Pride at WID: Stories from a Lab

Science is stronger, more informative, and simply more fun when it includes contributions from everyone. An inclusive culture is one way to nurture this vision and ensure that scientists and engineers can unite in tackling some of the Big questions confronting humanity. I have countless friends and colleagues who I respect and consider to be mentors that come from diverse backgrounds, including many from the LGBTQIA+ community. Pride is one way to celebrate these remarkable individuals, so I’m very happy to see WID, including some in my lab, taking part in this month’s celebration. It is clear to me that WID has cultivated an environment where people feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to work. I feel lucky to be in such a space where everyone in my lab can thrive in pushing the boundaries of science and engineering.

— Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering Krishanu Saha

As part of WID’s celebration of Pride Month, we introduce you to three labmates and their stories about identity, challenges, inclusion, support, Pride, and more in the Krishanu Saha lab and at WID.

Katie MuellerGraduate Student, Saha Lab

Katie Mueller grew up in Colorado but found a home in Wisconsin as an undergrad at Lawrence University, where she studied a highly practical combination of biology, biochemistry, and opera performance. When she’s not in the research lab, she loves singing, dancing, and outdoor adventures.

“For me, pride month is a time for remembering where I come from, and for looking ahead to a future of more radical inclusivity. The word “pride” has connotations of celebration and joy, and I love that it’s a time for queer folks to celebrate the fullness of their identities. It’s easy to focus on this joy, but it’s also important to me to remember that pride began as a riot, and it has been carried forward on the backs of some of the most minoritized people in our society with incredible, incredible bravery. We owe our celebrations this month to trans folks, to people of color, to so many whose lives were on the line every time they spoke up for their right to love freely and express themselves openly. To me, pride is about paying this debt forward.

“I have felt deeply fortunate to work in a place where it’s safe for me to be open about my identity as a queer scientist, but this is a luxury that has only very, very recently become accessible to people like me in most parts of our society, much less academia. Many in my community still do not have access to spaces where they can be their full and honest selves, and many others are still unraveling the fear that so often accompanies queerness in spaces that were not designed for us. I hope that during pride, I can do my own small part to speak up and be seen, so that those who can’t yet safely do so feel a little closer to reaching it one day. To my fellow queer researchers, I see you, and I’m proud to be a part of this community at WID.“

Micah Lê-DombroeLab Manager, Saha Lab

Micah Lê-Dombroe was raised in Brookfield, WI, where they developed an appreciation for science and the way in which it combines a need for both hard skills and creative problem-solving. They completed their undergrad at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. When not in the lab, you can find Micah reading a book, cooking a delicious meal, or DJing for the local queer nightlife scene.

“Pride in science is so important because diversity contributes to stronger teams, inclusive workplaces, and better research. As scientists, we benefit from having many voices and perspectives at the table; when our teams are homogeneous with only dominant voices represented, we are more likely to miss important insights. In these situations, scientific observations tend to be used in service of the dominant ideology, rather than in service of what new and interesting discoveries our data may be communicating. This homogeneity can also lead to limitations in what kind of research questions we pursue, preventing us from exploring previously overlooked ideas. Instead, when our teams are full of different perspectives, we have a chance to learn and grow, both as individuals and as a scientific community, broadening and deepening the positive impacts we can make in the world and in the lives of each other.

“As an undergraduate student, I thought I would have to hide my identity for as long as I wanted to pursue a career in science. I resigned myself to a life of shame and fear of being fired or harassed for being LGBTQ+. But when I first came to WID, I was met with wholehearted support from my current labmates, who showed me that it’s possible to be both a queer person working in research and to be respected in all aspects of my identity. I now work at WID as an out-and-proud nonbinary lab manager. I feel so blessed to be able to pursue my passion for research, to live as my authentic self in all aspects of my life, and to be surrounded by peers who share my commitment to building safe and inclusive workplaces for those of all genders, sexualities, races, nationalities, and identities.”

Lauren SarkoGraduate Student, Saha Lab

Lauren Sarko was raised in rural Connecticut before calling the Bay Area home. As an undergraduate at Pennsylvania State University, she studied Biology with an emphasis in vertebrate physiology. When not in the research lab, she enjoys hiking, spending time with friends, and her cat Ruth.

“Being a queer person in STEM had never been a part of my identity in undergrad. I was scared to ever open up about this part of my life in fear that it would hurt the trajectory of my career. I didn’t know many people in STEM who were a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, so I decided to keep it to myself. During the summer before starting graduate school, I made a list of qualities I wanted to find during my lab rotation, one of them being a community where I could accept myself. When I started my rotation in the Saha lab the first person I met was Micah Dombroe, who was the first non-binary person I had ever met. I then went on to meet others in the lab who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and I knew that this would be my lab. When I told lab members that I was queer it was a big sigh of relief to finally fully be myself. The lab has been so supportive of me as I discover how to navigate this part of my life. Thank you to the Saha Lab and WID for allowing me to take pride in who I am, and Happy Pride Month!”