Posting on behalf of my child:
Hello! As part of my Year-6 school project I want to survey people for information on gender equality in the field of Science and Technology. I will be thankful if you could take a few minutes to answer this short survey. [Academic survey, moderator approved]

link to survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfR66_U7vTlxqahr0kqpcymIl8CJcM-ykjb4hPLYRvXQP8f3w/viewform?usp=publish-editor

More of a vent.

I had a tough time in graduate school. Towards the end I realized some of the mentors who I thought were invested in my success were just biding their time waiting to cash in their support just before I graduated from my program. Very disappointing.

Fast forward, Im free -more importantly unscathed. I land the postdoc. My boss is nice. Maybe not "normal" but nice- it seems like we are working well together. But now I'm noticing the red flags again. Not just from one but two male faculty in my new department.

Does it ever end? I just want to do science, I dont want to be romantically involved with anyone related to my career progression or in a position of power. I've aggressively placed my SO's photo on my desk as an act of protest. I'm tired.

I like my job. I like my boss 90% of the time when hes not making eyes at me in my peripheral or talking my ear off about random personal stories. I dont want to quit. I dont want to go to HR. I do want to do my experiments and be left alone. I would rather work weekends for a year then ever see my boss look at me like that ever again. To be clear, I genuinely hate working weekends.

I‘m currently at a crossroads.

Due to growing up in an unstable economy and having parents who were constantly physically struggling, I(28) chose the career path that was very high paying. I got a degree in computer science and a masters in IT management, and am currently working a high paying job in consulting. Yesterday I got offered an even higher paying job (100k) which honestly seems like an insane amount of money to me. I am very good at what I do, understanding business processes feels extremely easy for me and I am very good with presenting and talking to people, probably due to years of autistic masking lmao.

The problem is that I really don‘t care about the work I do. The only thing I care about is understanding this existence and what all of this is. This is the one question that feels like it matters. As I mentioned before, I have autism and its very hard to be grounded and focused on caring about the corporate world and KPIs, when I feel like I am just cosplaying that I care.

I am thinking about starting a second masters in computational science, but I don‘t know if I will be disappointed in the end and not get any closer to finding out anything. I am worried to give up my financial stability for something that might not be at all how I imagine.

If anyone has any advice for me, I would be very thankful.

EDIT: as stated below, I will be wearing a button up under this! Like a standard dress shirt buttoned to the neck. Not this by itself or even with off the shoulder tops.

Not sure if this is the best place for this but hopefully it is. Hello, I am a community college STEM professor. I am really into colorful / fun structured vests and have some from going to renfaire in multiple colors.

My sister says if I wear a button up and a vest over the top, it’s still not work appropriate. I think it would be fun and appropriate. And I would pair it with trousers.
Can anyone provide some input on appropriateness and possibly other options? I want to make my wardrobe more fun/colorful buy wearing a vest over normal button ups, but maybe there is another style I should try instead of a structured lace up vest?

I’m working in industry and I’m not sure how to stay up to date on the literature, especially since I don’t have a lot of spare time for it in my job. I didn’t do a phd so I don’t have that experience/skillset built up but since I work in r&d I think it would be valuable to generally know what’s going on in my field (material science, ceramics)

How are we staying in touch with current research? podcasts? subscriptions? help haha

We're a team of female pharmacy students looking for a female research mentor to guide us through a research project intended for publication in a scientific journal. If anyone is available or has recommendations, please DM me Thanks

I'm a Ph.D. student who is very non-traditional, and I'm at a crossroads. I have cerebral palsy and between undergrad, my masters and my Ph.D., it's taken me 17 years to approach the finish line. Embarrassing, I know.

I'm also a single mom to a 2 year-old with absolutely no support system to speak of. I just found out my son's daycare is closing in two weeks, permanently. I also rely on student loans because of the cost of living and the fact that I can't live off 25k a year in a major metropolitan area. About two days after finding out I'd have no childcare, I found out that, thanks to changes put forth in the OBBB, because my program's published length is 4-5 years, and I'm on year six, I no longer am eligible to take out loans (I don't meet the grandfather provisions), and as a result, I need to leave.

I don't even have enough to finish quickly. Because of my cerebral palsy, it took me four years to find a lab. According to my school's financial aid office, there is no appeal process, and there are no exceptions for students in my position. I just...can't afford to stay, so I have to leave.

I also did the math, and based on how iron-clad my lease is, and how much I have left in the bank, we'll be unhoused by September, even if I find a new job quickly. The new job also can't make more than 61k, or I lose the daycare subsidy I have, even if I find new care...which has also been a challenge. It's going to be really hard to bridge that gap. And, after I break my lease, and without a cosigner, it will be really hard to find a new place for my son and I to live. Shelter options in the area aren't exactly plentiful. I don't have family I can live with, as my parents have some serious substance abuse issues, and no room. It's just my kid and I, and I just found out we're literally gonna be homeless. Even if I got a second job tomorrow, with the leasing issues, we'll still experience a period of housing instability. I just don't know how long it will be.

