Molecular Biologist, Neurogenesis Researcher, Masters in Biochemistry (2026)
In 2020, Mary Kay launched the Young Women in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) grant program and social campaign to help shift the perception of “the face of science,” and encourage young women to pursue STEM paths. Since then, we have awarded 29 grants providing nearly $200,000 to young women in STEM all around the world.
In 2020, Mary Kay launched the Young Women in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) grant program and social campaign to help shift the perception of “the face of science,” and encourage young women to pursue STEM paths. Since then, we have awarded 29 grants providing nearly $200,000 to young women in STEM all around the world.
Meet Alex Rodger, a Mary Kay 2024 Young Women in STEM grant recipient. Alex earned her Bachelor of Science with a dissertation on improving treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. She’s now pursuing a Master of Research in genetic sustainability, focusing on plastic-eating enzymes to tackle plastic waste. We’re thrilled to support her groundbreaking work in sustainable biology.
Provide a brief description of your STEM projects/initiatives completed or in progress to-date.
In my first year of my undergrad, at Queen’s University’s Bader College, I worked on multiple Ecological studies on the Herstmonceux Castle estate in England. One of our main projects was using dendroclimatology technology to study the health of different oak trees around the estate to measure growth in relation to precipitation. In my third year of my Bachelor of Science, at the University of Portsmouth, I started my Honours project studying Gamma Linolenic Acid as a ligand for Retinoic acid receptors (RXR) affecting transcriptional control in neurogenesis. I mainly looked at the amount of neuron growth in frog embryos in different concentrations of Gamma Linolenic Acid. Next year my Master in Research in Science and Health, at the University of Portsmouth, will be studying the genetic makeup of plastic eating enzymes.
What/Who inspired you to get into STEM?
I was in STEM classes all throughout grade school, STEM was introduced early in the curriculum. Once I got to high school, I was trying to figure out what to pursue. Photography and journalism piqued my interest initially, but I quickly figured out it wasn’t a great fit for me. Then one summer I attended a science camp at Queen’s University, it was so interesting to be exposed to all areas of science that exist. The camp mainly focused on astrophysics. I left the camp so excited about STEM and then the decision was: what should I apply to for my university applications – physics, chemistry, or biology. During my first year I took bio and chem, and my interest developed for genetics. As I’ve spent more time in the lab, I’ve found that I love it, and my passion lies in molecular biology.
What are some advantages you think being a female brings to the STEM field?
I think being a female in STEM allows for a different view on the field overall. Sciences have been mainly established by men and through their points of view, which means the processes, testing and research fundamentals that we use today were mostly established by men. But many brilliant women throughout history have broken through the barriers and made invaluable contributions to their field, like Rosalind Franklin, a British chemist best known for her contributions to the discovery of the molecular structure of DNA. Women have a different perspective to situations than men, and therefore we approach questions and problems differently. These days, women have an ability to change up ways that science has been done historically , and that is exactly the point of scientific research – to challenge the norms, build on the past knowledge and discover new theories. As a woman in the field, I believe my studies and how I see the world helps me be a better researcher.
What would you tell young girls who are interested in STEM, but are too intimidated or discouraged to pursue it?
I would tell young girls interested in STEM that there is so much information at their fingertips with the internet and social media, so just start looking at the possibilities that STEM has to offer. There are so many amazing women on social media that post about their lives in science and research that I have found so inspiring. STEM is fun, exciting, interesting…it’s definitely not a boring area of study! I would also tell them that you don’t have to have your niche figured out for a long time. I started my high-school career interested in Chemistry, then started my first year of university with a focus on Ecology, finished my Honours project in Developmental biology and in the Fall, I’ll be starting my Masters in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Finding your niche comes with experience and it can be daunting, but you should learn about as many options as you can because nothing is ever set in stone and you can always change your concentration as you gain experience in your STEM journey.
What do you think is most exciting about the future of STEM, and is there a specific advancement you would like to see happen?
I’m excited for the future of STEM because it is continuously becoming more accessible. Previously complicated technology is now being fitted for non-researchers to use, for example, Nanopore technology which sequences DNA, is starting to be used in the field for scientists, doctors, and anyone else that DNA sequencing technology applies to. Statistical analysis programs are also becoming easier to access as anyone with a basic knowledge of coding can run many intricate analyses through open-sourced R coding. Published papers are more accessible than ever before but I hope in the future, scientific research will be free and available to all in full published paper form as well as easier to understand formats so it can reach an even bigger audience.
Who is your favourite female icon and why? (She can be any kind of woman, anywhere in the world, in any industry or impact area. She could be a celebrity, leader, teacher, influencer, important figure in your life.)
A woman who has been the biggest icon in my life is my mom. I wouldn’t be able to do everything that I have accomplished without her support and care. My whole life I’ve watched her balance her influential job, and me and my brother’s busy life. Between getting us ready for school, going to work and being an absolute girl boss, and helping my brother and I at our many afterschool activities, she’s shown me that hard work and kindness goes a long way. She has always been right beside me even when I moved across the pond for university, she has stuck by me every step of the way and never fails to give me (sometimes unprompted) advice that has stuck with me in my hardest days. She always finds a way to make me smile even halfway across the world and her constant encouragement throughout my academic and personal wins (large or small) is something I couldn’t live without.