Women in Science ft. Dr. Elizabeth Komives

In honor of Women's History Month, we are thrilled to kick off our series of blog posts highlighting the remarkable contributions of Women in Science. Our first guest is none other than Dr. Elizabeth Komives, a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCSD.

Dr. Komives wears many hats within the academic community, serving as a beacon of inspiration and mentorship for aspiring chemists, biochemists, and researchers. As Chair of the Research Scholars program, she plays a pivotal role in nurturing the next generation of scientific minds, guiding them through their academic journeys and facilitating their collaboration with esteemed faculty members.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Dr. Komives is actively involved in translational research through her participation in ACTRI's Translational Research Technology Division (TRT). By providing essential laboratory services, she contributes to the seamless translation of scientific discoveries into tangible clinical applications—a testament to her dedication to bridging the gap between bench and bedside.

Join us as we delve deeper into Dr. Komives's groundbreaking work and glean insights into her journey as an incredible UCSD woman in science.

• Can you share your personal journey and experiences as a woman in science? What motivated you to pursue a career in your field?

I was always interested in science, growing up in rural Wisconsin, I liked to examine pond water under the microscope and figure out how things worked around the house. My mom would have been an engineer if that career had been open to her and she encouraged us to pursue our interests. My dad found us summer jobs in various small businesses that he helped succeed. I was very fortunate to have a fantastic Chemistry teacher in high school who encouraged everyone to do their best and was really inspiring. He had an element collection and knew the names of all the colleges that had Nobel Laureates in Chemistry. I was one of the first people in my high school to go out-of-state for college. I decided to go to MIT because it was the only school that during the interview didn’t seem to be recruiting me. I thought MIT would be a place where I would be challenged, and I was! At MIT I jumped right into undergraduate research in a lab that turned out to have a very dysfunctional culture. Despite that, I found I loved research and eventually learned how to choose advisors who created an atmosphere of inclusion. Both my PhD and postdoc advisors were really supportive and I learned how to be a good advisor from observing how they dealt with each student individually, helping them with their weaknesses and applauding their strengths. 

• What are some of the challenges you have faced as a woman in the scientific community, and how have you overcome them?

Back when I started working in a lab in 1979, science was still a very male-dominated field. I remember attending my first scientific meeting and many of the talks had photos of bikini-clad women as interludes between topics. I also remember attending a Gordon Conference where everyone got drunk and tried to hit on the few women who were attending. Things have really changed for the better a LOT since then! I think the way we move forward is just to keep gently nudging the culture towards more acceptance of women in their varied roles and we have to support one another. I have always tried to do that with my women colleagues. There are still very few women in the Physical Sciences and I think a good part of the reason for this is that most women don’t thrive in the “frat-boy” culture that is often created in male-dominated groups. I have made a lot of mistakes trying to combat this culture and making enemies as a result. I hope that by supporting students and young faculty we can slowly change the culture to one that is respectful of everyone. 

• What strategies or initiatives do you believe are effective in promoting gender diversity and inclusion in STEM fields?

I think it is really important to start early. Especially now, girls are facing a lot of challenges due to social media. They are really objectified even more than when I was young but in a different way. I ran a program for high school students for 12 years and I tried to always have 50% girls in each cohort and over 30% from disadvantaged backgrounds. This mix of people created a situation where each student could be themselves because there was no particular group that dominated. They were all able to succeed and to see others who were very different from themselves succeed also. It is so rewarding when I hear from these students who are successfully pursuing careers in the sciences. I think that it is really important that high school students get a taste of what real science is about, that no one knows what the outcome of the experiment will be, and it is really fun to discover something new. The thrill is worth all the failed previous attempts to get the answer. 

• Have you had any women mentors or role models who have inspired or supported you in your career? If so, how did they impact your journey?

I have had two important women role models who inspired and supported me. One was Almira Correia from UCSF who was the only woman faculty member I knew when I was a graduate student. She was quiet and very smart and hard working. I didn’t really talk with her a lot, but I watched how she managed her students and the collaboration with our lab and I learned a lot from her example. My other role model was Susan Taylor who is in my department here at UC San Diego. She is in the National Academy and she has a husband and three children. She wasn’t shy about the priority she gave to her family even ending meetings when it was time for her son’s piano lesson. She established a supportive culture when that was not the norm in Chemistry. For example, she had a large NIH-funded training grant and would always prioritize giving the positions to students in junior faculty labs. I have continued that tradition. There are many ways she creates a culture of inclusion and support and I have tried to follow in her footsteps.

• What advice would you give to young women who aspire to pursue a career in science, based on your own experiences and insights?

I think the most important thing is to ask the right people for advice so that you know what to do, what you can say “no” to, and what you need to focus on to succeed. I remember a talk I heard by a woman who was chair of a major medical department in a university in Europe. She said that we won’t be able to make changes until we are first respected for the work we do. That means that if you are in a research university, research has to take priority. Even though you may want to do curriculum development or student support, you should say no to all of that until after tenure. I think the other advice that is very important is that everyone struggles. I like to tell the women graduate students that when then don’t do well on an exam they think they are not good enough whereas the male graduate students will say that it wasn’t a good exam. Women tend to doubt themselves more, so we need to support one another and not give up when things are difficult. There were many moments when I doubted whether I would succeed but I did my best and worked as hard as I could and things always worked out.