How a U of T chemist is powering inclusive change in polymer science

“Women are encouraged to apply.”

It’s a phrase Helen Tran often encounters at the end of academic job postings, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. As an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Toronto, Tran sees similar language in calls for graduate student applications, despite it feeling like “checking the minimum box” when it comes to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).  

Advancing EDI in STEM remains challenging, with persistent gaps in higher education.  Research suggests a “leaky pipeline” effect, where women and gender minorities are increasingly underrepresented at each stage beyond the undergraduate level, with fewer pursuing graduate studies, PhD programs, and academic or industry-related careers.  

For Tran, recruiting and retaining more women and gender minorities into the sciences starts long before “women are encouraged to apply” appears at the bottom of a recruitment notice. It starts by building a community.  

In 2024, Tran and Julia Kalow, an assistant professor at Northwestern University, co-led the first PoWER (Polymer Women Empowerment & Research) Conference, an event supporting women and gender minorities in polymer science, a field of study that includes chemistry, engineering, physics, and biology. The conference encourages women and gender minorities to enter or continue in the field and provides an opportunity to develop their professional networks and look for job placements.  

“The idea behind PoWER was to create a space that is unique for women and gender minorities, where their accolades can be highlighted and they get to know each other, as well as to build networking opportunities,” said Tran.  

The conference also acts as a recruitment tool for Tran. She said many of her graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are motivated to come work with her at U of T because of her efforts to grow an inclusive community for underrepresented groups.  

“Organizing the conference is a lot of work, but the trade-off is worth it and best way to show people you care is to invest your time and energy,” she said. “As a professor, my job is set, but I do this because I want to help develop a community for more women and gender minorities in the sciences.”

Held in April 2026, the second annual PoWER Conference was funded in part by AC’s Initiate Grants, a program that helps U of T community members launch projects, programming or events that lead to positive culture change in the research ecosystem. The grant is a component of the AC’s EDI action plan, which aims to address systemic inequities in research participation and representation. The AC receives funding from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CREF).  

Tran received $20,000 for the conference as one three recipients of the 2025-26 Initiate Grants. Learn more about the other recipients below.  

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Attendees of the 2026 PoWER Conference. Photo credit: Nathan Hsu