Kerstin Henson

I attribute much of my success to the values and perspective shaped by my upbringing. Growing up in the Philippines taught me the importance of perseverance, resilience, and hard work. My parents set high standards and taught me to always give my best, take pride in what I do, and never stop striving to improve.

I also have a natural curiosity and a strong desire to continue growing, both personally and professionally. I genuinely enjoy learning, challenging myself, and expanding my knowledge every day. That is one of the things I find most rewarding about working in this field—there is always something new to learn and an opportunity to grow. I believe that combination of resilience, a strong work ethic, curiosity, and a commitment to continuous learning has been a major driver of my success.

The best career advice I’ve received is to periodically reassess where I am in my career by asking myself whether I’m still learning, being challenged, and feeling fulfilled by what I do. If the answer is no, I take that as a sign to think about what I want to accomplish next and start preparing for that goal early.

One of my mentors also encouraged me to always aim high—to not limit myself based on where I am today, but to think about where I ultimately want to be. That advice has stayed with me and has encouraged me to be intentional about my career, continuously develop my skills, and pursue opportunities that challenge me to grow.

My advice to young women aspiring to pursue a career in science is to stay curious and keep learning as much as you can - do not be discouraged. Science is such a broad field, and there are so many opportunities beyond what we traditionally think of as working in a lab. Science intersects with areas like mathematics, engineering, technology, data science, medicine, and many others.

Take the time to explore those different areas and discover what genuinely interests and excites you. Once you find something you’re passionate about, pursue it with confidence and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself or explore a path you may not have originally considered. There is no single path to becoming a scientist—the most important thing is to stay open to new possibilities and find the area where you can make your own contribution.

One of the biggest challenges facing science today is ensuring continued funding and support for research. Scientific progress requires long-term investment, and when funding is reduced or becomes uncertain, it can slow innovation and our ability to address some of the most important health challenges. It is so important that we continue to invest in science and remain competitive globally.

There is also still so much we do not understand. Despite the tremendous advances we have made, many diseases still lack effective treatments or cures, and there is an enormous amount of work ahead of us to improve human health. This is especially meaningful to me in infectious diseases, including malaria and tuberculosis, which shaped the foundation of my scientific journey and remain areas where significant unmet need exist.

I see these challenges as a reminder of why continued investment in science is so important. There is still so much to discover, and supporting the next generation of scientists and research will be essential to developing better treatments, preventing disease, and finding cures.

The values that are most important to me, both professionally and personally, are hard work, perseverance, and integrity. I believe in giving my best effort in everything I do, staying committed even when faced with challenges, and always conducting myself with honesty and integrity.

In my professional life, I want my work to be meaningful and to make significant contributions that can have a positive impact. In my personal life, I value being present for my family and friends, supporting the people around me, and finding ways to give back to my community. Ultimately, I want to be someone who works hard, contributes meaningfully, and makes a positive difference in the lives of others.