SISTER

The Power of Support in STEM

My support system is essential to my continued existence in academia.

Maunakea Summit, facing East -- a dark silhouette of a mountain peak with a soft blue/grey and yellow sky in the background.

Maunakea: Redirecting the lens onto the culture of mainstream science

For me, the conflict over the future of the mountain summit is a battle for the soul of mainstream science.

Spreads from The Varsity (student newspaper at University of Toronto) displaying various science headlines.

How to champion inclusion in science journalism — starting at the student level

The post I held gave me a platform, albeit small, to make changes that I wanted to see in media.

Channeling confidence: how to effectively nominate yourself for an award

An unspoken challenge of applying for awards: admitting that you are not only good at something but deserving of recognition for it.

The author, Mackenzie Lemieux, presenting a poster about SAID in STEM at a conference.

A Beginner’s Guide to Hosting a Diversity Seminar Series

Learn how to educate your community on bias, share untold stories, and work towards a more diverse and inclusive STEM environment.

Reclaiming STEM: addressing the gap in diverse and inclusive trainings

Reclaiming STEM was the first workshop created to center scicomm and scipol training specifically for marginalized scientists — and it’s expanding.

A person in a aqua-colored outdoor jacket and sunglasses stands with a beautiful overlook behind her.

Dissociating My Self-Worth from My Research

It was August 2015 and I was a newly minted PhD candidate when I found out I was being cut from my lab.

A group of women are looking up at the camera and wearing black shirts that say "Make STEM Safe" and "Hold them accountable." "

#TakeBackScience: A call for scientific societies to prioritize the safety of their members

One of my first experiences with inappropriate behavior at a conference was when I was 22, fresh out of undergrad and about to start a PhD program.

A clear plastic skull shows the parts of the brain underneath in different colors.

Ben Barres Weaves One Timely and Remarkable Tale

My heart gladdened when I found the story of Ben Barres, the first openly transgender scientist accepted into the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

Do what you love and make it worthwhile

What is your passion? For me, it’s music. But when I got to college, there wasn’t a place for someone like me, a STEM major, to play music for fun.

A group of 7 people in business attire standing outside in front of the Arizona state capitol building.

6 Ways to Make Your Science Advocacy Effective at the State and Local Levels

I’m a huge believer in the idea that to make a difference, you should start where you’re already at. For me, that’s a graduate student studying bioengineering in Arizona.

Your Resume Should Tell A Story

Chronological order. Sections for education and work experience. Name and address at the top. Fits on one page. For many years, these were the rules I was told about what a resume should look like.

People sitting in the audience dressed in business clothes and with open notebooks, perhaps at a conference.

How scientific societies lie about their #MeTooSTEM policies

The societies that refuse to protect their membership from sexual misconduct lie to victims and our allies in four ways.

A photo of the author -- she stands smiling in front of a landscape and a sunny blue sky, with a scarf, coat, and hat on.

Be your own cheerleader

“Flattery feels a lot better than insults,” they say, but have you ever felt uncomfortable accepting praise?

Choosing a graduate mentor

Upon the start of my PhD and towards the end of it, I was faced with the choice of choosing a lab mentor.

Are you aware of your potential? How to structure your CV!

Many students are not even aware of the skills the apply on a daily basis during their PhD.

How I Switched from the Humanities to STEM and Came Out OK

While I had my first job in technology, a good friend from high school came to visit. As I was describing my work scraping and analyzing Twitter data, a look of surprise came over her face. “That sounds like it involves coding.”

A person with clear-frame glasses, short hair, a gray t-shirt, necklace, and checkered hoodie is smiling against an outdoor backdrop.

Science has to do better for its queer, trans, and non-binary scientists

There is a lack of queer visibility in science fields. For transgender people, this visibility is even lower.