The Cornerstone of Science, Curiosity, and Black Women

Foundations: From Girl Scout to Scientist

I began my journey as a Girl Scout, starting as a Brownie and advancing all the way to a Cadette, which is the level before Ambassador. My only regret was not reaching the final level because I loved being a Girl Scout.

I remember summer evenings when the fireflies lit up the air, and as I looked at them over the lake, I wondered if fireflies had little lightbulbs inside of them that they could turn on and off. That was one of the moments, when I was about eight years old, that catalyzed my interest in biology.

Previously, I had a deep fascination with fractals and geology. When I was a baby, I would pick up rocks off the ground simply because I really, really liked the way they looked. I would ask my dad why they had certain colors, why some had stripes, and others didn’t. My father would take me to watch meteor showers, and one day, there was one with a beautiful array of colors. I was probably in the first grade. He brought kitchen chairs out to the middle of the street, close to the sidewalk where our little house was.

He showed me how he was tracking the meteor shower on his phone and said, “We just gotta wait.” I remember saying, “Well, I don’t see anything.” And then I saw streaks of purple, pink, and green shoot across the sky. I knew it wasn’t lightning. After that moment, I asked my dad endless questions, and soon after, he had me watching NOVA Science every single day after school. It became the best part of my childhood.

By elementary and middle school, I was going over radioactive decay equations with my dad. He taught me about relativity and electron movement, which further pushed me toward biology—despite him wanting me to become an engineer like him (with humor and love to Mr. Harris).

Those lessons shaped how I transitioned into student leadership and science. Curiosity was always my compass, and it has guided me since childhood. Both of my parents—and my entire family—have encouraged me to follow my natural path of curiosity, which continues to guide my life today.

Discipline and the Mind of a Scientist

My father, Martin Harris, was born in Chicago and went to Dorsey High in Inglewood before earning his master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UCLA. From a young age, he taught me that being underprepared was not an option, especially as a Black woman.

My mother, Maya Harris, from Los Angeles, attended Hollywood High School for the Performing Arts and later earned her master’s in education. Together, they taught me discipline, integrity, and compassion.

My dad always said that greatness rarely comes from comfort, and my mom taught me that knowledge is a gift you must pass forward—something infinitely valuable and accessible to all. She taught me that there is nothing I cannot know and nowhere I cannot go if I choose to seek understanding.

This further deepened my passion and appreciation for biology and for the pursuit of knowledge within the sciences.

Alignment with God and Purpose

Faith has always been my foundation. I start each morning meditating and journaling with God, aligning my spirit before I align my body and mind. After that, I train at the gym to maintain physical alignment—especially while living with scoliosis.

I believe that aligning with God aligns you with your dreams. My church at 7660 Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90001, has been a place of spiritual hygiene, mental renewal, and deep healing. It is where the Holy Spirit continues to dwell and guide me into my true calling. We welcome everyone to have fellowship with the Lord and with us!

Lessons from the Lab: What Science Has Taught Me

1. Always qualify your samples immediately.

When you extract DNA, always use the NanoDrop to check the 260/280 and 260/230 values immediately. These readings determine DNA purity and concentration and can make or break your experiment. The integrity of your data begins here because poor purity or ethanol contamination can reduce transformation efficiency.

2. No Eppendorf tubes in pockets.

It sounds funny until you lose a week’s worth of work. Every sample belongs in its rack—clearly labeled with visible writing. For colony PCR and extractions, use two racks so you can see every tube in front of you. Visibility is clarity, and clarity is safety.

3. Use the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) like a map.

The SDS doesn’t just tell you if something is toxic; it also shows the molecular structure of your reagents. This helps you predict buffer reactions, anticipate chemical behavior, and understand how functional groups behave under specific conditions. For example, tert-butoxide reacting with a phenol ring is a classic E2 reaction—with a strong base, clean elimination, and predictable outcomes when you understand the chemistry.

4. Re-suspend DNA in nuclease-free water.

Ethanol can degrade DNA and ruin downstream applications. Water preserves integrity and helps ensure your template remains stable during transformations and PCR amplification. Purity equals precision.

5. Push your resonance structures.

Always map out resonance. It teaches you how electrons move, why reactions behave the way they do, and strengthens your intuition as a molecular biologist. It’s not just chemistry—it’s visualization. Visualization builds molecular fluency.

Finally, write everything down—every change, deviation, and observation. Your notebook is not just paper; it’s a historical record of discovery. It’s important to remember your optimizations, as those lead to the greatest discoveries. A thorough record of experimentation is vital to producing dissertations and thesis work—two foundational pillars of science. Recording experimentation and quantitative analysis is crucial to what I do.

A Generation That Believes in Green

I am part of a generation of scientists who believe in green, not blue or red. We believe in the Earth, in balance, and in collaboration to optimize life for all biological beings.

The role of a scientist is not to divide but to heal and reveal truth through quantitative evidence and empirical discipline. Just as judges uphold moral law, scientists uphold the integrity of discovery. Revelation must be supported by data, integrity, and faith in the process of truth.

Legacy and Lineage: The Women Who Built Me

My grandmothers, Chloe Jeanne and Elnora Crowder, both shaped who I am. My grandmother Elnora was a teacher who lived through Brown v. Board of Education and was one of the first Black women to graduate from USC with a degree in education. She devoted her life to educating Black youth and to lifelong learning, paving the way for my father, Martin Harris, to receive his master’s from UCLA.

