The underrepresentation of women in biotech development limits innovation. These gaps not only limit perspective but also stifle progress in addressing unmet needs in women's health. With a PhD from UPenn, I plan to become an executive director in a biotechnology consulting firm and build a biotechnology network that guides startups and established companies toward advancing women’s health diagnostics and therapeutics. Unbeknownst to many, novel drug development is extraordinarily expensive and time-consuming: the average cost to develop one new drug and bring it to market is $2.6 billion, with an average timeline of 10-15 years. Because of the extensive resources required to bolster a promising innovation into the market, scientific discovery alone is not enough to become a viable treatment. Unfortunately, many promising innovations fail within the drug development pipeline because the business aspects of biotech translations are overlooked. In my personal experience, I witnessed a promising ectopic pregnancy diagnostic pitch rejected by an investment panel because judges reasoned it had “limited market reach” despite its clear potential to aid hundreds of thousands of women. This experience solidified my mission to uplift promising discoveries addressing women's unmet needs through the biotechnology pipeline. To do this, I plan to leverage my experience at the Wistar Institute and UPenn’s Biotechnology group to work in case consulting and market outreach. I enrolled in Wistar’s innovation course to gain insight into translational pathways—spanning patent strategy, development pipelines, and commercialization. This information taught me which business aspects make a scientific discovery more enticing for investment. Through the biotech group, I became proficient in reviewing market value and understanding current unmet needs for stakeholders. With my certification of bioentrepreneurship, I established the soft skills to communicate objectives to company associates and can reframe a project’s perspective consider the patients’ needs. The culmination of these experiences enables me to develop a distinguished biotech consulting company. As an executive director, I plan to bolster companies serving women’s unmet needs. I will implement their promising innovations through an effective consulting process based on my experiences, demonstrating the best methods for success. I aim to begin small, starting in Philadelphia’s biotech industry to facilitate start-up companies translating their discovery and development. Once momentum is established, the company can expand to support start-ups to address women’s health across regions, extending to the Northeastern sector, then eventually across the country. This biotech company network will positively impact my community by driving lasting improvement in women’s health. I plan to partner with companies, academic institutions, and hospitals to reach the broader patient population and expand access to emerging therapies for those with limited treatment options. Intentional progress to identify, tackle, and elevate women’s health discoveries benefits all facets of society because women's well-being matters to all families and communities. The "Let's Build Together" Scholarship will be critical to achieve this goal. The funding will remove financial burdens during my training and redirect my focus towards driving equity-centered innovation. Thank you for your consideration.

1) In the Wistar Institute's Life Science and Innovation Course, I presented a pitch for a biotechnology kit designed to diagnose early-stage ectopic pregnancy. The condition remains a significant unmet need in women’s health. Yet,while judges commended the presentation, our pitch was not selected for investment. They explained the reason was limited market reach. Crestfallen, I sought feedback, and my mentor responded, “It’s no coincidence your product to serve women was declined by a panel lacking them.” Starting from the low-income household in Atlanta, school led me to higher education. Among all my subjects, cellular biology captivated me and ultimately set me on the path toward a scientific career. Throughout my journey, deep-rooted interests in cellular biology evolved into a resolve to develop cellular therapeutics. At Emory, I investigated escape mechanisms of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) to hinder their metastatic behavior. At Columbia University Irving Medical Center, I investigated immune activation pathways with therapeutic potential for Lupus patients. Finally, at the University of Pennsylvania, I explored immune cell bioengineering to enhance HIV cure therapies. My various research experiences introduced therapeutic potential through leveraging biology pathways. Yet, what surprised me more than scientific development would be the gaps in women’s health. TNBC disproportionately affects African-American women, contributing to a 30% higher mortality rate. Unfortunately, TNBC is less responsive to traditional treatments and has a higher recurrence. At Columbia Hospital, I learned Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that disproportionately impacts young women, with most women being diagnosed between 15 and 44. At UPenn, seminars taught that marginalized women face a disproportionately higher HIV burden in the U.S., with Black women accounting for about half of new diagnoses while experiencing worse care outcomes. I found myself thinking, “What more can be done?” I became resolved to advance medicine and dare to push scientific technology beyond the status quo. As a current UPenn graduate student, my research focuses on developing a versatile cell therapy platform to address medical gaps in women’s health. My days are filled with culturing cells, dissecting