Her advice to young women in science:
“Do not compare yourself to others. Don’t let anyone intimidate you, follow your own path, be authentic, and always stay true to yourself and your values.”

Martha is a PhD student in the Kovar group researching lung metastases in pediatric patients. Her daily work is a combination of laboratory research, cell cultures, and data analysis. She finds the greatest joy when an experiment finally works after long optimization efforts, leading to new insights. For her, science is a continuous learning process—failures are part of the journey, but they also offer opportunities for growth.

Her advice to young women in science:
“I would say to women in science to have confidence in themselves and if they need help and support, to go for it. Dream big and go for it!”

As a Principal Investigator, Eleni Tomazou leads a team of scientists investigating cancer mechanisms. She no longer conducts experiments herself but focuses on coordinating research efforts, writing grant applications, and ensuring that scientific findings are published. She describes science as demanding but incredibly exciting — the opportunity to gain new knowledge and perhaps even save lives is what drives her most.

Her advice to young women in science:
“Science is not easy—it requires a lot of time and energy. But it is incredibly rewarding and a valuable experience that cannot be compared to any other profession.”

Anna Hurt works as a technical assistant in research. What matters most to her is that her work can have a direct impact on the lives of children. In the lab, she helps ensure that research findings can be translated into practice. From her own experience, she knows that people don’t always realize from the beginning whether science is the right path for them—it often becomes clear only when working hands-on in a research team.

Her advice to young women in science:
“If a young girl is even considering a career in science, then she should absolutely pursue it! That means she has already recognized how exciting it is to explore nature and better understand reality.”

Anna Hakobyan is a postdoctoral researcher specializing in computational analysis of biological data. Her work involves developing and testing new bioinformatics methods to decipher complex genetic information. Every day, she learns something new—one of the greatest joys of her profession. She especially appreciates collaborating with other researchers and working on something that extends far beyond her own desk.