A Senior Analytical Chemist shares her journey of overcoming imposter syndrome, building confidence, and thriving as the youngest and newest employee in her organization through mentorship, persistence, and embracing growth opportunities.
Her Story
About Maya
Maya Brookins is a Senior Analytical Chemist with experience in analytical chemistry, chromatographic analysis, method development, method validation, data analysis, and quality control within the chemical and materials industry. She currently works at W. R. Grace, where she applies analytical techniques to support product development, ensure reliable chemical analysis, and contribute to quality and regulatory requirements. Her responsibilities and expertise include developing analytical methods, preparing and executing validation protocols, interpreting analytical data, and communicating with clients and cross-functional teams. Her professional experience also includes quality control testing, deviation and out-of-specification investigations, change control, and troubleshooting analytical instrumentation such as HPLC, UPLC, ICP, and GC. Maya's academic background combines biology, biomedical sciences, and pharmacology and toxicology. She earned an Associate Degree in Biology from Lake Michigan College before completing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Grand Valley State University. She subsequently earned a Master of Science in Pharmacology and Toxicology from Michigan State University in December 2025, expanding her knowledge of drug discovery and development, toxicological assessment, and molecular mechanisms of disease. Her professional journey began after her undergraduate education and has included roles as a laboratory technician, quality control chemist, chemist, analytical chemist, and now Senior Analytical Chemist. She also holds an ISO 9001: Quality Management Systems certification from SPI Pharma, issued in August 2022. Maya credits much of her success to the mentors, advisors, resources, and supportive individuals who have encouraged her throughout her career. Her own experiences have strengthened her belief in resilience, persistence, and surrounding herself with people who genuinely believe in her goals. She encourages young women entering STEM and analytical science to develop strong professional networks, remain authentic, and never allow someone else's doubts to determine what they can accomplish. Outside of her professional work, Maya is involved with her church's youth and worship teams. She approaches her work with a mindset of continuous learning, recognizing that challenges in method development are opportunities to improve, troubleshoot, and ultimately find better solutions.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Maya
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success largely to the people who have continued to pour into me throughout my academic and professional journey. During my undergraduate studies, I had an advisor who discouraged me from pursuing my chosen path and suggested that I change my major because my goals were considered unrealistic. That experience made me recognize the importance of surrounding myself with people who genuinely support my goals and believe in my potential. Having mentors, resources, and people who are willing to stand in my corner and walk alongside me has made a significant difference in my journey. Their encouragement has helped me remain persistent and continue moving forward despite challenges.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve received is to not let challenges kill my drive. My experience has reinforced the importance of surrounding myself with supportive mentors and building relationships with people who believe in my goals and are willing to help me grow.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women entering the industry to build their professional network just as intentionally as they build their academic and technical knowledge. Being a well-rounded student is important, but sometimes opportunities are influenced not only by what you know, but also by who you know. Take the time to build genuine connections, put yourself out there, and be as authentic as possible. Most importantly, do not allow other people's doubts or opinions to deter you from pursuing something you are determined to accomplish.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the most significant trends in pharmaceutical analytical chemistry today is the need to detect and understand contaminants and impurities at increasingly lower trace levels while meeting tighter regulatory specifications. At the same time, the industry is advancing toward more complex drug molecules, requiring more sophisticated analytical approaches and deeper product understanding. Another major opportunity lies in integrating artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics into our everyday workflows, helping scientists improve efficiency, accelerate investigations, and make more informed decisions. The future of our field will be driven by the ability to combine analytical expertise, digital tools, and scientific innovation to ensure the quality, safety, and reliability of medicines.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Resilience is one of the most important values to me. In analytical chemistry, particularly in method development, things do not always work the first time. You may have to repeat an experiment, troubleshoot an approach, and continue refining a method until you achieve the desired result. I have learned to view those experiences not simply as failures, but as opportunities to learn and improve. My mindset is not that I either win or lose; instead, I either win or I learn. That ability to remain persistent and continue working through challenges is something I value both professionally and personally.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Maya
Being the Youngest and Newest Person in the Room
How Being the Youngest Person in Your Career Can Become Your Greatest Asset for Growth and Success
Being the Youngest and Newest Person in the Room
When I joined my current organization, I had just turned 26 years old. I entered as a contract employee, transitioning from quality control chemistry into analytical chemistry, a field that was completely new to me. At the time, I was finishing my master's degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology, which I would complete several months later.
From the beginning, I knew I had a lot to learn. I was the newest person on my team and, by a significant margin, one of the youngest. While my group was supportive and included several women, including another Black woman, many of my colleagues had years of analytical chemistry experience that I simply did not have. They were knowledgeable, confident, and comfortable navigating technical discussions that were completely unfamiliar to me.
