Supporting the Future of Women in Science

In celebration of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, universities around the world are spotlighting the importance of representation, mentorship, and access in shaping the future of scientific discovery. At the University of Arizona, programs like the Keep Engaging Youth in Science (KEYS) Research Internship Program are helping create powerful early pathways for young women to see themselves not only as students of science, but as its future leaders. While KEYS serves a diverse group of aspiring researchers, its commitment to expanding access and opportunity plays an important role in encouraging more young women to pursue and thrive in STEM fields. Supported by advanced lab technologies, data analysis tools, and research computing infrastructure, these experiences allow students to engage in real-world discovery from the very start of their academic journeys.

For Dr. Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz, Director and Professor of the Translational Women’s Health Research Program, and a KEYS mentor, that mission is deeply personal. She traces her passion for women’s health research back to graduate school, where her work in host-microbe interactions in the female reproductive tract revealed just how much remained unknown.

“It blew my mind how little we knew about women’s biology and health,” she said. “Women deserve better.”

That realization sparked a career dedicated to advancing understanding in women’s health – from improving quality of life to developing painless diagnostics and studying understudied gynecologic diseases. But just as impactful as the research itself is the responsibility to bring the next generation into the lab.

Creating research pathways early, she explained, can be transformative.

“It gives young women permission to see themselves as scientists and innovators,” Herbst-Kralovetz said. “When a student conducts their first experiment, presents a poster, or works on a manuscript, it can change how they view their own potential.”

Growing up in rural Arizona, she had never met a scientist before college and didn’t know what a PhD was. Undergraduate lab experience ultimately redirected her path from pre-med to graduate research – a trajectory she now helps make visible to others.

Through KEYS, students gain hands-on lab exposure, technical training, and even publication opportunities. These immersive experiences allow participants to envision “a day as a scientist,” building confidence whether they pursue research, medicine, or industry.

“I think the most impactful and rewarding aspect is helping them build their confidence as scientists,” she said. “These experiences can guide them toward medical school or graduate school, or simply help them discover where they belong.”

While progress in representation is evident, Herbst-Kralovetz notes the work is far from over. The pipeline of women in science remains strong through early academic stages but narrows significantly at senior faculty and leadership levels.

“Having women in leadership positions is so important for building a culture where women want to stay, lead, and inspire those who come after them,” she said.

Behind each of these research experiences sits a critical, often unseen foundation: technology – from advanced lab instrumentation to secure data environments that enable experimentation, collaboration, and publication at scale.

As universities continue investing in both people and technology, initiatives that connect mentorship, research access, and innovation are helping ensure the future of science is more inclusive and more impactful than ever.