Tomoko Ohta is the groundbreaking population geneticist who in the 1970s worked out the mathematics for how "nearly neutral" genetic traits propagate through a population over time. We are all mutants, our genes loaded with the steadily acquired variations of three billion years that gradually changed a collection of over-achieving thermophiles into the dazzling collection of bugs, orangutans, orchids, and project managers that make up our world. But how did we get that way? How fast and loose does evolution play with our genetic material in the mad press to create new forms of life? Is selection what drives our genetic diversity, or is that simply the raw weight of blind statistics acting upon our chemical foundations? These were some of the questions that the first generation of population geneticists sought to answer hot on the heels of the discovery of DNA's structure in 1953. Now that the composition and replicating mechanisms of our genetic material was settled, it was time to ask the deep questions about how that structure varied itself to produce the engine of evolution, and in the race to formulate and answer those questions two warring houses emerged, the Selectionists and the Neutralists. Their intellectual clash echoes still, a half century later, but one of its most powerful voices, had she been born but twenty years earlier, likely never would have had a chance at an education at all.

Turning quantum computing into real-world impact takes more than theory. At Dell Technologies, Smriti Bajaj researches how classical computing, machine learning, and high-performance computing can work with quantum technology. Her work includes developing optimization problems for quantum hardware, publishing research, and she’s filed more than 20 patents. Meet Smriti and learn how she found her way into quantum computing and how her research is helping move quantum technology toward real-world use.

How are women building the world we want to see? What would it mean to live in a world more equally authored by women? These are the questions that Emily Pilloton-Lam has spent a lifetime asking herself and the world around her as she recruits the next generation to the trades. Drawing from her experience as the founder and executive director of Girls Garage, a nonprofit design and construction school for girls and gender expansive youth, she will share stories from all-female youth job sites, challenge our thinking around gender equity in the built environment, and invite participants to embrace actionable steps towards a more just and equitable construction industry. Emily will highlight the importance of our minds, our creativity, and our kindness in all of our respective fields, demonstrating the power of humanity when building a better world.

Reapplying after being rejected for a PhD can be daunting. AWIS member Swati Rajwal shares the lessons she learned on her journey.

Science shapes the future long before most people see it - through discoveries that heal, technologies that connect, and ideas that challenge what’s possible. It begins with curiosity, grows through persistence, and becomes powerful when people are bold enough to push boundaries and imagine something greater. This summer, AWIS is spotlighting the women behind that momentum. Follow along each week and meet the scientists helping shape what’s next!

Are you an interdisciplinary PhD with 20+ years of experience interested in being a senior leader of a medical school? Visit the AWIS Career Center, upload your resume, and see if you are a match for this prestigious role or others recently added.

Rosemary Roberto is the Laboratory Safety Supervisor in Environmental Health and Safety at Rowan University, where she helps create safe research environments across science and engineering disciplines. Through laboratory inspections, researcher training, and hazard assessments, she supports the work happening behind scientific discovery every day. Rosemary believes safety isn’t just about knowing the science—it’s about communicating it clearly, building systems people will follow, and creating environments where researchers can thrive. Alongside her work in laboratory safety, she studies equity in STEM and advocates for more inclusive research and learning environments.

Carolyn James is a computer science student at Colorado School of Mines researching how artificial intelligence can improve secure communications for the space industry. Through the FIRST Research Program, she is exploring ways AI can reduce communication delays between Earth and satellites while helping automate tasks that support NASA’s Artemis missions. Driven by a passion for cybersecurity and space exploration, Carolyn hopes to help build the secure communication systems that will support the next generation of space missions.

Adaeze Osakwe is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of Georgia, where she develops polymer-based materials and pharmaceutical formulations to improve drug delivery and material performance. Her research combines polymer chemistry with predictive design strategies to create more efficient, sustainable materials for healthcare and industry. Driven by a curiosity about how materials shape the world around us, she is passionate about developing innovations that benefit both people and the environment.

Sol Rosito is a Research Fellow at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where she applies mathematics, statistics, and artificial intelligence to cancer research. After earning degrees in mathematics and astrophysics, she brought her quantitative expertise to the study of cancer genetics, risk prediction, and early detection. Through her work developing statistical models, simulations, and AI-driven tools, she helps researchers better understand cancer risk and make more informed decisions about prevention, screening, and patient care.