literature, and designing experiments to challenge our therapeutic designs against disease models. With refinement, immunotheraputics can surpass conventional therapies with their durability, efficacy, and reduced systemic burden for cancer, autoimmune conditions, and infectious disease contexts. If successful, they could serve as new treatment options when conventional protocols fall short. To better understand how to bridge these innovations to patients, I enrolled in Wistar’s innovation course to gain insight into translational pathways—spanning patent strategy, development pipelines, and commercialization. In the course, I worked on an ectopic pregnancy pitch for a kit that could’ve helped hundreds of thousands of women to swiftly identify the condition, yet our business pitch was denied. Yet, the pitch presentation serves as a lesson instead of a setback. I continue with my research, dividing my time between cellular investigation and projects that bridge discoveries into real-world applications. The work is demanding yet fulfilling, knowing each effort contributes to something greater. Many women’s health conditions remain unmet, yet they remain understudied and deemed a lower priority. The lack of emphasis on women’s health is compounded by the underrepresentation of women in biotech development because promising therapies to address these issues are struggling to garner support. ​In response, my career aspiration is to become a director in a biotechnology consulting firm, directing innovation to remediate these women’s health gaps. Through UPenn’s graduate program, I am building the expertise necessary to advance immunotherapeutic platforms that reshape treatment standards in women’s health. With continued support, including this scholarship, I will be equipped to develop meaningful interventions and strengthen representation in translational medicine.

Few understand the impact of negative labels more than those living with them. African Americans know about being categorized as lower in intelligence. Women are defined as bad in science. Thus, I have quite a dilemma as an African American young woman interested in cellular biology. As the first in my family to pursue higher education in STEM, I am committed to advancing immunotherapeutic development to better treat diseases. Throughout my academic journey, I navigated microaggressions and subtle biases. Facing them prompted me to create resources and join organizations uplifting young women of color. I plan to use my past experiences to empower the next generation of young women professionals to recognize prejudice for what it is- other people's opinion of them that does not represent their true potential. During my undergrad, I participated in Emory’s Matriculate Mentorship Program: a virtual platform where I advise low-income high school young women through the college application process. Each week, I organized meetings with my three students to craft personal statements, structure requests for letters of recommendation, and affirm their aspirations for higher education. Many times, my students voiced doubts about whether they belonged in college. Seeing myself in their self-doubt, I prioritized reminding them of their progress, reminding them of their potential, and sharing my college journey to uplift their confidence. I taught the skill of reflection: guiding them to recognize their talents, removed from negative labels. I am proud to announce that my students matriculated to Washington University, St.Louis, the University of Michigan, and Georgia State University. After the process, they all thanked me with words I hold dear: “Thank you for believing in me.” I wanted to continue supporting the younger generation of women in my graduate career. At the University of Pennsylvania, I am working on cellular therapies to reduce disease burdens. Within the classroom and the laboratory, few students look like me or share my background. With this disparity, I created an outreach initiative within the Penn Graduate Women in Science & Engineering (PGWISE) organization. I developed a strategy to promote STEM and introduce graduate education across the demographics of young women. For the K-12 audience, I’m collaborating with university programs to include PGWISE members as student mentors in various STEM topics- from computer science to biomedical engineering- through an original curriculum. ​For instance, I served as a guest lecturer for Penn Arts and Sciences High School Programs. I taught an original lesson introducing immunology principles and showcasing pioneering immunotherapeutics. I designed the lesson to be interactive, pushing the students to apply past scientific lessons into the cellular world of immunology. Students were engaged and expressed gratitude for learning about novel immunotherapies. ​For undergraduate women, I developed a graduate‑focused programming series where PGWISE members from diverse STEM fields connect with students, encourage them to pursue STEM degrees, and introduce resources that support higher education. So far, I have hosted a graduate student panel in which six PGWISE members shared guidance on finding research labs and accessing the tools needed to succeed in graduate school. I designed the program to clarify the requirements for matriculation and to reinforce that every young woman has the potential to succeed beyond imposed labels. ​My career aspiration is to become a director in a biotechnology consulting firm, guiding startups toward success. I plan to create a brighter future for treatment options with advancing cellular therapies. During my journey, I will elevate future generations of young women scientists to accomplish this goal: to dismantle the illusion of incompetence and inadequacy of women of color pursuing STEM.

