“Don’t be afraid to take unconventional paths”: Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science
February 11 marks the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science - a day dedicated to recognising the vital contributions of women and girls to all science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
However, this day also serves as a reminder of the challenges and persistent gender inequality women still face when embarking on careers in science: according to UNESCO, only one in three scientists is a woman and girls represent only 35% of all students in STEM related fields. These statistics have not improved much in recent years, making it even more important to ensure young women and girls have full and equal access to education and opportunities to participate in all STEM fields in the future.
To celebrate this year’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we spoke to several of the inspiring women who are part of the GenPath Africa consortium. They are researchers specialising in next generation sequencing, are public health specialists, lead research groups studying the intersection of human and animal health, work as data analysists and support the next generation of scientists by creating training initiatives in pathogen bioinformatics. Their work across such a diverse range of scientific fields is a testament to the essential contributions female scientists are making to address complex health challenges on a global scale.
Today, we asked our colleagues about their work, what inspired them to start their careers in science and what advice they would give to young women and girls aspiring to follow in their footsteps.
Anzaan Dippenaar
Anzaan Dippenaar works as a senior researcher at the University of Antwerp in Belgium.
Tell us about your work
I am a senior researcher specialising in tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics, next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, and drug resistance. My work focuses on advancing molecular methods to improve the detection and management of drug-resistant TB. Within the GenPath Africa project, I contribute to efforts aimed at implementing precision medicine and public health strategies to effectively tackle drug-resistant TB in African settings.
Who or what inspired you to go into a career in science?
As a child, I was endlessly curious with a wide variety of interests. Even now, I consider myself something of a jack of all trades, master of none. One common thread that tied many of my interests together, however, was science. I used to joke that I wanted to wear a white (lab) coat when I grew up - even if it meant being a butcher! Jokes aside, I’ve always admired scientists for their dedication to understanding the world and striving to make it better. Over time, I came to appreciate just how challenging it is to make a real difference, but that challenge is also what makes this career so rewarding.
What advice would you give to young women and girls wanting to start a career in science?
Follow your curiosity but do so with a healthy dose of scepticism. Science isn’t just about breakthroughs and accolades - it’s a slow process of uncovering truths, often with more questions than answers. Focus on what genuinely excites you, and don’t be afraid to take unconventional paths. Seek out mentors who you admire and who can provide guidance and insight, build relationships with people who challenge you, and take pride in the incremental progress you make - small steps are what ultimately drive real change.
Michele Miller
Michele Miller is a professor at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
Tell us about your work
I currently lead a research group at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University. We focus on tuberculosis and other diseases that can cross species, including between humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. This research utilises multiple disciplines (such as molecular biology, epidemiology, immunology, and more) which facilitates a broad understanding of disease and health. This is especially timely as people have become more aware of the threats that emerging diseases (often originating from animals) can have on global populations. Our work as part of GenPath Africa uses a “One Health” approach, including consideration of human, animal, and environmental factors that influence disease emergence and spread. We have been investigating the role of environmental contamination in the spread of tuberculosis and developing new techniques for detecting these pathogens in rural livestock, human communities, and wildlife where they interface.
Who or what inspired you to go into a career in science?
My childhood dream was to become a wildlife veterinarian in Africa. This came from my exposure to animals as pets and on my grandparents’ farm. Before attending veterinary medical school, I completed a PhD studying immune responses to viral infections in cattle. This experience highlighted how exciting science can be, developing research questions and seeking answers that are novel and impactful. I had mentors in both graduate and veterinary school that inspired me to continue lifelong learning, applying the training I received to advance health, especially in wildlife populations. I met heroes involved in conservation, wildlife health, and public health that showed how cooperation of experts in different fields can lead to new knowledge and resolution of health challenges. I hope that I can pass on the gift that I received when I started my career.
What advice would you give to young women and girls wanting to start a career in science?
The most important advice I can provide is to follow your dreams, and don’t let others tell you that you can’t do it. Building a career in science can be a long and sometimes twisted road. Don’t be afraid to reach out to leaders that you admire, especially women scientists that can become your mentor. Celebrate small successes to keep yourself motivated, and persevere.