At times, it was very intimidating. But looking back now, as a Senior Analytical Chemist, I have come to realize that being the youngest and newest person in the room became one of the greatest opportunities for growth in my career.
Starting Over in a New Field
One of the biggest challenges I faced was the transition itself. Coming from a quality control background, I understood laboratory work, regulatory requirements, and the importance of good manufacturing practices. However, method development, method validation, chromatographic optimization, and research-focused analytical chemistry were an entirely different world.
Many of my colleagues had spent years building expertise in these areas. Meanwhile, I was learning a new role, adapting to a new organization, and trying to absorb as much knowledge as I could. It would have been very easy to compare myself to those around me and become discouraged-and, let's be honest, at times I did.
However, I quickly learned to focus on progress rather than comparison. Every question I asked, every method I worked on, and every challenge I encountered was another opportunity to grow. Rather than worrying about what I didn't know, I concentrated on learning one thing at a time.
Finding the Confidence to Speak Up
If technical knowledge was my first challenge, confidence was my second. Don't get me wrong-I wouldn't say I lack confidence in every area of my life, but in this area, I did. Like many early-career professionals, I sometimes struggled to speak up during meetings. Sharing ideas in front of experienced scientists felt intimidating enough, but leading client calls was an entirely different challenge. I often questioned whether I was experienced enough to lead conversations and provide recommendations with confidence.
Over time, I realized something important: confidence doesn't come before experience. Confidence comes from experience. The more I prepared, contributed, and participated, the more comfortable I became. Eventually, the meetings I once dreaded became opportunities to communicate the value of my work and demonstrate the knowledge and experience I was gaining.
I learned that you don't have to know everything to add value to a conversation. Sometimes, asking thoughtful questions can be just as impactful as having the answer.
Leaning on Mentors and Support Systems
One thing that has remained consistent throughout my journey is the importance of mentorship and support. I attribute much of my success to the people who have poured into me along the way. God, my mentors, advisors, managers, colleagues, friends, and family members have all played a role in helping me navigate challenges and remain focused on my goals.
During my undergraduate studies, I had an advisor who discouraged me from pursuing my chosen career path and suggested that my goals were unrealistic. While that experience was difficult, it ultimately taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my life: surround yourself with people who genuinely believe in your potential.
The people in your corner matter. Having individuals who encourage you, challenge you, and remind you of your strengths can make all the difference when you're navigating uncertainty.
The Moment I Knew I Belonged
As young professionals, many of us spend our early careers trying to prove our worth and value-trying to prove that we belong. For me, one of the defining moments came when I was assigned my own project and trusted to execute the required parameters independently. It may have seemed like a routine assignment to others, but to me, it represented something much bigger.
It was validation that my hard work, persistence, and growth were being recognized. It was evidence that I was earning the trust of my team and becoming a contributor rather than simply a learner.
That project marked a turning point in my confidence. It reminded me that expertise is not built overnight. It is earned through continuously trying new things, being willing to get things wrong, and using those experiences as stepping stones for growth.
Something my mentor often says is, "You either win or you learn." Expertise is earned through consistency, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace challenges. In analytical chemistry, method development rarely works perfectly the first time. Experiments fail. Methods require troubleshooting. Unexpected challenges emerge.
I've learned to approach my career in the same way. Rather than viewing obstacles as failures, I see them as opportunities to learn and improve.
The Advantage of Being New
When you're the newest employee, it is easy to focus on everything you lack: experience, knowledge, relationships, and familiarity with the processes within your field. What I eventually realized is that being new also comes with advantages.
New employees bring fresh perspectives, curiosity, and adaptability. We ask questions others may not think to ask. We challenge assumptions simply because we have not yet accepted them as routine.
The goal isn't to compete with the most experienced person in the room. The goal is to learn from them while contributing your own unique experiences and perspective.
A Message to Young Professionals
If you are the youngest in your group, remember that your years of experience do not define your value.
Be willing to learn. Be willing to fail. Ask questions. Build meaningful relationships. Seek mentors who support your growth. Remain authentic. Most importantly, do not allow someone else's doubts about your potential to become your own.
When I joined my organization at 26 years old, I could not have imagined the growth that would occur over the next few years. Today, I look back and realize that being the youngest and newest employee was never something I needed to overcome. It was simply the beginning of a journey that challenged me, strengthened me, and helped shape the professional I continue to become.
Success isn't about having the most experience in the room. It's about having the courage to keep learning, growing, and showing up even when you feel out of place.
Before long, you'll look around and realize you've become the person others are learning from.
Maya Brookins, M.S. in Pharmacology and Toxicology
Senior Analytical Chemist
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