My dreams became clear in the Wistar Institute's Life Science and Innovation Course, where I presented a pitch for a biotechnology kit designed to diagnose early-stage ectopic pregnancy. The condition remains a significant unmet need in women’s health. While judges commended the presentation, our pitch was not selected for investment. They explained the reason was limited market reach. Crestfallen, I sought feedback, and my mentor responded, “It’s no coincidence your product to serve women was declined by a panel lacking them.” I’ve been called driven, but I simply see myself as a young woman determined to fill the gaps. Starting from the low-income household in Atlanta, school paved the way to a life beyond my neighborhood. Among all my subjects, cellular biology captivated me and ultimately set me on the path toward a scientific career. Through my work in various labs, I learned about conditions that disproportionately affect women, including systemic lupus, triple-negative breast cancer, and ovarian cysts. These disease conditions and many others still lacked optimal treatment options. This became personal when my cousin was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease that affects women four times more often than men. The condition diminishes her quality of life because regular transfusions only provide temporary relief. Witnessing her struggles, I found myself thinking, “What more can be done?” I became resolved to advance medicine and dare to push scientific technology beyond the status quo. Now, at the University of Pennsylvania, I am training to develop cellular therapies. I work in an immune cell engineering lab, where I modify immune cells to better identify and eliminate disease-causing pathogens. If successful, cellular therapeutics could serve as new treatment options when conventional protocols fall short. My days are filled with culturing cells, dissecting literature, and designing experiments to challenge our therapeutic designs against disease models. The work is demanding yet fulfilling, knowing each effort contributes to something greater. During a seminar, I met Dr. Heather Steinman, the Wistar Institute’s Senior Vice President of Business Development. Intrigued by her work in technology transfer, we talked, and she challenged my mindset: “Once groundbreaking discoveries are made, how do you translate them beyond the lab?” Confounded, I asked how to become involved in translating research into tangible treatments. She directed me to the Wistar Life Science and Innovation Course. The course taught me the innovation pipeline, patenting, manufacturing, and distribution for new therapies to reach patients. In our case project, I explored a major gap in women’s health: ectopic pregnancy. With no standard diagnostics, a protein biomarker kit served as a phenomenal platform to identify the condition, potentially serving hundreds of thousands of women, yet our business pitch was denied. Nonetheless, the pitch presentation serves as a lesson instead of a setback. My journey revealed that women’s health conditions remain understudied and are deemed a lower priority. The lack of emphasis on women’s health is compounded by the underrepresentation of women in biotech development because promising therapies to address these issues are struggling to garner support. Without more women in leadership, promising therapies may never reach patients- those such as my cousin- who need them most. My dream is this: redefine medical treatments for women's disease burdens. To do this, I decided to pursue an authoritative position in the biotechnology industry to drive innovation specific to women's disease burdens. Through UPenn’s graduate program, I am building the expertise necessary to advance immunotherapeutic platforms that are clinically relevant, commercially viable, and responsive to real patient needs. To reshape the medical future for all women, my work will transform this dream into reality.

