As I peer into the microscope to catch a glimpse of neuroblastoma cells growing in my Petri dish, I glance down at my notes. There, a combination of numbers and letters spell out the reasoning behind my experiments. There, chemistry and biology meet and harmonize, allowing me to combine different areas of science into cellular biology research. This interdisciplinary approach to studying science is one that Kathrin Jansen, the Senior Vice President of Vaccine Research and Early Development at Pfizer, is well acquainted with. Jansen, a prominent researcher living in New Jersey, inspires me and my pursuits in science; she is undeterred by challenges faced as a female scientific researcher and values analyzing scientific problems from different perspectives. Jansen followed a series of pathways before finding herself at Pfizer, the world 's largest research-based pharmaceutical company. From a young age, she was interested in studying biology and medicine to improve public health. Jansen gained experience in several …show more content…
As a graduate student in Germany, Jansen recounted, she faced discrimination when touring a company. The leader of the tour assumed that the women in the group would not proceed to become scientific researchers. "I was very insulted," she remembered. Although she believes that female scientists today face far less bias, she advised me to be outspoken and not be afraid of going after my goals. Continuing to offer advice for my future as a scientist, she recommended that I be versatile in different areas of science. She finds that studying a variety of fields offers a "deeper appreciation of science and a broader perspective on scientific problems" so that "one can make the most progress and succeed in a field of choice or opportunity." With that in mind, I aim to study Cellular and Molecular Biology in college, gaining knowledge in not just one, but two different