My grandmother Chloe Jeanne taught me traditional Black herbalism—how peppermint soothes, how burdock cleanses (she called it “nature’s astringent”), and how nature heals. Their wisdom guided my curiosity and helped me see that there is molecular truth behind ancestral practices.

Another essential lesson from the women before me is authenticity. The most authentic woman I know is my Auntie Shannon Harris. She’s a teacher in Sacramento and has been my teacher since the day I was born. She’s always taught me to speak my truth, deepen my understanding of who I am, know what values I uphold and why, and understand how God’s discernment serves as guidance and protection.

My Auntie Shannon is a brilliant and lively woman—she can make anything come to life. I’m thankful for the support and encouragement I’ve been blessed to receive from my family.

They both showed me that healing is both inherited and learned, and that education is one of the purest forms of love.

I am from the Harris Family—a lineage of enslaved people who were gaslit into believing their Blackness was a barrier. In truth, my Blackness is not a limitation. It is my inheritance, my foundation, and my bridge forward. It enables me to go places my ancestors could only dream of, and that in itself is power.

I carry their prayers in my DNA, and I am deeply honored to be on this journey of life, fulfilling what they began.

In every room you enter, bring your people with you.

Dear Black Girls: in every room you walk into, you carry Nat Turner, Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King Jr., James Baldwin, Malcolm X, and the whole soul and lineage of Black people. Carry those who stood in the gap and still are. Dream higher—even if life “ain’t no crystal staircase.” Keep climbing.

Young Black Girls and Women in STEM

To young Black girls and women in STEM, I say this: your gifts will be doubted and your potential dismissed, but that will never define your destiny.

There are many types of hygiene—spiritual, emotional, and intellectual—and all are essential. I go to the gym, I pray, I study, I serve, and I create. I may be a cellular and molecular biologist, but I am also human. I rest, go to the beach, laugh with friends, and listen to Smino, Ari Lennox, EARTHGANG, Chief Keef, and Mike Sherm at the gym.

Life is about balance—not perfection—but a dynamic equilibrium that pushes and pulls to create the beautiful balance of life. The silent seasons are often the most essential.

The teachers are always silent during the test. If you feel like you cannot hear God, remember: He is watching how you respond to your life—and how you live it.

Stay aligned, because what feels like silence is often preparation.

Right now, I am in the in-between season of life: a post-graduate searching for my next professional step, preparing for PhD school, working part-time, and trusting that the silent seasons are sacred.

If you are in a quiet season, understand that God is observing how you respond to what you think you’ve grown from. That silence is not neglect—it is preparation.

Most importantly, never let institutions or other people bully you out of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Don’t let awkward glances or dismissive tones make you question your place in the room.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made, and your Blackness is not a limitation—it is your superpower.

Stay aligned. Stay curious. Stay grounded in faith and truth, and the world will align itself to meet you there.

The Designers and the Artists: The Visual Language of Alignment

My Co-Creative Director, Tyler Cole, founder of Wavvy Creatiions, is a photographer and painter who specializes in custom art and visual storytelling. His Atlanta roots and faith in God shine through everything he creates, and his ability to portray divine intention through modern design has elevated my vision in every way.

Another key partner is Shakela, founder of Pinnkupkaake, who braids my hair with kindness, detail, and intention. Her aunt owns Kim’s Beauty Supply Store in Irvine, which carries all the essentials for Black hair care—from Carol’s Daughter, Cream of Nature, and Black Panther Strong Edge Control to EZ Braid Hair and a wide selection of colorful beads that bring back the joy of Black girlhood.

Tyler and Shakela are close friends who have blessed me with their amazing gifts of creativity. I search for one-of-one things—and people. I met them as people first, and what stood out most was their creative vision and passion that naturally lived within them. They inspire me every day, and that is why we are a team.

The three of us—Tyler, Shakela, and I—are connected not only through creativity but also through faith. We attend the same church, Triumph the Church and Kingdom of God and Christ, at 7660 Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90001, where we serve God through our gifts.

When we are not creating, we train together at the gym with our close friend Armod, who keeps us grounded and consistent.

We have been friends long before this project began, and now, being featured in this magazine, I knew I wanted them to be part of my team.

Our creative work is more than aesthetic—it is a reflection of alignment, unity, and purpose. Through our work, we hope to show that faith, art, and science are not separate worlds—they are simply different languages of creation.

Acknowledgment

Last but never least, I would like to acknowledge my mentor, Jillian Bibbins—an electrical engineer who earned her master’s from UC Irvine and is part of my Region VI NSBE chapter. I received divine guidance and real career and life preparation from Ms. Bibbins.

She holds multiple degrees and inspired me to consider pursuing a PhD my sophomore year, as she knew I was conducting biochemistry research at UC Irvine in the Goulding Lab.

Even after she graduated, she continued to advise me in my career, completely helped me restructure my résumé, and, when my mom got breast cancer, sent her a purple-themed care package.

Without her kindness, guidance, and compassion, I would not be where I stand as a Black woman today.

Thank you, NSBE at UCI—and most importantly, Jillian Bibbins, my mentor and best friend.

Closing Note

To keep up with me and my ongoing journey, follow @jasmines.journey222 on Instagram, where I share updates on my research, scoliosis recovery, and holistic wellness insights rooted in both science and truth.

A tremendous thank-you and I love you to my family—the Harris Family—and to the City of Sacramento.

Thank you for instilling loyalty, honor, hard work, discipline, integrity, justice, and faith in me.

The Cornerstone of Science, Curiosity, and Black Women — by Jasmine C. Harris