Mapping a Path for Women in Science

Margaret Cheung was the only woman in her class during her graduate studies for a PhD in physics. 

She said while this created some challenges and was sometimes daunting, she found solace in identifying with other female scientists that have come before her. She used the experiences of prominent scientists like Marie Curie and her professional female mentors as inspiration for charting her own journey. 

“The fact that I can be a scientist is the result of a lot of work done from women scientists before me,” she said. “There have been some great changes in the years leading up to now. I’m fortunate to now share my own journey with the next generation of women scientists.” 

As a scientist with the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Cheung’s research focuses on theoretical biological physics and computational materials science. Specifically, she uses computational tools and advanced theories to study protein dynamics inside cells and ultimately how information travels across the noisy environment of a cell. 

“My research is a lot like building with Lego pieces,” she said. “I build a lot of moving parts. Some Lego pieces are common—red, green. Some Lego pieces are specialized. Inside of cells, proteins are basic units—they are like Lego pieces. I am interested in all Lego pieces to make a large factory that is a cell.” 

This summer as part of a remote experience, Cheung had the opportunity to share her research and mentor future research scientist Briana Sobecks, an undergraduate intern with the U.S. Department of Energy's Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) program at PNNL.  Sobecks is earning a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 

Through her internship, Sobecks used computational tools to conduct molecular modeling of biological components. Specifically, her project focused on a component that would support biofuels development and production. 

“There are these proteins involved with forming a polymer called lignin, which is the stuff in trees that makes for their woody structure,” Sobecks said. “If you have too much lignin or poorly degradable lignin structures, it makes it hard to process the plant and make biofuels out of it. We are trying to understand how lignin is created in plants.” 

As part of her project, Sobecks used computational tools to create structural models of lignin-producing proteins. 

Sobecks said her experience with Cheung as her mentor allowed her to expand her scope of what is possible with her field of interest. 

“I always thought that biofuels were really important, but I thought I was dead set on medical applications,” she said. “But getting to see the types of challenges that are present with biofuel development and the types of research that are possible, that’s helped me expand my scope a bit.” 

Sobecks said Cheung is an amazing mentor. She said she always treated her with respect, valued her opinions, helped her improve her communication skills, and encouraged her to try new things. Cheung was also especially helpful in identifying strategies and possible pathways for her as a future female researcher. 

“Her guidance and support has only further solidified that this is what I want to do with my career,” she said. “She was great at sharing about what a career in research is like, how she spends her time in her research, but also how she balances family life with her research. Speaking from her experience as being the only woman in her class in the graduate program, and also her experience being a professor and being involved at a national lab, she provided some great advice.” 

Now, as a result of both her experiences at PNNL and her former and current research experiences at her home university, Sobecks has applied to graduate school. She said she hopes to one day secure a research position at either PNNL or another national laboratory. 

“Briana has a great future ahead of her,” Cheung said. “I am excited to see where her experiences take her.”