You are more than the label society defines you. Legacy means to continue carving the path those before us began and to leave behind the fruits of progress for those after. Legacy serves to bridge lessons between people, between communities, and between different fabrics of society. It uplifts people from the realms of hopelessness and inspires a person to pursue a brighter future. Raised in a low‑income, single‑parent household in Atlanta, I’ve seen the legacy the mother has established for me. Upon first glance, many assumed our future is fixed: an African American family set to remain in the poorer community for generations. Yet, despite these beliefs, my mother worked relentlessly to offer me a childhood, an education, and a brighter future. Through her endeavors, her exhaustion, and her struggles, I did the unexpected and attended university. I defied the statistics as a proud graduate from Emory University, and now I am pursuing my doctoral degree to advance pioneering medical therapies. Thanks to my mother, I am free from the boxes set since the beginning. I will take her love forward and establish a legacy using my talents to create a better future in medicine. In the home, my mother raised me with love and determination, but financial strain shaped our lives. Despite this, she instilled the importance of academic success. Education was the avenue my mother directed, and at school, I learned early to build supportive networks that extended beyond what was possible at home. Among all my subjects, cellular biology captivated me and ultimately set me on the path toward a scientific career. My academic journey consisted of exploring various diseases in hopes of seeking a potential theraputic avenue. At Emory University, I conducted research on the metastatic behavior of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) to restrict it. At Columbia University Irving Medical Center, I investigated immune activation pathways for a therapeutic target against systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Finally, at the University of Pennsylvania, I explored immune cell bioengineering to enhance HIV cure therapies. At each step, I learned of unmet needs, persistent disease conditions, and thought, “What can I do to advance the status quo?” From the seed my mother planted, my curiosity sprouted into a commitment to advancing medical treatments for the many disease gaps- cancer, autoimmunity, and infectious disease. Resolved to bring change, I embarked to learn the intricacies of pioneering biotechnology innovation. Now at UPenn, I work in the lab developing an advanced cellular therapy that enhances precision, sustained efficacy, and reduced treatment-related burden. To better understand how to bridge these innovations to patients, I enrolled in Wistar’s innovation course to gain insight into translational pathways—spanning patent strategy, development pipelines, and commercialization. If successful, cellular therapeutics could serve as new treatment options when conventional protocols fall short. My time is divided between cellular investigation and projects that bridge discoveries into real-world applications. The work is demanding yet fulfilling, knowing each effort contributes to something greater. In my endeavors, I continue to carve the path to improve the status quo for future generations. I dream of a world of advanced therapies to reshape the treatment dogma for various disease contexts, and I plan to keep implementing my talents to make that a reality. As I move forward, I reflect on my mother, as her work uplifted me beyond our neighborhood to a life I never would have imagined. I plan use my talents to finish what she started, and to uplift others to exceed beyond society’s labels.

I am a young African American woman who is the first in my family to pursue higher education in STEM and a career in biomedicine; I’m committed to improving immunotherapeutic options for diseases that disproportionately affect underserved communities. Being a first-generation student embodies forging a path into uncharted territory. When I arrived at the University of Pennsylvania's brick campus, I faced microaggressions, imposter syndrome, and poor mentorship. Yet, the challenges only remind me why I must remain committed to my aspirations. ​ The higher you climb, the less color you see. I never realized this until I sat in UPenn’s lecture halls. In the immunology graduate program, I quickly realized that few students looked like me or shared my background. Adjusting meant confronting microaggressions and subtle biases. During group assignments, my opinions are overlooked for others’. In class, professors questioned me more aggressively than my peers. While these challenges were difficult, they strengthened my character and helped me become an innovative, independent scientist. ​ The most valuable lessons I've learned were through the lab. In the Su laboratory, I investigated immune cell receptors from early Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) donors to identify genetic receptor sequences that may increase disease risk. If successful, this work could enhance early T1D screening and improve general diagnostics. I worked closely with a post‑doctoral mentor who guided me through key project procedures, including culturing bacteria, cloning genes, and introducing those genes into immune cells. I approached the work enthusiastically, ensuring to understand the key principles. But gene‑cloning results were often inconclusive, and the cells failed to uptake the constructs as expected. ​ In troubleshooting, I brainstormed possible causes for our negative results, but instead, my mentor questioned my scientific capabilities. His constant criticisms seeded self-doubt, and I began to second-guess my capabilities. Determined to improve, I established systems to refine my skillset: I reviewed scientific literature and updated the protocols to increase yields. My efforts enhanced my research skills, yet they did not improve my relations with my lab mentor. Issues persisted, and my confidence dwindled. ​ Determined, I sought guidance from immunology experts outside of the lab. After sharing my protocols, they informed me that my procedures were outdated and inefficient. With my newfound knowledge, I relayed my experiences to my advisors. Once they explained that the mentor’s approach is not conducive to my learning, I realized that his attitude is not an accurate reflection of my potential. My mindset became freed from imposter syndrome, and I transitioned to another lab. ​ As a first-generation student, I aim to set an example and leave a lasting legacy in my community. Since my transition, I have become a more confident and ambitious young woman. Difficult moments still arise, but I face them with my head held high, knowing my potential is not defined by anyone else’s judgment. My next steps involve seeking professional workshops. Financial support provided by the Bick First Generation Scholarship would be essential to accessing these opportunities and meaningfully advancing my career.

