Historically, women have been underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). But at 51爆料网, many of our award-winning and nationally recognized faculty in the STEM fields are women. They are doing innovative research that will shape our future and, through their mentorship and teaching, supporting the next generation of STEM leaders.
Meet five of these trailblazing researchers.
Aesoon Park helps us understand why we make the health choices that we do
Aesoon Park, professor of psychology in the , explores the dynamic interplay of individual characteristics and social-environmental influences in the choices young people make that have consequences to their health鈥攕uch as alcohol consumption or sleep habits. 鈥淒ifferent individuals experiencing similar circumstances can respond quite differently, and the decisions people make can change drastically over time. We are trying to understand why and how choices shift over the course of a person鈥檚 development.鈥� Her work, which has been supported by the (NIH) for more than a decade, could lead to a more nuanced understanding of the reasons for health disparities among underserved populations. Park has also developed a range of student research and mentorship programs in support of students from communities that are underrepresented in science.
In addition to her research on choices that affect health, Aesoon Park is dedicated to fostering the next generation of researchers.
Alison Patteson studies how cells move, regenerate and respond
Physics professor Alison Patteson鈥檚 research is situated at the intersection of physics, biology and engineering. She was recently awarded a range of prestigious honors, including a , a , a and the 2024 . Patteson studies how biological systems鈥攁nimal cells and their components, and bacteria鈥攔espond to and navigate their physical environments. 鈥淚鈥檓 interested in living materials and what they can do that nonliving materials, like concrete and rubber, can鈥檛 do鈥攕uch as regeneration and self-pattern formation,鈥� she says. Patteson鈥檚 work is central to the , which supports research into complex biological systems and living materials and contributes innovative insights toward addressing global health and development challenges.
Alison Patteson鈥檚 lab delves into how biological systems respond to and move in their environments鈥攔esearch that could have medical applications in areas ranging from wound healing to cancer treatment.
Qinru Qiu is making computing more energy efficient
Professor Qinru Qiu, in the , is a leading researcher in green computing, with a focus on advancing energy efficiency. She was recently named a , the most prestigious association of computing professionals, and was elevated to in recognition of her contributions to the modeling and optimization of energy-efficient computing systems. One of her primary research areas is in the development of neuromorphic computing, which is inspired by the ways biological neural systems represent and process information, and the physical dynamics of the brain鈥檚 computing and memory structures. Through her work, Qiu aims to create more energy-efficient computing hardware and software with sophisticated learning capabilities.
Collaborations with industry leaders allow students in Qinru Qiu鈥檚 lab to gain professional experience while working on the urgent need for more energy efficient computing.
Mirna Skanata explores how decisions form in a brain
Mirna Skanata, professor of physics and recent recipient of the competitive award and an NIH Maximizing Investigators鈥� Research Award, jokes that she is devoted to understanding how maggots think. Employing a custom-developed tracking microscope, Skanata can watch the activity of individual neurons in fruit fly larvae, as they move about their environment. The goal, she explains, is to understand how information about the sensory environment gets processed and turned into decisions within the brain. The work of her interdisciplinary lab, which draws on neuroscience, molecular biology, engineering and computer science and is part of the BioInspired Institute, holds implications for broader fields, including potential insights into neurological diseases.
Mirna Skanata uses advanced imaging technology to gain insights into how decision making happens at the neural level.
Sarah Woolf-King is developing effective and accessible therapy
Sarah Woolf-King G鈥�10, a professor of psychology, was from the NIH to lead a study assessing the efficacy of a novel treatment aimed at reducing alcohol use and improving coexisting psychological symptoms, such as depression or anxiety, in people living with HIV. Woolf-King adapted an intervention based on one that has been used successfully to help people quit smoking, and that is promising for its accessibility and ability to treat multiple co-occurring mental health symptoms. It could prove to be an invaluable resource for those coping with addiction and chronic illnesses. Woolf-King says that her commitment to this area at the intersection of psychology and health is motivated, in part, by the dedication and compassion of the health care professionals, co-investigators and patients with whom she collaborates.
Sarah Woolf-King G鈥�10 specializes in areas of addiction and chronic disease and has conducted research in communities across the world.
