FeMaLE: Young women in the biotechnology program are developing their skills for careers in science

At 8 a.m., Monday through Friday in Dr. Kenneth Lee’s Center of Academic Achievement biotech classroom, budding young scientists are learning biology. 

But not off PowerPoint presentations.

Rows of table stations outfitted with micro-pipettes, granulated cylinders and centrifuges stretch across the room toward the whiteboard, where a numbered list of instructions titled “dichotomous identification” outlines the various steps of identifying bacteria — the process students will have to perform during the final.

“There’s always a misconception that young people are limited in what they can do,” biotech teacher Zulma Perez said. “I think as teachers, we have to believe that students will rise to the occasion.”

In the all-female Agriculture and Pharmacolgy class in the biotech program hosted at the CAA, the seven students are developing concrete lab skills that they’ll use as they pursue their careers in science — a heavily male-dominated field. According to the American Association of University Women, only 34% of STEM careers are occupied by women. 

“I think it’s empowering because I’m a woman going into the biotechnology field and doing that stuff,” junior Hailey Poague said. “And I’m only 16, compared to what a white male might be doing even though he’s probably had more opportunities than I have.”

Agriculture and Pharmacology is one of the two secondary biotech classes taught by Lee offered after the introductory course taught by Perez, Standard Operating Procedures. 

When class starts, Dr. Lee gives instructions for 15 minutes before students have the whole period to work on their lab — from synthesizing aspirin to testing the efficacy of commercial disinfectants. 

“When I come back to East classes, all my classes feel like I’m not actually doing anything because they feel way easier compared to what I’m doing at the CAA,” Poague said. “They just feel less complex.”

Students keep a detailed lab notebook documenting the procedure, methods and results of their work to be graded qualitatively. The small class size allows Dr. Lee to help students efficiently and give one-on-one feedback.

“It’s almost like a job environment, though, because the students are doing what they need to do,” Lee said. “If they have a question they go to each other, and then they come to me.”

Rather than taking down notes, students use lab-grade technology to practice their technical and critical thinking skills. Through the program, students gain Occupational Safety and Health Administration certification for procedures like safety-hazard assessment and aseptic technique.

“It doesn’t feel like going to school,” junior Sage Scott said. “That’s really what I like about it. I feel like I’m going and getting this valuable experience that will help me in life, while also being around people who are like me.”

Scott first became fascinated with science in grade school but became drawn to biology after exploring vaccine development for a current events social studies project during the pandemic.

“I always grew up really loving science, but I never really saw any women involved in the science programs that I was interested in,” Scott said. “So it was just kind of disheartening, especially watching science shows on TV, but it was really awesome to sign up and then be in a class with mostly girls.”

After taking SOP and either of Lee’s classes, students in the program perform research at local research facilities, from KU Medical Center to Quest Diagnostics, a healthcare company.

Students self-direct their research, choosing topics from pancreatic cancer to microplastics in sand. After meeting with Lee, they reached out to see if local companies would be interested in having them intern.

“They’re not just washing dishes,” Lee said. “They’re actually doing these experiments that are funded by the government to do and figure out different aspects of whatever question that they’re tasked with.”

Most of the Agriculture and Pharmacology class will go on to research next year. Poague is interested in studying insulin, junior Alejandra Ceron Madrigal is interested in studying cancer and Scott is pursuing shadowing a researcher at KU Medical Center.

“Just going out and touring these places, it’s just so male-dominated, and it can be kind of disheartening for a lot of women,” Scott said. “But I’m not going to let that stop me.”