Women in Science Wednesdays

While women fill close to half of all jobs in the United States, they hold less than 25 percent of positions within the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Even as college-educated women have increased their share in the overall workforce, our country’s science and technology sectors continue to lack a female presence.

To help close this gap, UNC research is sharing their stories — from the depths of the ocean to the crest of a mountain, with projects that impact our state, the nation, and the world. Carolina’s female scientists from all areas of STEM are making waves in the world of research. Join us each week as our scientists share their unique perspectives on the rigors of research, and advice for other women in their fields.

Keyaira Crudup

Keyaira Crudup is a junior majoring in biomedical and health sciences engineering within the UNC/NC State Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering. Her research focuses on improving the walking speed of aging individuals by training them to increase the amount of force they use to push themselves forward.

Ashley Ward

Ashley Ward is the climate integration and outreach associate for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments program, based out of the Department of Geography within the UNC College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on identifying and increasing awareness of the health impacts from extreme climate events in the Carolinas.

Kira Griffith

Kira Griffith is a sophomore majoring in neuroscience within the UNC College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on understanding the effects of music on the brain. Specifically, she strives to learn why music therapy seems to benefit so many people of all ages and with varying sets of neurological conditions.

Lisa Bauer

Lisa Bauer is a PhD student in the Department of Computer Science within the UNC College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on enhancing a machine’s ability to reason and use common sense as it reads to improve technology products like intelligent tutoring or care devices.

Erika Wilson

Erika Wilson is the Thomas Willis Lambeth Distinguished Professor in Public Policy within the UNC School of Law. Her research focuses on the ways in which laws and policies that don’t explicitly mention race are used to create, maintain, and perpetuate racial segregation and inequality, particularly in public schools.

Yanni Lai

Yanni Lai is a PhD student and graduate research assistant in the Department of Mathematics within the UNC College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on using algorithms to identify mechanical problems within the heart.

Rishma Shah

Rishma Shah is a craniofacial engineer and assistant professor in the Department of Orthodontics within the UNC School of Dentistry. Her research focuses on using a patient’s cells to engineer facial muscle for implantation.

Barbara Sostaita

Barbara Sostaita is a PhD student in the Department of Religious Studies within the UNC College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on how sanctuary is being reimagined in response to contemporary immigration issues.

Mollie Yacano

Mollie Yacano is a PhD student in the Department of Marine Sciences within the UNC College of Arts & Sciences and a graduate research assistant at the Institute of Marine Sciences. Her research focuses on how the invasive plant species Phragmites australis modifies salt marsh ecosystem services such as the removal of excess nitrogen, and how their performance compares to native salt marsh plants and mudflats.

Anita Brown-Graham

Anita Brown-Graham is a professor of public law and government within the UNC School of Government and director of the school's ncIMPACT initiative. Her research focuses on creating opportunities and removing barriers to work-based economic prospects, particularly for residents in distressed communities.