Women in STEM: medical doctor and PhD-cadidate Roxanna Hauck 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 medical doctor and PhD-candidate Roxanna Hauck from reNEW Leiden, who shares her story and the path that led her to pursue a career in science.

What fascinates you about science?
Science is and endless journey of discovery. There are always new things to try out, figure out, and learn. It is so vast – answering different research questions requires different approaches and expertise from different fields. The teamwork, especially with people whose expertise is in another field, is energizing and motivating. When you work together, combine your knowledge and discover something new that is greater than the sum of its parts… I’m not quite sure how to put it in words. I just love trying to understand how and why things work and possess a curiosity about the world that is hard to satisfy. Science is a medium through which I can channel my curiosity and desire to understand.

What was it that made you choose a career in science?
I think it was a combination of an intrinsic desire to figure things out, encouragement from supervisors, and being at the right place and the right time to pursue a PhD in a disease (type 1 diabetes) that had fascinated me for as long as I can remember.

Growing up, I did not know any better than seeing my mum manage her type 1 diabetes. Looking back, that experience undoubtedly shaped my interest in type 1 diabetes. However, it wasn’t until my research internship during my medical degree that I considered pursuing research within the diabetes field. I was (initially) more interested in lifestyle, diet, and fat metabolism, but then COVID-19 came and I had to cancel a research internship abroad and look for an internship nearby. I had little knowledge of islet transplantations, but it looked interesting, so I sent an open application for a research internship. To my joy I was accepted!

Looking back, the pandemic turned out to be a stroke of luck. I ended up in a work environment where I fit right in. This stimulated me to not only work hard, but also enjoy the process. I remember thinking to myself: “If I am going to pursue a PhD/career in science, I want it to be in the diabetes field at this lab.” My supervisor at the time noticed and encouraged me to seriously consider staying for a PhD, especially since reNEW had just been launched (another stroke of luck).

In retrospect, it was a serendipitous chain of events and choices that brought me to where I am today.

Did you have any role models that inspired you?
Growing up, there were very few female role models in science, so I don’t recall having role models in the traditional sense of the word. I also have a bit of a different career trajectory than most people (I didn’t start studying medicine until I was 27), which meant that I did not really know of others who had followed a similar path and whom I could look up to.

Nevertheless, I would not be where I am today were it not for my parents, a high school teacher, and a retired physician I randomly met while queueing to get our luggage at Heathrow airport. My parents for stimulating my interest in STEM (and the world in general); my mum for showing me that you can do anything you set your mind to; my dad for fostering critical thinking; my Latin high school teacher for showing me what it means to be passionate about your work; and finally the retired physician who shared his life story of medicine and travel, and made me (pinky-)promise to apply to medicine. 

What would you say to young kids to pursue a career in STEM?
Listen to adults who support your dreams and encourage you to pursue them, ignore the adults who tell you that you cannot achieve your dreams. If you want to reach a goal, but don’t know exactly how to get there, ask the adults who encourage you  for help.

Be prepared to work hard, struggle, and fail. That is ok! (I say this as someone who was scared to fail.) The best scientists work hard, and have struggled and failed many, many times until they succeeded. This is a normal part of a career in STEM.

It is never too late to start over, or to start something new. Also, try out different things! The things you learn and skills you build can be useful in ways you do not yet know. To give an example: I studied history of art for a year. Even though I am doing something completely different now, that year taught me to look and observe in a way that I can still apply today in my medical career.