Jennifer Geddes-McAlister is an assistant professor at University of Guelf in California, a mother, a scientist, and the founder of Moms in Proteomics.
“As a mother and scientist, I know that balancing and succeeding in both professional and personal situations requires strong mentorship and a supportive community — and sometimes, neither of these are available,” she writes.
STEM positions are usually held by men. Women are not equally represented across STEM fields but women like Geddes-McAlister are making strides toward a more equitable future.
Having workers from diverse backgrounds is important because different people bring different perspectives to any industry. Women in these fields need to have positive mentors to help them through the difficult barriers they face in STEM.
“As a woman, mother and scientist, I find my definition of success is constantly shifting between professional and personal goals and achievements,” Geddes-McAlister said. “I realized that to maintain this balance I needed an outlet for sharing ideas and accepting feedback, so I founded Moms in Proteomics.”
Proteomics is a field dedicated to the identification and monitoring of protein production under different conditions.
The group works together to advance the understanding of diverse diseases impacting humans, animals, and plants and makes discoveries that have global benefit, including increased food security and improved health.
Geddes-McAlister wrote a book along with members of the group as contributors. Most members have children or are thinking about having children and some are supervisors, mentors and peers with the desire to learn how to best support the mothers they manage.
“We also pride ourselves in helping mothers find a supportive mentor, which we hope will turn into a productive and beneficial relationship throughout their career. We also acknowledge, however, that the role of a mentor may shift over time,” Geddes-McAlister writes.
