Pathways to STEM Success

  1. Animals

    Dancing spiders inspired this biologist to teach others

    Inspired by his research in animal communication, Echeverri began exploring ways to teach others about science while finishing his Ph.D. Today, he shares his passion for spiders as a science communicator.

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  2. Space

    This space physicist uses radios to study eclipses

    Nathaniel Frissell uses radio data to study how eclipses affect a layer of the atmosphere called the ionosphere.

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  3. Environment

    This ecologist is looking at the Amazon’s past to save its future

    Carolina Levis researches how local communities influence the Amazon. She’s interested in how Indigenous knowledge can help protect the rainforest.

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  4. Chemistry

    This forensic scientist is taking crime science out of the lab 

    Kelly Knight uses her past struggles and passion for forensics to inspire her students.

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  5. Math

    Lack of diversity in his field has troubled this mathematician

    As a kid, Edray Goins didn’t like math. But he fell in love with the subject in college and is now training the next generation of minority mathematicians.

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  6. Space

    Before working on spacecraft, this engineer overcame self-doubt

    Tiera Fletcher once dreamed of working on spacecraft. Gaining confidence helped her become an engineer who designs vehicles for moon or Mars travel.

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  7. Earth

    Desert trails and microbial life excite this soil scientist

    To help her desert community, Lydia Jennings focuses her research on how mining affects soil microbes.

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  8. Health & Medicine

    This scientist wants to know how racial discrimination gets ‘under the skin’

    Racism could have derailed Leticia Márquez-Magaña’s path to science. Now she studies the biological impact of stress faced by underrepresented groups.

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  9. Earth

    Weight lifting is this planetary scientist’s pastime

    Beck Strauss uses magnetic fields to explore the makeup of Earth and other planets.

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  10. Earth

    An accident didn’t stop this geologist from doing field work

    Anita Marshall works to make it easier for other people with physical disabilities to pursue a research career.

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  11. Animals

    How an encounter with this odd-looking bird inspired a career

    Kevin Burgio overcame many hardships to become a scientist. Now he studies how animals like the Carolina parakeet and Tasmanian tiger went extinct.

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  12. Brain

    Curiosity drives this neuroscientist and artist

    Christine Liu studies the brain on nicotine — and used Instagram to bring together women doing incredible science.

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