What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned the hard way?

Being resilient and not giving up on different things and making sure that every opinion are heard is a key to successful leadership. I learned it takes effort and patience to achieve your dreams!

What do you aspire to accomplish in your career and why? What obstacles will you overcome?

I hope to educate and do more outreach on science, including doing science communication to bust existing myths and misinformation. The biggest hurdle, I believe, will be changing preconceived notions about science.

Describe an amazing opportunity in your STEM career.

Recently, I had the opportunity to interact with middle school kids at an outreach event. Their curiosity about science and scientists was very exciting and refreshing. Explaining science and its importance was never so fun and innocent.

How was AWIS helped you professionally and/or personally?

A friend of mine told me about AWIS and I joined. I follow AWIS and look forward to the events. I was able to participate in several virtual events organized by AWIS and was able to meet some really cool women in science and learn a lot from their career journeys.

What is your favorite word?

Optimism

How do you define it?

Until you try it, you won’t know it, but things will work out…. In the end, it will get better!

How has this word influenced or inspired your career?

This word has inspired me to work hard and strive for bigger aspirations. It made me become resilient and push harder towards my goals!

What are you currently reading or listening to?

I am a science nerd — I enjoy science-y and more specifically biology podcasts and articles.

What do you consider the best professional or personal advice you’ve ever received?

Someone once told me, ”You will always have to stand up for yourself and you will always have to fight for yourself.” That advice has kept me going on a lot of tough days and through many difficult conversations.

Srishti Baid is a doctoral candidate in microbiology at the University of Kansas. She was born and brought up in India, and is one of the first people in her family to pursue a career and PhD in the biological sciences. Srishti is a science enthusiast, who enjoys research. Apart from that, she is eager to make new friends and she loves traveling. Srishti is also involved in various outreach and mentoring programs with different organizations.