In company with their 2019 book titled Women Rock Science: A Pocket Guide for Success in Clinical Academic Research Careers, Dr. Megan Moreno and Dr. Rachel Katzenellenbogen put on a podcast. The podcast was part of the 31 Days of Women & Leadership Learning program through the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where each day of August they featured learning opportunities from women leaders.
Drs. Moreno and Katzenellenbogen are positive examples of female scientists who can share their voice to teach powerful lessons.
Their book explores how women can thrive and survive in today’s clinical research environment, focusing on women who are pursuing research careers in clinical academic medicine. Women Rock Science provides lessons, key strategies, and how to build a community of women scientists. The book highlights the experiences of women working in science and research, including Drs. Moreno, Katzenellenbogen.
Let’s dive into the development of their pocket guide for success.
Moreno and Katzenellenbogen met when they were both in training at the University of Washington in Adolescent Medicine. Over their time, the two doctors discussed in both engaging and therapeutic ways about how they enjoy taking care of teenagers.
They acknowledged that they were facing similar challenges in their research fields. Although their research focus was different, as Moreno’s research focused on social media and Katzenellenbogen’s work focused on molecular mechanisms of HPV, they both felt there were lessons that they learned by being a woman scientist that hadn’t been directly taught to them.
“It was almost through osmosis,” Katzenellenbogen said. “It would have been really helpful if someone told me those types of things as we were going through the process.”
Together, the two doctors conversed about topics including: how to become a good mentee and mentor, an effective research team leader, and develop practical research questions. They wanted to take this information that they worked through and share it with other people in the field.
“The book really started as notes on the back of a napkin when we were getting coffee together at one of our meetings,” Moreno said.
With that, Moreno and Katzenellenbogen embarked on a journey of turning the unwritten knowledge needed for a career in science into written knowledge to support fellow women in STEM.
Their book also features experiences and advice from contributors that include other women scientists in the field, which gives the book a wide range of diverse perspectives.
Moreno and Katzenellenbogen emphasize the importance of knowing yourself and your mission statement, and using it in order to pave your own path in the field.
Additional information about 31 Days of Women & Leadership Learning can be found here.
Want to read Moreno and Katzenellenbogen’s book? Feel free to purchase a copy of Women Rock Science here.