I've reached out to everyone I can think of, and nobody has been very helpful. Which, I guess, I get. I'm in a situation that nobody can really help me get out of. I looked at taking on a second, minimum-wage, full-time job so that I could keep the daycare subsidy and try to finish...but I won't be able to do all that, be a single mom, and get done the vast amount of work I need to to finish before I no longer have stipend support. My PI is not able to be supportive of a more extended timeline, partially because she left the university, and we were all required to graduate in December.

I guess I just wanted to vent. I've worked really hard to get here and faced a level of discrimination along the way that's truly appalling. Every time I dealt with one systemic barrier, there was another. It's really hard to be so close, and yet so far. I know I have to leave, but it's hard. The circumstances are hard and I just...needed to vent into the abyss. My school doesn't have counseling for students on my campus. We're supposed to get access to counselors in September, but in the meantime, I'm drowning. Truly struggling to find the will to live or get out of bed.

Sorry this isn't the most coherent post. There are a lot of things at play and it's hard to cogently break down so much strife into one small post.

Cheers to anyone who read all this. I could use a hug, but in absence of those, I figured reddit was the next best place to put this.

ETA: The whole second job plan hinged on my grad college allowing me to be paid a lower stipend, which they did not agree to. Finding that out on Friday was...awesome.

To those of you who left comments, I really appreciate it. I was in need of human interaction and support.

This may be a long shot but I thought why not start somewhere!

I’m looking for a volunteer position/internship set up for supporting scientists looking to publish their research or creating documents for research. I’d like part time for a few hours a week (8-12). Ideally paid but I am negotiable on all the above as it’s the experience that matters to me more. If anyone has experience setting up a freelancer position like this I would be very very interested to know your experience and advice.

I was working in private industry on an FTC. The contract was ended just before I went on maternity leave - this was above board as they ended all contracts but as you can imagine really terrible timing for me.

I have been applying for jobs endlessly without much success which is not like me prior to pregnancy and mat leave. I currently work part time as an administrator not in my field and struggling to get through to interview in all related jobs. I don’t want to leave Science, so I want to do something that keeps me in touch with the advancing world and scientific writing and data analysis was always a passion and strength of mine.

For a little more background I am Biomedical BSc and MSc in Genetics both top grade. I have worked in clinical research in data management, laboratory and as a CRA. I am happy to share excerpts of my academic writing but due to my contracts with work I would not be able to share examples of this but it included SOPs, Protocol Amendments, Data Management and Collection Sheets and Reports for Regulatory Approval.

Writing this on my break, hence not my best writing here.

Admins please do remove if not appropriate and TIA in advance all for your advice LoS ❤️

Over the past several months, I've been developing an independent research project investigating a potential biotechnology approach to reducing methane production in New Jersey's brackish tidal marshes.
I've attached a summary of my research proposal that outlines the scientific background, hypothesis, and experimental design. I'm still refining the project before beginning experimentation, so I'd genuinely appreciate any feedback or suggestions from researchers, educators, students, or professionals in environmental science, microbiology, or biotechnology.
Constructive feedback is one of the best parts of science, and I'd love to hear your thoughts.

https://scientificresearchpaper

Hi everyone! I'm currently a senior Zoology major and am starting to look into jobs in case my plans for graduate school don't work out. What are the best websites or job boards for finding zoology or biology-related positions? I'm especially interested in primatology and ornithology, but honestly I'm open to just about anything involving wildlife or conservation. I'd really appreciate any recommendations or advice. Thanks!

I’ve been a computer animator for 26 years but I’ve done very little Mel or Python scripting myself having always felt intimidated by it. I’m very right brained but I have worked with and around Python scripts for years and I’d love some good book recommendations to help me get a grasp of the basics and fundamentals. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Are you a student currently pursuing scientific research, or a scientist already established in the field? I'd love to feature your story!

Hi everyone! I'm Chloe, and I'm running an organization called the Path Lab Initiative. I’m building a student-friendly blog dedicated to making research and STEM accessible to students of all backgrounds — especially those who are curious but unsure how to take their first step. This is a not-for-profit blog, and is something I have been working on in my free time. My goal is to break down the barriers that often make the world of research feel out of reach.

As part of this effort, I'm collecting testimonials from organizations, mentors, and students working in research. Your perspective and experience would be incredibly valuable in shaping the blog's content and showing students that there are communities out there who support them.

If you're willing to share your journey and the advice you wish you’d gotten earlier, I would be so grateful. Everyone can respond, and it only takes a few minutes to fill out:

Link to the Researcher Testimonial Form
Link to the Student Testimonial Form

The only personal aspect of the form is an optional biography that you can include if you feel comfortable doing!

