In honor of Women’s History Month and the enduring impact of women in science, The Scientist invited readers to share the names of the female researchers who have inspired them most. From pioneering trailblazers who reshaped entire fields to contemporary scientists pushing the boundaries of discovery, these women have influenced generations through their curiosity, persistence, and groundbreaking work. Read on to see which female scientists inspire our readers.
Rosalind Franklin and the Double Helix
Suzanne Black, science teacher, Inglemoor High School
Suzanne Black is a science teacher at Inglemoor High School.
Courtesy of Suzanne Black.
I am inspired by Rosalind Franklin. After seeing the 1987 dramatic film, “Life Story” (in the US it was a shorter version, “Race for the Double Helix”), I was moved by her focus, brilliance, and courage. Before she could be recognized for her work, she died of ovarian cancer, which I also had—stage IV in my case. Thanks to an innovative doctor, I have survived for 21 years and am currently in remission. I wish Rosalind had had the treatments open to her that I have had, and I hope research into more specific and targeted therapies can continue despite the challenges facing scientists today. I try to honor Rosalind Franklin with my students every year.
Challenging Assumptions in Brain Injury Science
Poojashree Chettiar, graduate student, Texas A&M University
Poojashree Chettiar is a graduate student at Texas A&M University.
Courtesy of Poojashree Chettiar.
Traumatic brain injury is often described in millions of cases each year, countless lives altered by its long-term consequences. But understanding what actually happens inside the injured brain has remained one of neuroscience’s most difficult challenges. Punam Pokam is helping change that.
Her research focuses on how traumatic brain injury reshapes neuronal excitability and circuit dynamics. By using technically demanding approaches such as in vivo electrophysiology after brain injury, her work provides rare insight into how neurons behave within damaged neural networks. Importantly, her findings challenge long-standing assumptions about neuronal swelling after injury, suggesting that cellular responses once considered purely harmful may play more complex roles in brain function and recovery.
What makes her influence particularly meaningful to me is the way she approaches science. She leads with intellectual rigor, but also with an openness that encourages curiosity and independence in young scientists. In doing so, she is redefining not only how we study traumatic brain injury, but also how the next generation of neuroscientists are trained to ask difficult questions.
Celebrating scientists like Punam Pokam reminds us that redefining a field is not always about a single discovery. Sometimes it is about changing how we think, how we investigate, and how we empower others to pursue answers that could transform human health.
From Cornfields to the Nobel Prize
Roberta Brinton, neuroscientist, University of Arizona
Roberta Brinton is a neuroscientist at the University of Arizona.
Courtesy of Roberta Brinton.
Barbara McClintock started her scientific career as a student of agriculture at Cornell University—a field one might not predict would lead to a Nobel Prize—but true to form, McClintock and her discoveries were definitely not predictable. Her deep expertise in genetics coupled with a fierce willingness to follow the data turned the experience of being ostracized by the leaders in genetics of the day—both intellectually and physically, literally into the corn fields of Cold Spring Harbor—into the foundation of science upon which she would later win the Nobel Prize for her discovery of transposable genes, also known as “jumping genes.” Another brilliant deduction was based on her research in irradiated corn. From this investigation, McClintock proposed the concept and function of telomeres.
McClintock inspired me to continue my own scientific research strategy of developing a hypothesis, testing that hypothesis, and then ‘listening’ to the organism’s response. Just like her corn communicated to her, listening to organisms reveals their innate processes, their complexity, and their purpose. She has been and remains my guide to following the organism even as it leads us down a path we never anticipated but is one of transformative scientific breakthroughs.
Exploring the Frontiers of Brain Health
Maha Shahid, postdoctoral fellow, University of Karachi
Shabana Usman Simjee is not only an outstanding neuroscientist but also a mentor whose passion for science profoundly shapes the careers and confidence of her students. As a leading neuropharmacologist at the University of Karachi, her research addressing neurological disorders such as stroke, epilepsy, and neurodegeneration reflects a lifelong commitment to improving human health through science. Her extensive scholarly contributions and impactful research demonstrate scientific excellence, but what truly distinguishes her is her dedication to nurturing young researchers, especially women pursuing careers in STEM.
Working under her supervision has been transformative for me. She leads with integrity, resilience, and intellectual curiosity, encouraging us to think critically, overcome research challenges, and believe in our scientific potential. In an environment where female leadership in science can still face barriers, Simjee stands as a powerful example of perseverance and excellence. She inspires not only through her achievements but through her generosity in sharing knowledge and empowering others to grow. For me and many others, she embodies what an exceptional female scientist truly represents: leadership, mentorship, and lasting impact.
From Binge Drinking to Brain Fitness
Joan Holgate, technology transfer, IPA
Selena Bartlett is an Aussie who’s gone toe-to-toe with the top addiction neuroscientists in the US and completely changed the course of preclinical addiction research. She discovered the first new alcoholism treatment in more than 20 years, provided new animal models of binge drinking, and showed the brain stays in an adolescent-like state and has a “shrunken” neural network when harmful binge drinking commences in adolescence. Her work has informed us about the links between stress and alcoholism, and stress and obesity. More recently, she has been working on brain fitness strategies to help us cope with stress and to prevent and alleviate disorders driven by stress.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
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