Hello again to all of our Cellfie readers! It's been a hectic couple of weeks! We hope you managed to enjoy some of the glorious sunshine we got and we have loved relaxing in the garden with some good books. Today, we are joined by Erin Humphries who is a research assistant. Thank you so much to Erin for agreeing to do an interview with us and make sure to follow her on Twitter @ErinMHumphries.
Cellfie: What is your job?
Erin: My name is Erin and I am a research assistant at the Children’s Medical Research Institute in Sydney. I am part of the ProCan research team which analyses tens of thousands of cancer tissues from all over the world to develop a library of information to advance scientific discovery and enhance clinical treatment worldwide. From this database, we hope to not only advance basic research into new and better cancer treatments but also help doctors rapidly choose the best existing treatment for their patients.
Cellfie: That's amazing! It must be so heartwarming to know that your research is improving the lives of children all over that are suffering from the horrible illness.
When did you first realize you wanted to do STEM?
Erin: In early high school. I was pretty good at mathematics and found the content easy once you saw the pattern. I also enjoyed the creativity of food and graphics technology. My favourite subject was always science. I loved learning about the world around me and understanding how things happen.
Cellfie: Food has so many cross-overs with science! We have always loved science too and it is so amazing to be able to delve into uncover the secrets behind things we do every single day! Who were your role models growing up?
Erin: My high school science teachers. I had a great mix of male and female teachers who encouraged me to extend myself and pursue further studies. I also admired Pauley Perrette in the TV show NCIS and was later very disappointed to find out that Major Mass Spec (a GC-MS) is not as magical as it is portrayed.
Cellfie: Definitely! It is great to have teachers that will stretch you and inspire you to achieve your full potential! One of our founders wants to be a doctor and was obsessed with this show called "The Good Doctor" so we can definitely see where you are coming from there! :)
Did you ever want to do anything else?
Erin: I considered becoming a teacher or an engineer. By the time I thought about engineering I realised that I should have been studying physics and higher units of mathematics. I decided not to pursue teaching after getting my undergraduate degree as I discovered that I enjoy scientific research.
Cellfie: It's really important to consider all your options but to decide on what will make you most happy!
Have you ever had any setbacks or been told you are a girl so cannot do tech?
Yes. In year 11, I chose to study food technology instead of physics because physics was for boys and there aren’t many jobs in science. I also chose not to study extension mathematics after being told it would be too difficult for me and that I should focus on my other subjects instead. I regret letting these detrimental gender stereotypes and the perceptions of peers influence my study decisions.
Cellfie: That is really sad to hear. We bet you would've rocked physics and we love how you stood up for yourself and proved them wrong about the extension maths!
What’s one thing you’d like to change about the STEM community?
Erin: I’d like to increase the participation of girls and women in STEM throughout all stages of the career pipeline. We need more girls to engage in STEM at school and need to support them through university as well as in their transition to academia/industry. By increasing the number of women in senior leadership and decision-making positions in academia, industry, government and research organisations, we can help drive cultural change and technological innovation.
Cellfie: That is exactly why we created Cellfie! We believe strongly in increasing the amounts of all minorities in STEM!
Is there a problem with sexism in the STEM community?
Erin: Yes, it is a sort of unconscious bias that affects both men and women. As a woman, the choice to have a family puts my STEM career in jeopardy. Women are expected to marry later and delay or completely forego having children to maximise their research output and establish themselves as a scientist. Many women in their early to mid-thirties drop out of STEM careers as these are generally not stable, well-funded positions that will support having children. Some job descriptions are tailored in a way that limits the number of female candidates applying due to the lack of flexible working arrangements and fixed grant deadlines. Many career awards also have eligibility criteria, such as a set number of years post-PhD, that excludes several female applicants who have had a career break.
Cellfie: That is definitely something we want to change. For example, in medicine some women have been discouraged from going into surgery due to the fact they want children. Employers should fit the needs of their employees and it should be up to the woman whether she makes the choice to have children or not, not being coerced or pressured into not.
What’s your message for young girls wanting to do STEM?
Erin: Be brave and be prepared to stand out from the crowd. Do what you want to do and prove everyone else wrong. When someone says “You can’t do that!”, reply with “Watch me!”
Cellfie: We love it!
What is your favourite science joke?
Erin: Why are chemists great for solving problems? They have all the solutions!
Cellfie: Hahaha, that's amazing! :)
What is your most embarrassing moment in your life?
A few years ago I was out bowling with a few friends at a shopping complex. I offered to take a friend home early because she wasn’t feeling well. Due to my fantastic memory, we then spent two hours walking up and down the levels in the 5,000 space car park in the dark to find my car which I could only describe as small and white.
Cellfie: Oh no! That sounds awful. The problem is there are a lot of small white cars... We would be exactly the same, floor 3 always seems to turn into floor 2, or maybe even 5!
What is your favourite food?
Erin: Who doesn’t love a good chicken schnitzel?
Cellfie: Ooo yummy! We are sooo hungry now!
What is your favourite shop?
Erin: I’m not a fan of huge crowds but love the 24 hour Kmart store near me. It makes for great late-night shopping trips with friends.
Cellfie: That sounds like loads of fun!
Thank you so much to Erin for doing this interview with us, your answers were great and we loved hearing your opinions on things! We especially agree with the part about how women can sometimes be treated in research because of their wishes to have children. Women in STEM should not have to choose between their career and personal life! Make sure to follow Erin and follow us on our Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube all @cellfiemagazine. Can't wait to see you all next time! :)
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