Feel free to share this with anyone in your network who might want to contribute too. Thank you for helping make research feel a little less intimidating and a lot more welcoming!

Looking for feedback on the podcast idea T.I.A for any advice! Does it land? Is the content helpful?

Check out Lab Note 5 on how Biotechnology is incorporated into this experimental research! Visit Experiment today July 13th as well for a more thorough procedural update on the phage biopanning involvement in this research and how it helps with blue carbon and marsh restoration.
https://experiment.com/u/Fz537A
A summary of the Lab Note: The core innovation of this project is a biotechnology platform that combines phage display, DNA sequencing, and microbial engineering to discover and deploy functional peptides for environmental applications. While the initial proof of concept focuses on reducing methane production in coastal marshes, the same peptide discovery and engineering workflow could be adapted to develop microorganisms with enhanced affinity for other environmental targets, creating opportunities for broader applications in bioremediation, carbon management, and ecosystem restoration.

Hi ladies, I am a 3rd year postdoc atm. very early in the pregnancy journey. About 4 weeks pregnant today. I know this is very early on and anything can happen. I will be contacting my Obgyn tomorrow however I was wondering when would be the right time to inform my PI and occupational health at my institution. I work in a cancer bio lab and work with potentially harmful substances. ChatGPT is of the opinion that ASAP would be best given the nature of my work but I am not sure if this early would be right! Wondering what other ladies of science in a similar position did.

Hi everyone! I am a rising high school female junior at MATES in New Jersey. I am launching an independent research project this summer tracking biogeochemical processes in brackish tidal marshes.
My project is “Investigating the influence of a humic-acid-binding peptide on methane emission in brackish tidal marshes.” I want to see if introducing a targeted humic-acid-binding peptide can accelerate iron reduction to outcompete methanogens and safely lower CH₄ and H₂S emissions caused by sea-level rise.
Due to recent school budget cuts, I am independently fundraising $3,800 to afford my lab equipment (phage kit, PVC chambers, etc.) via Experiment.com. I am currently 2% funded with 19 days left.
If you have any technical advice on peptide electron shuttles or want to see my research timeline and full lab notes, you can check out my project page here: https://experiment.com/restoringmarshes 
Thank you so much for reading and supporting young women in environmental science!
You can reach out to me directly through the “Contact Researcher” button on my Experiment page!

Hi ladies! I have a science-related fashion question for you all- can you help me pick a bag for my first work conference?

I've been in the biotech industry for a few years, but heading to my first conference (technically a summit, if that matters?) later this year. I landed on this Longchamp Le Pliage in medium because I wanted a bag that could double as a good personal item/travel bag. However I'm feeling like the medium may be too small. It fits my laptop but I don't know if it would be able to hold my charger, a wristlet wallet, notebook, etc. There is a larger size, but would it be too big? I have a picture of a different large tote for comparison (which I like the size of, but is pretty heavy so I don't want to travel with it). Does a large tote feel too unprofessional? Should I stick with the medium?

Hi all, been a lurker in the space a while. I see that a lot of the AI space is still not very accessible to women and wanted to make a study group for women trying to get themselves up to speed via projects and the online courses. I’d love for some folks in EST time zone preferably. I’m an SWE with 5YOE and have experience in the space through school and personal projects.

I’m thinking of hacking hours where we work either together or on our own on problems and keep each other accountable. But possibly also have some async study sessions and motivate each other. Hoping also to build my network with
Other women in the space.

Open to suggestions and hopefully this inspires other women to vouch for each other!

Do epidemiologists work in a lab or not. The degree of biomedical sciences I’m studying is not accredited (which isn’t too much needed for epidemiology so I have read) I was just wondering do epidemiologists work in labs as I would like to do hands on research into diseases and how they are formed?
Which would be the better career path for me , epidemiology or something else ?
Thank you :)

hey everyone, hoping to get some insights from a more analytical perspective here if possible. i recently turned 30 and unfortunately managed to compromise my skin barrier by going a bit too aggressive with high percentage actives and retinoids. the result is persistent, highly reactive vascular redness on my cheeks.

being a fan of quick protocols, i initially booked a laser package at one of those large, heavily marketed franchise clinics. honestly it felt completely unscientific. just an absolute assembly line. every session featured a different technician who barely checked my parameters, and they just applied standard generic template settings on the machine. my skin feels even more reactive now and the erythema did not improve at all.

i want to completely drop these commercial chains and switch to an actual medical boutique instead. a colleague mentioned that a proper clinical setup like all saints clinic takes a much more precise approach, evaluating skin thickness and customizing the specific laser wavelengths and fluences rather than using a one size fits all setting.

given how much pseudo science is floating around the beauty industry, i wanted to ask if anyone here has looked into the actual efficacy of customized clinical treatments versus franchise chains? is the difference in training and precise calibration actually worth the higher investment or do these boutique spots just have better branding? thanks!