Women in STEM: Assistant Professor Daniela Mayer shares her story

On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we spoke with three of our female researchers about their journeys into the world of science. One of them is Assistant Professor Daniela Mayer from reNEW Copenhagen, who shares her story and the path that led her to pursue a career in science.

What fascinates you about science?
What fascinates me about science is the idea that you can look at something no one has ever looked at before. Discovering something new that can be useful to other scientists is really exciting, and sometimes it may even have a broader impact and help society one day. I think that’s something truly special about science.

I also really enjoy the freedom it offers in choosing what questions to ask and how to approach them. That combination of discovery, the potential impact, and freedom is what makes science so fascinating to me.

What was it that made you choose a career in science?
Coming from a family where I was the first one to finish high school and university, the idea of becoming a scientist wasn’t something I had considered before. For me, it started with biology in high school, largely because of my teacher. She was a very good and thorough teacher, and I really enjoyed that.

I still remember one class where we went through a newspaper article about reproductive and therapeutic cloning. It was a simple, layman-level article, and we discussed it, including the ethical aspects. That really stuck with me and sparked my interest in stem cell biology. This eventually led me to pursue biology and genetics in my undergraduate studies.

It was only during my master’s thesis, working in the lab for a longer time, that I understood what it means to be a scientist and to consider a career in research.

Did you have any role models that inspired you?
Yes, definitely. I’ve had both male and female role models. For me, it was more about a person and their character that inspired me. During my PhD, I met a postdoc who had a huge impact on me. She worked in a different lab, but we shared the same office. She was incredibly efficient, focused, driven, and always happy to discuss her science or someone else’s and eager to help.

She was also a mom and had her second child during her postdoc. Seeing closely how she successfully managed to balance work, family, and her career was really inspiring. It showed me that this is possible, especially because she was at a similar academic stage to me.

What inspirational message would you give to young people to pursue a career in science?
Just go for it! Don’t be afraid, and follow what makes you happy and what drives you. Of course, there are days when it’s tough. Experiments don’t work, progress can be slow, and success is not always visible immediately. That can be challenging. But most of the time, I really enjoy coming to work, and for me that’s a sign that science is not just a job but something I’m truly passionate about.

It’s a very unique and rewarding career, with many different paths to choose from.