Samantha Sampson
Samantha Sampson is a professor at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
Tell us about your work
I have the privilege of leading the Host-Pathogen Mycobactomics Research Group at Stellenbosch University, which aims to explore the interface between the tuberculosis (TB) pathogen and its host. Special interests of the group include the PE/PPE proteins and mycobacterial persisters. We use a combination of molecular biology, infection models and “omics” techniques to explore these areas. This work is undertaken with an exciting group of national and international collaborators. I am also passionate about capacity development and have mentored several early career researchers.
I am currently leading a program to develop and implement a structured Masters in Pathogen Bioinformatics, which will contribute to GenPath Africa’s training initiatives.
Who or what inspired you to go into a career in science?
Both my parents were a strong influence academically, but my father really encouraged in me both a sense of imagination, and an appreciation of science. I think that both of these are important to do good science. When my father read with me, we would sit with a book, look at the pictures, and come up with (often ridiculous!) stories about them. I remember many Friday nights where we would sit at our dining table and he would explain things like camshafts, combustion engines and penumbras. This fed my curiosity about how things worked, and I never really stopped asking “why?”.
What advice would you give to young women and girls wanting to start a career in science?
Find good mentors - I’ve been fortunate to have some amazing mentors, who have pushed, encouraged and supported me throughout my career. If you want to remain in academia, a true love for science and your research area will be a great benefit – it really is what keeps me going in the tough times! Having said that, there are many options besides academia, and these should not be viewed as “second choices”.
Nalia Ismael
Nalia Ismael is a public health specialist at Instituto Nacional De Saude in Mozambique.
Tell us about your work
I have been working at the Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS) in Mozambique since 2009, and currently am the head of the Biotechnology and Genetics Laboratory, the reference laboratory for genomics testing in Mozambique. In my work, I have contributed a lot to the public health sector, particularly in the field of HIV treatment and care by implementing, expanding, and technically supporting the viral load laboratories network and HIV-DR testing.
Additionally, I have also conducted research in the field of innovative technologies, including point-of-care technologies to improve diagnosis and treatment care in remote health facilities. My main research interests are genetics, genomics and bioinformatics in the field of infectious diseases (HIV, HBV, HPV, TB). Moreover, I work as Mozambique’s principal investigator for the GenPath Africa project and since 2020 have been leading efforts to integrate genomic surveillance in Mozambique.
Who or what inspired you to go into a career in science?
What inspired me into a career in science was my strong desire to better understand mysterious things and investigate them profoundly. I always wanted to find evidence-based answers to my questions, which is essential for a scientific career.
What advice would you give to young women and girls wanting to start a career in science.
Being a woman in science is not easy, especially in Africa. Female scientists will likely be confronted with social stereotypes on top of the obstacles women already face when starting a career as a scientist. My main advice to young women and girls who want to start their own careers in science is to never give up on your goals and dreams, and to not be afraid of failing and starting over again, no matter the obstacles. Take advantage of every opportunity that is presented to you and make the most of it.
Elizna Maasdorp
Elizna Maasdorp is a data analyst and senior lecturer at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
Tell us about your work
I work as a data analyst at Stellenbosch University, producing results from different kinds of data, mainly focused on tuberculosis, which is a major public health challenge in our country. For the GenPath Africa project, I am part of the bioinformatics and data management team.
I have worked together with partners in Kenya on a computational analysis pipeline and a dashboard for wastewater surveillance. I am also involved in bringing together other existing coding scripts into workflows or pipelines to make them more portable and shareable.
Who or what inspired you to go into a career in science?
I was trained as a medical doctor and worked in primary healthcare and HIV settings for about 8 years, before pursuing my interests in data analysis. Working in challenging clinical settings demonstrated to me the importance of good quality data and research for decision making, and the challenges when those are absent. I felt like I could blend my medical background and interest in data, to contribute to better healthcare in that way.
What advice would you give to young women and girls wanting to start a career in science?
Work hard at mathematics, not just at science! And I recommend cultivating a love of reading from an early age - not just science, but reading widely across fiction and non-fiction. A career in science involves a lot of writing and I think one of the best ways to prepare for writing is reading.
