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.

Kashika Sahay

May 10, 2017

Kashika Sahay is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Department of Maternal and Child Health in the Gillings School of Global Public Health. Her research interests include gender equity, reproductive health outcomes, women’s empowerment, and violence prevention. In March, she successfully defended her dissertation on family planning among couples in urban Nigeria. She graduates this weekend and is already working as a contractor for the CDC in Atlanta.

Jada Brooks

April 26, 2017

Jada Brooks is an assistant professor in the UNC School of Nursing. Her research focuses on the health of American Indian women, specifically linking exposure to environmental pollutants and psychosocial factors to cardiovascular disease.

Srihita Bongu

March 29, 2017

Senior Srihita Bongu is an undergraduate researcher within the Maness Lab, studying chemistry and economics in the College of Arts & Sciences. She is also the co-founder of the Women in Economics club on campus. Her research focuses on the changes in expression of the Neurocan gene in the adolescent brain and the implications that has for mental disorders and disabilities.

Catherine Fahey

March 15, 2017

Catherine Fahey is an MD-PhD student studying genetics and molecular biology within the UNC School of Medicine. In February 2017, she successfully defended her dissertation. She is also the co-leader of the student organization UNC Advocates for MD-PhD Women in Science. Her research focuses on how protein-modifying gene mutations contribute to cancer development.