Whitehead Institute celebrates Women's History Month

Whitney has been the best role model and mentor for me for the last 4+ years. She has taught me valuable skills in every aspect of scientific research and has been there to encourage me through every setback along the way. I am so grateful for her investment in my professional and personal development—I...

Lacy is an exquisite writer, skilled experimentalist, thoughtful mentor and genuine friend. Her dedication to her science and family has been a source of motivation and inspiration for me since the day we met! 

Lacy completed her postdoc in Whitehead Institute Ruth Lehmann's lab. She...

Ania is my role model, and the best mentor I have ever had—she is knowledgeable, compassionate, and supportive. As a fantastic mentor, she always gives me insightful and valuable advice, while giving me lots of freedom to explore sciences on my own. As a scientist, she teaches me how to ask good...

Mary Lyon is a British geneticist whose piercing insights into the regulation of gene expression on the mammalian X chromosome (X inactivation, or Lyonization) launched the field of epigenetics an continues to shape my lab's agenda today. Mary sent my lab's first postdoc to us.

Photo credit:...

Susan Lindquist, a close friend, my immediate predecessor as Whitehead Institute Director, and a fabulous mentor and role model for scientists of all genders.

Photo credit: The Royal Society (CC BY-SA 3.0)

My aunt, Dr. Nusrat Sharif, encouraged my research interests. She works as a Senior Principal Scientist in the Inflammation & Immunology Research Unit of Pfizer Inc, at Cambridge, MA. My aunt leads a team of scientists that explore the molecular mechanisms of finding durable treatments for patients...

Patricia Jacobs is a cytogeneticist (born in Scotland but who did much of her work in Hawaii) who pioneered the study of human chromosome anomalies, including sex chromosome aneuploidy, a topic of great interest to me and to my lab. I've had the privilege of working with Pat and her accomplished trainees.

Jullien is a postdoctoral fellow in the Yamashita Lab and is a master coder, experiment connoisseur, and incredible athlete. However, she inspires me the most with her ability to give genuine and meaningful compliments and with the energy and excitement she brings to the lab each day.

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My Mom, Rose, was a phenomenal woman and teacher who emphasized the importance of education. She earned two master’s degrees while raising five children. Because of my Mom, I am a lifelong learner and inspired to do work that makes me happy!

My mother, Martha Page recently turned 100. My mother, with an 8th grade education, helped me become the first member of my family to attend college.

My brilliant cousin, Kerry, is a composite fabric engineer who has worked on projects for NASA. She is also one of the most joyous people I've ever known, and was responsible for the first time I ever laughed so hard soda came out of my nose. She has been inspiring me both personally and professionally...

Bree Newsome Bass is known for her act of civil disobedience in June 2015 when she removed the Confederate Flag from the South Carolina state house ground by using her climbing skills to scale a flagpole. If she can do a tough exercise and get arrested for protesting a horrific mass shooting, (Charleston...

Anne McLaren is a British developmental biologist whose generous spirit, intellect, and sterling leadership in mammalian reproduction and germ cell biology set the stage for much of my lab's work.

Maria is such an amazing scientific mentor and role model because she treats everyone with kindness and respect whether it's someone's day 1 in the lab, or day 1000. She is an excellent researcher, but also not afraid to admit that being a scientist can be challenging. I am so grateful that I was...