Meet the women changing STEM: AC EDI grant holders launch video series to showcase women in accelerated discovery
The series features four women at the University of Toronto who share their personal journeys and insights from careers in data science, AI, and robotics
Women are underrepresented in the Canadian STEM career landscape, with less than 30% of women currently employed in a professional stem field. A lack of representation often means that women, particularly those from marginalized communities, may not see leaders who look like them. Without visible role models and mentors, it can be harder for them to envision themselves in these fields, leading many women to leave STEM studies or never pursue them in the first place.
With support from the Acceleration Consortium’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Initiate Grant, University of Toronto Biomedical Engineering PhD students Meghan Rothenbroker and Ana-Maria Oproescu received funding to highlight the voices of female scientists shaping the emerging field of accelerated discovery, with the hope of inspiring the next generation.
Meghan and Ana created a video series featuring four women at the University of Toronto who share their personal journeys and insights from careers in data science, AI, and robotics. Guided by mentorship from Helen Tran, a member of the AC’s scientific leadership team, the project showcases diverse pathways in STEM and aims to empower young researchers to see themselves in science.
"Professor Helen Tran and Assistant Professor Caitlin Maikawa are incredible women in science who inspired us to pursue this grant," said Meghan Rothenbroker and Ana-Maria Oproescu. "Their leadership and impact motivated us to apply, with the goal of helping more women see themselves reflected and thriving in STEM fields. Through this series, we aim to highlight not only scientific achievements, but also the resilience, creativity, and diverse perspectives that women bring to STEM."
The video series features Nasim Abdollahi and Carla Brown, staff scientists at the Acceleration Consortium, alongside AC member Nandita Vijaykumar, who works as an assistant professor in Computer Science at U of T, and Marta Skreta, a PhD student in Computer Science at U of T, who is under the supervision of AC director Alán Aspuru-Guzik. Learn more about their career paths and what is inspiring them to succeed by watching the full series below!
The EDI Initiate Grant supports faculty and trainees in launching projects that address barriers and foster a more inclusive research environment. Through storytelling and community engagement, the video series exemplifies how creative initiatives can lead to meaningful culture change in the academic and research ecosystem.
The next round of EDI Initiate grant funding will be available in Summer 2026.
Nasim Abdollahi, staff scientist at the Acceleration Consortium
Marta Skreta, PhD student in Computer Science at U of T
Carla Brown, staff scientist at the Acceleration Consortium
Nandita Vijaykumar, assistant professor in Computer Science at U of T
