Altascientists Reflect: International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026
International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGIS), observed every 11th of February, aims to recognize and promote full and equal access for women and girls to participate in science and technology.
To celebrate the day, we spoke with Altascientists Marie-Hélène Raigneau (President), Beatrice Setnik, PhD, (Chief Scientific Officer), Kimberly Worley (Director, Business Development, Bioanalysis), Camby Chhor (Associate Director, Instrumentation), Anuji Abraham, PhD, MBA (Senior Director, Pharmaceutical Development), and Dr. Francesca Barone, DVM, PhD (Site Director, Preclinical), to learn about their journeys in STEM and hopes for the future. Here’s what they had to say.
What first sparked your interest in STEM?
Marie-Hélène [MHR]: I’ve always been drawn to understanding why things work the way they do especially in biology and medicine, where science has a direct and tangible impact on people’s lives. Especially that it was a way to solve real problems.
Beatrice Setnik [BS]: I used to love reading detective novels and was fascinated by forensic science and how science can be used to solve problems.
Kimberly Worley [KW]: As a young girl, I wanted to be a veterinarian because of my love for animals. That passion naturally drew me toward science, and I enrolled in as many science classes as I could. I eventually majored in Biology and the more I learned, the more my eyes were opened to the many ways science can be applied to make real-world-impact. That curiosity ultimately led me to a career in the CRO industry, where I am able to help advance programs that bring meaningful therapies to patients.
Dr. Francesca Barone [FB]: My interest in STEM began at age twelve when I assisted my uncle, a large-animal veterinarian, during a difficult calf delivery. The calf did not survive, and the experience left a lasting impression, sparking a desire to better understand how outcomes for animals could be improved.
Through my studies, I discovered how advances in veterinary medicine not only benefit animals but also contribute to understanding human disease. This realization inspired me to pursue research that bridges animal and human health, with the goal of advancing care for both.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
BS: The collaborations with colleagues. I learn new things every day and work with incredible people that have diverse expertise and experience in different scientific and medical disciplines. It is a great joy to put our head together to design new studies and analyze data.
Camby Chhor [CC]: Problem solving and finding solutions. Instrumentation operations are important in sustaining laboratory needs; ensuring that instrument and equipment issues, malfunctions are resolved in a timely manner makes the job engaging and challenging.
Anuji Abraham [AA]: Solving meaningful problems, collaborating with great people, and leading science.
What's something about your role that might surprise people?
MHR: How much of it is about people, not data. Science is the foundation, but leadership is about judgment, communication, and making decisions when the answer isn’t obvious. Our people are our most valuable resource, so the human side is what ultimately determines success.
KW: You don’t have to work at the lab bench to have a meaningful impact in science. My role allows me to stay closely connected to the science while strategically helping guide programs forward. It’s a unique intersection of science, problem solving, and collaboration, and it allows me to contribute to advancing therapies in a different way.
BS: It involves a lot of creativity, which one doesn’t always associate with science. Protocol designs are just that, designs requiring an element of creative processing to come up with different configurations. Certainly, the marketing support, slide presentations and other aspects of my role take on even more creative flow, which I really enjoy.
What advice would you give to a girl curious about science?
MHR: Trust yourself and ask questions, even if you think someone else might have thought of it already. You don’t need to fit a stereotype to belong in science. There is room for precision and creativity, confidence and learning as you go.
KW: Get involved early and explore as much as you can. It’s never too soon to start learning, asking questions, and trying new things in STEM. This is why I am also involved with the nonprofit, Her Spark, which works with girls ages 13-18 to introduce them to hands-on STEM experiences and show them the many possibilities a future in science can offer.
CC: There are many paths and opportunities to pursue in STEM. No matter what role you play, we are all contributing to the bigger picture of women in science and the STEM community. Stay curious and passionate about what you do!
AA: Science is fun—stay curious, explore, and ask questions.
FB: Don’t be afraid to fail—every experiment, even the ones that don’t go as planned, is packed with valuable information. For example, if your experiment doesn’t work as expected, take the opportunity to figure out why and ask questions; this is often how real discoveries are made. In science, you never truly fail; you simply uncover more possible outcomes.
What's one thing science needs more of?
BS: Breakthroughs, especially ones to truly cure diseases and accelerate healing post-injury.
KW: Women! Science benefits from diverse perspectives, experiences, and ways of thinking. When women are represented in science, innovation accelerates. Increasing the number of women in STEM strengthens the science itself and helps ensure that the solutions we develop truly reflect the needs of the world.
FB: Creativity. Science thrives when we are brave enough to challenge the status quo and are open to letting our methods evolve. This means continuously questioning existing processes, stepping outside our comfort zones, and being willing to experiment with new approaches—even if they seem unconventional at first. It's vital to carefully document each step along the way, so progress is both traceable and repeatable. By embracing creativity while remaining accountable through documentation, we set the stage for meaningful scientific breakthroughs and growth.
Who inspires you in your field (past or present), and why?
MHR: It isn’t one person—I’m inspired by the committed and passionate people I work with daily and the new folks in the industry I have the privilege of meeting regularly. Those who combine drive and focus with integrity, humility, and a deep commitment to mentoring others. Their impact lasts far beyond any single discovery.
BS: Marie Curie. We share a Polish heritage, and I admire her scientific astuteness, relentless curiosity, and courage in pursuing groundbreaking research despite immense personal and societal obstacles. Her dedication to discovery and her lasting impact on science continue to inspire me to approach my own work with precision, resilience, and purpose.
CC: My 11th grade biology teacher inspired me to pursue STEM. Biology requires a lot of systemic thinking, experimentation, and memorization, but she always found a way to make it interesting and fun.
FB: As an Italian scientist, I feel a strong connection to the legacy of Rita Levi-Montalcini and Margherita Hack, not only for their scientific achievements, but for the courage, integrity, and social responsibility they embodied—values that strongly resonate with my own career path.
Together, Levi-Montalcini and Hack represent for me a uniquely Italian way of doing science: intellectually rigorous, ethically grounded, and socially engaged. They remind me that pursuing demanding, and sometimes controversial, research paths requires both technical excellence and moral clarity. Their legacy reassures me that dedicating my career to complex biomedical research is not only scientifically valid, but also part of a broader tradition of courage, responsibility, and service to society.
Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Sciences, to the scientists of today, and tomorrow!