Chapter of Graduate Women in Science Established

Three researchers at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus are bringing a chapter of the Graduate Women in Science Organization to the Arizona science and research community.

Helen Magee, an associate research lab manager in Dr. Michael Kruer’s lab who is working towards a master’s degree in the Clinical Translational Science Program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix; Lakshmi Madhavpeddi, a research intern at the UA College of Medicine – Phoenix Department of Basic Medical Sciences, and Sandra Hinz-Nordlie, a research intern at Arizona State University, found themselves searching for a way to network with other women in science.

“I wasn’t quite sure how to network, so I thought, ‘I’ll go into an organization that is specific to empowering women in research and in science’. I also wanted to have an emphasis on outreach and promoting STEM, especially among girls and women,” Hinz-Nordlie said.

Both Hinz-Nordlie and Magee were previously members of Graduate Women in Science chapters in different states and felt that it would be beneficial to create a chapter in Arizona.

“There seemed to be a gap in this graduate trainee program, especially for women, and GWIS presented an opportunity,” said Madhavpeddi.

Graduate Women in Science is an international organization that brings women in science and research together for networking, mentoring and community outreach.

The group was created in 1921 at Cornell University and has expanded both internationally and domestically. The Arizona chapter of GWIS plans to have networking, professional development, social and outreach events.

If you’d like to get involved, contact @email.