International Day of Women and Girls in Science
7 min read 11 February 2023
Today on International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re featuring some of the incredible women working in research at Peter Mac.
It's an important day to highlight the immense contribution women are making in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine) – and to inspire the next generation to think about careers in these exciting and rewarding fields.
A significant gender gap has persisted throughout the years in STEMM disciplines all over the world.
Even though women have made tremendous progress towards increasing their participation in higher education, they are still under-represented in these fields.
“ We can all do our part to unleash our world’s enormous untapped talent – starting with filling classrooms, laboratories, and boardrooms with women scientists”.
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Find out more about some of the women working in science at Peter Mac below.
Angela Pizzola - Immunologist
Tell us about your role at Peter Mac?
I’m an immunologist; a researcher who studies the immune system, how it works and how it can be improved to protect us more effectively from infections and cancer. Our immune system is constantly at work to remove cells that are not right and when cancer prevails, it’s because it silences the immune system or has made itself invisible to it.
In the last decade, new treatments that stimulate the immune system have proven very effective against several cancers and they provide the basis to continue to improve and refine these treatments.
What was your path into your science career, what subjects did you study at high school and university?
I studied biotechnology at university because it was a very new subject with widespread applications to all aspects of life - from new foods to fuels to medical treatments. I fell in love with immunology because the immune system is a fascinatingly complex subject, always in flux, always changing and crucial to a healthy life.
What is your advice to women and girls who are considering a career in science?
My advice is to start with following what interests you - you might not yet know which direction it will lead you. There are so many careers that can be pursued in science that leverage on many interests and skills, from illustrator to scientific writer to lab scientist to clinician (and many more). The opportunities will appear once you start learning new skills and exploring fields of interest.
What’s your message on International Day of Women and Girls in Science?
Working in science is challenging and rewarding and if you find yourself in a positive and supporting environment, it’s a lot of fun. I have worked in six different institutes across 3 countries and found that women occupy at least 50 per cent or more of the work force but there are sadly still less than 50 per cent in leadership positions. Slowly this is changing and I’m optimistic that it will keep improving.
The best working environments are the ones where both women and men work side by side in a collaborative manner and science can provide such opportunity.
Rebecca Purvis – genetic counsellor and PhD student
Tell us about your role at Peter Mac?
I am a certified clinical and academic genetic counsellor currently working and completing my PhD within the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre.
What was your path into your science career, what subjects did you study at high school/course at university?
I was always really interested in medical genetics and the bioethical challenges that new technologies herald. At university, I completed an undergraduate Bachelor of Science majoring in genetics and went on to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences, majoring in bioethics and medical anthropology. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to then complete my Master of Genetic Counselling in the United States.
What is your advice to women/girls who are considering a career in science?
Don’t be afraid to boldly follow your passions and do something different.
Alexandra Smith – Research Assistant kConFab
Tell us about your role at Peter Mac?
I work as a Research Assistant with a group called kConFab, an ongoing cohort study in operation for the past 25 years. Our group looks at the genes underlying breast, ovarian and prostate cancer with a focus on gene discovery and translational work.
What was your path into your science career, what subjects did you study at high school and university?
In high school, I took mostly mathematics and science subjects. My favourite subject was chemistry because I enjoyed the problem solving aspect of it. After school, I completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours at the University of Melbourne. I took mostly anatomy and neuroscience subjects. The scientific methods that I learnt and the scientific way of thinking that I developed when completing my degree are very beneficial to the work I now do in my current role in cancer research. Many scientific skills are transferrable, you just need to practice some lateral thinking
What is your advice to women/girls who are considering a career in science?
In general, it has been found that women tend to not apply for jobs unless they fit all the selection criteria whilst men will apply for jobs when they fit only just over half of the selection criteria. Therefore, my advice to women and girls who are considering entering science is to not be discouraged. You do possess the skills and are as worthy as your male peers to be in science. There are initiatives and programs that already exist to help support women to be in STEM, in particular in male dominated fields such as engineering. Women and girls should research and source these opportunities independently, not because they need them to succeed, but as a form of self-empowerment.
What’s your message/what would you like people to know on International Day of Women and Girls in Science?
Science is an ever changing, dynamic field where what is thought to be true is constantly being questioned. To prevent biases, we need a diverse workforce across all areas of STEM. This, in turn, creates a fertile soil of novel opinions for innovation to grow, whilst also supporting equity in the workforce.
Evanny Marinovic - Research Assistant, Cancer Genetics Lab
Tell us about your role at Peter Mac?
I mostly perform ‘wet lab’ experiments, which means that I get to be hands-on and have fun producing data with very fancy technologies and robots, all to prove or disprove intriguing hypotheses. I also optimise experiments, trying to figure out why some things in the lab might not be working well or, sometimes, at all! I feel very blessed that I get to research hereditary breast cancer, which is the reason my late grandmother was a patient at Peter Mac many years ago.
What was your path into your science career, what subjects did you study at high school and university?
I went to a regional public high school and did a Bachelor of Science at University of Melbourne and a Master of Biomed Science at Monash, majoring in oncology. My Master’s project was at Peter Mac and focussed on surface protein expression in rare ovarian cancer cells, and how drugs can exploit them. This is where I ‘fell for’ cancer biology and scientific research. During my undergrad at University of Melbourne, I also completed a Diploma in French as I have a huge passion for linguistics (English or otherwise) and didn’t want/need to sacrifice other goals at a cost of my love for science.
What is your advice to women/girls who are considering a career in science?
I would advise girls to have the fortitude to pursue their academic passions and scientific curiosities broadly and deeply. The pathways that sometimes seem too nerdy and/or difficult to be accessible are often the most enjoyable and rewarding ones! You don’t have to be a hyper-intelligent workaholic to be successful in science, just dedicated and enthusiastic.
What’s your message/what would you like people to know on International Day of Women and Girls in Science?
I would like people to know how much patience and appreciation for the dynamic journey towards your desired career path will help make you more complete and successful in the end, rather than hurriedly focusing on any final destination. And that not all scientists are as dorky as they are sometimes portrayed.