Growing up in a single, low-income household instilled resilience and a hard work ethic that persists to this day. My mother raised me with love, but financial strain shaped our home life. Consequently, her constant stress was evident, and our circumstances led me to be independent early on. I became a resourceful young woman who created supportive networks throughout my academic career, building me into the person I am today. In high school, I participated in scholastic societies that nurtured my leadership. I established a support network that pushed my development beyond what was possible at home. Inspired, I wanted to create a supportive network for other young women who may have my shared background. As such, my mentorship career sprouted; I founded the Grayson High School Women’s Organization that introduced my peers to college applications, academic workshops, and professional development. During my undergraduate studies, I volunteered as a Matriculate college application mentor for low-income young women. Now, in graduate school, I am the president of Black Graduate Women’s Association, where I lead initiatives to nurture and elevate the black women's community. Alongside my community work, I pursued a career in the medical theraputic field. I was struck by the women’s health disparities throughout my academic journey: women’s conditions remain understudied and deemed a lower priority. This truth is compounded by the underrepresentation of women in biotech development. Thus, my goal is to become a director in biotechnology consulting, guiding startups toward equitable innovation. In my graduate program, I am learning to advance therapies that are clinically relevant, commercially viable, and address these gaps. From my background, I cultivated my tenacity to confront inequity and deliver community empowerment. I aim to fulfill my resolve as a leader to advance therapeutics and uplift marginalized communities, both at the bench and beyond.

In the Wistar Institute's Life Science and Innovation Course, I presented a pitch for a biotechnology kit designed to diagnose early-stage ectopic pregnancy. The condition remains a significant unmet need in women’s health. While judges commended the presentation, our pitch was not selected for investment. They explained the reason was limited market reach. Crestfallen, I sought feedback, and my mentor responded, “It’s no coincidence your product to serve women was declined by a panel lacking them.” My journey to address these gaps in women’s health started in a single, low-income household in a poor neighborhood of Atlanta. My mother raised me with love, but financial strain shaped our home life. Consequently, her constant stress was evident, and our circumstances led me to be independent early on. School became my refuge, where learning provided a sense of peace. Curiosity blossomed; because of my teacher’s endless encouragement, I relentlessly pursued a captivating topic: cellular biology. At the time, little did I know that this fascination would last until this day. From primary school to university, my deep-rooted interests in cellular biology evolved into a resolve to modulate cellular pathways for therapeutics. During my undergraduate career, I investigated escape mechanisms of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) to conjure a method to hinder their metastatic behavior. At Columbia University Irving Medical Center, I investigated immune activation pathways with therapeutic potential for Lupus patients. Now at the University of Pennsylvania, I am developing an advanced T cell therapy that enhances their ability to locate, target, and eliminate selected pathogens. My various research experiences introduced therapeutic potential in utilizing biological mechanisms. Yet, what surprised me more than scientific development would be the gaps in women’s health. TNBC disproportionately affects African-American women, contributing to a 30% higher mortality rate. Unfortunately, TNBC is less responsive to traditional treatments and has a higher recurrence. At Columbia Hospital, I learned Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that disproportionately impacts young women, with most women being diagnosed between 15 and 44. Once I transitioned into UPenn, I decided to incorporate my research into a versatile platform that can address these medical gaps in women’s health. My work in T cell engineering aims to create an immunotherapeutic applicable to different disease burdens. With refinement, immunotheraputics can surpass conventional therapies with their durability, efficacy, and reduced systemic burden. My mentor, supporting my aspirations, directed me to take the Life Science and Innovation course to learn more about drug development. The course taught me how innovation, such as immunotherapies, undergoes a pipeline for patenting, manufacturing, and distribution to reach patients. Yet, once more, I was struck by the women’s health disparities through the course as well: women’s conditions remain understudied and deemed a lower priority. The lack of emphasis on women’s health is compounded by the underrepresentation of women in biotech development because promising therapies to address these issues are struggling to garner support. My pitch presentation serves as a lesson, cementing a resolve to seek solutions in women’s health. Following my course experience, I discovered that Black women represent only 9% of the STEM workforce, with even fewer in leadership positions. My research journey demonstrated many current diseases seeking improved remedies, yet it requires women’s leadership to direct therapeutic development. Consequently, I decided to pursue an authoritative position to drive innovation specific to women's disease burdens. With my degree from Penn, I can achieve my career aspiration of becoming a director in a biotechnology consulting firm, guiding startups toward success. Through academic excellence and my resolve, I will make my mark in the biotechnology field to create a better future for women.