should be. Science has always fascinated me and left me looking for answers which made me inquisitive. I have always been interested in Who has inspired you in your career in science? research activities, Genetics as a modern tool being my graduation My parents recognised my liking towards Science and encouraged project. This led me to enroll for Master of Science by research in me to pursue my passion towards the subject. I think science can Microbiology. I enrolled and completed my post graduate diploma answer most of our questions. I started studying as Zoology and in food technology from Waikato University. I started with Manuka Botany; further developing my keenness to Microbiology and Health as a laboratory technician; learning, accepting criticisms and Food technology. I truly appreciate how science helps the world gaining experience which enabled me to advance to the laboratory to be a better place and will do in future. I would like to thank my manager’s position. parents, my husband who have encouraged and supported all the way. On professional front I would like to thank Manuka Health What excites you outside of work? management and my staff for their trust and support. I again thank my parents, in laws and especially my husband who never held me I love my family, other things I really enjoy are travelling and down because I am a woman! cooking different cuisines. I love learning new recipes and cooking them for my family. Not only do I enjoy cooking, I am a foodie too; and try different vegetarian cuisines from around the globe. I enjoy Do you have any advice for other women in Mexican and Italian cuisines the most. I love travelling and visiting STEM careers or aspiring for your job role? different places. I appreciate the journey as much as I enjoy the Women tend to question and doubt their own abilities and need destination. I love to go for walks as well as visit busy bustling cities more encouragement. Failure shouldn’t let us down, failure is the with my husband. stepping stone to success. We can have all the expertise in the world, but nothing matters if we, women don’t value ourselves. Have you faced any challenges as a woman in Be strong, be brave and believe in yourself to choose science your role? and pursue it as a career. Deserving women from educational institutions should be awarded grants, fellowships, and should be A woman’s role and her life is always challenging being a mother, encouraged to participate in science fairs and provided with all the sister, daughter or wife. I have faced several challenges in order to necessary support. reach and achieve my aspirations. I love challenges which keeps me going. I think challenges add certain spice to life, teaching us and give us both pleasant and unkind experiences. The theme for International Women’s Day this “We can have all the year is “Balance for Better.” What does this mean to you and what action do you think we expertise in the world, need to take? but nothing matters Balance at workplace means fair treatment irrespective of gender, race, rich and poor. There should be transparency to cause and if we, women don’t effect, and everyone should know what to expect in terms of value ourselves.” consequences and rewards. Everyone should be free to choose, develop their career and aptitudes without being stereotyped or held back. When balance exists, people have equal access to opportunities which leads to better output benefitting the organisation and in turn leads to betterment of the society. With the changing times this balance is being restored, we can see many International Women’s Day 8th March 2019 Visit us at sciex.com >
Lisa Zheng Senior Technologist, Analytica Laboratories Ltd., New Zealand Please tell us your story of how you got to where you are in your career today. Right after I finished my master’s degree, I decided to get some work experience first instead of continuing PhD study. I was inspired by CSI TV series at that time and interested in a role in an analytical laboratory. I started working at Hills Laboratories and became technologist the second year to be involved more in method development and operation troubleshooting. I enjoy what I have done for over ten years, and am still doing- developing new methods, helping others to solve problems and also learning new technologies to develop new skills. What excites you outside of work? I spend most of my time after work by myself as all of my family lives in China. I love to cook different cuisines and it’s so handy nowadays that I can buy everything I need conveniently. Church activities take another important part of my spare time. Have you faced any challenges as a woman in your role? As the only female of the technologist team for most of the time in my career, challenges are unavoidable. I have to say, as a woman it takes much longer to gain respect and acknowledgment from other teams. The theme for International Women’s Day this “As a woman it year is “Balance For Better”. What does this takes much longer mean to you and what action do you think we need to take? to gain respect and I understand women are expecting a more balanced society, which acknowledgment means women should have equal opportunities to be involved in any part of the business if they are interested. from other teams.” International Women’s Day 8th March 2019 Visit us at sciex.com >
Lianzhen (Lilian) Klinger Laboratory Manager, Zenith Technology (ZenTech), New Zealand Please tell us your story of how you got to where you are in your career today. Perhaps it was my natural instincts in science that caused me to first fall in love with mass spectrometry at ZenTech. From the first mass spectrometer in 2005, to today with eight LC-MS/MS systems, we have developed more than 120 assays for determination of drugs and/or metabolites in human plasma, serum or whole blood by LC- MS/MS. As I am responsible for each incoming assay, I am proud of what I have done even though there’s a lot of stress. What excites you outside of work? Travel and gardening. Do you have any advice for other women in “I am proud of what STEM careers or aspiring for your job role? In the field of science and technology, both men and women must I have done.” study hard and work hard. International Women’s Day 8th March 2019 Visit us at sciex.com >
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