Stephanie Garcia Morin
Stephanie Garcia Morin is a PhD candidate in organic chemistry at Brigham Young University, entering the final year of her doctoral studies. Her research focuses on synthesizing biologically active peptides, with promising applications in Alzheimer’s and cancer research. Collaborating with BYU’s cancer center, she is preparing a manuscript on her findings while managing a flexible lab schedule, optimizing reactions, and developing novel molecules. Before pursuing her PhD, Stephanie gained industry experience in pharmaceuticals in Mexico, which helped shape her rigorous approach to scientific inquiry.
Stephanie’s professional focus centers on peptide and drug-development chemistry, where she applies persistence, careful experimentation, and iterative problem-solving to advance her research. She emphasizes the importance of hard work, preparation, and continuous learning, viewing every result—including unexpected outcomes—as a valuable step toward discovery. Her dedication is complemented by hands-on mentorship in the lab, managing resources, training new researchers, and fostering a collaborative environment for her peers.
Originally from Mexico, Stephanie overcame challenges related to language and adaptation to international academic standards to excel in her graduate program. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the Instituto Politécnico Nacional and has participated in fellowships, leadership development programs, and international volunteer initiatives. Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, Stephanie combines her global perspective, scientific expertise, and commitment to education to contribute meaningfully to chemical research and potential therapeutic innovations.
• Instituto Politécnico Nacional- B.Chem.
• Brigham Young University- Ph.D. Candidate
• American Peptide Symposium Presentation Award
• International Peptide Symposium Presentation Award
• Fellowship for cancer research collaboration
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Brigham Young University
What do you attribute your success to?
I'm so glad for the people who - it's important to have a supportive system. I'm so glad for the people that I have found here, like professors, that they have been always mentoring or open to help me in some things. Of course, my family. But I also come from this family and from this mentality as a Mexican girl that you have to earn it. Things are - our values, and the effort is like something good, you know? Hard work and effort is something I think that is like a quality, and it's something like great to develop. So I think that from my roots, I think I'm so glad out of all the opportunities that this country and the people here has given me. I couldn't do it without all the help that I received here, honestly. We couldn't grow as a scientist if we didn't have that wonderful support system and grants and things like that. But everything comes from the roots, and I think that it's just this constant mentality of like just keep going, keep going. If nothing works just - it's going, and we work. And of course, my trust in God. I'm pretty religious, and I really believe in God. When I involve him, things get better.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received was from my advisor, Dr. Steven Castle. I have this tendency to always want to do more and think that if it is not right and perfect, it doesn't count, you know? It's like it has to be great, or it is like average, and that's not allowed. But my advisor, once I came to him and told him, look, I have this, and this is not working, and I don't know what to do, and I'm like about to quit, because I don't know what to do. And he came and he told me, like, Steph, you have to understand that progress involves negative results. So even if you don't get like what you wanted, now you learn how to not get that, you know? Yeah, and he was saying, that's just your progress, so even if you come and you told me that this reaction didn't work, for me, it's progress, and it counts as a progress. And I think that's true in life. I sometimes - like, something that we think that is a no, we just - another way to get what we really need, or what is meant to us.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think that something that happened to me is like we believe that everyone has expectation of us, like high expectations of us. We are the ones that we are at setting those expectations. And it's fine. It's funny. But like, don't be afraid to be yourself, and don't be afraid to get what you need, and not all the pathways look like same. And it's fine, it's fine, like that every, every woman has different like pathways and dreams, and you don't have to compete - like, the only competition is with yourself. And it's gonna be hard. But hard things make you better.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced in my field has been overcoming the language barrier, as I’m originally from Mexico and had to become fluent in English to fully engage in advanced scientific research.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are faith, family, and helping others. I also prioritize staying active through sports like basketball and Muay Thai, and I enjoy supporting other graduate students while giving back to my community, including making trips to Mexico to provide guidance.