Her Story
About Dr. Yamini
I have been working in STEM research and advocacy for almost 10 years. My scientific background is in research, but I also advocate very strongly for STEM education, especially for women. I've been doing a lot of outreach activities throughout my career. Currently, I am involved in a project for science diplomacy with the U.S. State Department. During my postdoc research at Cambridge University in the UK, I had an amazing mentor who was awarded OBE, one of the highest prizes given by the Queen to a person working in the STEM community. In the US, I have been blessed with different research mentors, and also one of my mentors at the State Department, Adam Friend, has been very helpful in advocacy for science diplomatic strategic discussions. As a mentor myself, I have mentored a lot of undergrad students and PhD students for their research projects. My general goal in the next 5 years is to advocate more for STEM education and make outreach programs more accessible, so just to make people aware and make STEM education more accessible to everyone.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dr. Yamini
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think my family. It could be very cliched, but I think I am that person who has felt very supported in all my endeavors. Having supportive parents to siblings, and then building my own family with my husband and my baby. I would definitely attribute my success to my family, who have always given me agency to choose my own career path and understanding my passion to make an impact and supporting it throughout.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I feel it is like learning and being able to learn and grow and learning at each step, especially in this AI world where the world keeps changing so fast. I think having a learning attitude is one of the most successful traits that you can have. You have to hold on to that confidence. It is gonna be some challenges in the expertise, but if it is a passion for you, continue to let it fuel you.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that I really try to inculcate are having a learning mindset, even in the moments when I feel a little fixed and rigid. So having a learning attitude is very important to me. Values of building community are also very important, because having a support system is something that I look up to. As you said, it takes a village, so building that village and helping people build that village are important values. Having a more inclusive environment is something that is very important to me as well.
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