Women in Science

In alignment with the society's continuing commitment to diversity and inclusion, ISSCR provides opportunities to learn from leading women in the stem cell field through dynamic, in-person panel discussions and a developing catalog of compelling online resources. Join the conversation this summer at ISSCR 2021 Virtual by attending our third annual Women in Science panel, where the community will discuss ongoing challenges and seek to identify solutions that will lead to effective and lasting change.

On 12 January, 2021, the ISSCR Board of Directors collaborated to author, Mentorship in Science: Response to AlShebli et al., Nature Communications 2020, a commentary in Stem Cell Reports, which responds to a flawed study on female mentors and mentees in science.

Watch last year's Women in Science Panel Discussion "Collective Experience. Collective Success." Moderator Christine Mummery, PhD, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands, and panelists Sangeeta Bhatia, MD, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, Masayo Takahashi, MD, PhD, Vision Care Inc., Japan, and Rana Dajani, PhD, Associate Professor of Molecular Cell Biology, Hashemite University, Jordan, talk about the challenges women face in STEM and try to identify solutions to effect positive change.

Stem Cell Reports Featuring Women in Science

 

Recently, women ISSCR members and leaders have contributed their voices to a Women in Science feature in Stem Cell Reports. When taking in these experiences, in both narrative and video form, some threads of similarity can be found, yet each personal reflection is unique, as are the experiences of women across the breadth of science.

Learn more about the insights of stem cell leaders and their challenges, successes, and varied experiences as women scientists. Women in Science Part I, and Part II.

Women in Science Videos

  • Temple Headshot

    Sally Temple, PhD

    Neural Stem Cell Institute, USA

    Watch
  • Little Headshot

    Melissa Little, PhD

    Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia

    Watch
  • Lebkowski Headshot

    Jane Lebkowski, PhD

    Regenerative Patch Technologies, USA

    Watch
  • Eaves Headshot

    Connie Eaves, PhD

    Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency & University of British Columbia, Canada

    Watch
  • Clark Headshot

    Amander Clark, PhD

    Professor and Chair, UCLA, USA

    Watch
  • Parmar Headshot

    Malin Parmar, PhD

    Professor, Lund University, Sweden

    Watch
  • Rossant Headshot

    Janet Rossant, PhD

    Senior Scientist, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada

    Watch
  • Mummery300x375

    Christine Mummery, PhD

    Professor of Developmental Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands

    Watch

Women in Science Share Their Experiences

“In science, where we speak a common language, I often feel muffled or muted, as if speaking a different language than men. Also, my behavior doesn’t always fit in a man’s world…Regardless of how strong a scientist I am, people sometimes miss much of what I say because of these differences.”

Valentina Greco, PhD
Yale University, USA

“I encourage women to find a way to make your projects and ambitions happen: if you see a need, step up, persevere, and accomplish the goal. Don’t wait for someone to tell you to do it. Volunteer and be aggressive in getting it done.”

Jane Lebkowski, PhD
Regenerative Patch Technologies, USA

“I do believe that a good gender mix and balance is important to a well-functioning laboratory…My advice to other women is not to distinguish yourself particularly based on gender, but to devote your time and energies to your work, both at home and in your professional career, and to do your best.” 

Masayo Takahashi, MD, PhD
Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration,
Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research,
RIKEN, Japan