Elizabeth Oda is a researcher whose expertise lies at the intersections of AI, agriculture, and gender. She earned her B.S. in International Agriculture and Rural Development from Cornell University and her M.S. in Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She is currently a Researcher at Braid Technologies, a start-up based in Tokyo working to accelerate advanced engineering design. As a Researcher, she develops tools that merge physics and aesthetics through a range of scientific machine learning methods.

Kathleen Brown, EdD, is a Professor at Kurume University. Kathleen has been involved in teaching and developing curriculum for humanities faculties and medical/nursing schools for over 30 years. Her research has been focused on needs assessment, curriculum development and program evaluation. One of her core values is to support and foster growth in leadership skills for women in academia and in STEM fields. In the pursuit of work-life balance, she also enjoys learning flamenco and visiting local hot springs.

Melissa Bernardino is a geophysicist in the environmental and engineering industry in Japan. She received her Bachelors of Science degree in Earth Science with a Minor in Physics from California State University Long Beach, California, USA. She earned her Ph.D. in Geophysics from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado, USA. Her doctoral dissertation focused on seismology and used distant earthquakes to create tomograms (images) of the upper mantle of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, USA to better understand how mountain ranges are formed. Melissa is interested in science solidarity, mental health and wellness in the sciences, and learning about other scientific fields.

Dina Mikimoto graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University with a degree in Chemistry. She then pursued an academic career, receiving two PhDs: one in Analytical Chemistry (Lomonosov Moscow State University) for her work on developing a biosensor for the detection of the anti-malarial drug artemisinin, and the other in Engineering (Yokohama National University) for the development of bioartificial pancreatic islets as a model for diabetes. Currently, she is working as a researcher at the University of Tokyo, where she is developing a model for a complication of diabetes that affects pain-sensing neurons in the skin. You can find her articles for the global community of developmental and stem cell biologists here.

Melanie graduated from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and capstone work in Aerospace Engineering. She is currently working as an English Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. She will start work in the engineering field following the end of her contract with the JET Program.

Erika Hettiaratchy is a Digital Business and Innovation major at Tokyo International University. Her involvement in the Robotics and Computer clubs during high school through to college fostered her interest in exploring digital tools and platforms. Erika aspires to work on impactful projects at a global scale that can benefit society, such as developing assistive, medical, or educational technology, while continuing to promote inclusivity and equality. In her free time, Erika enjoys pursuing her passions for baking, coding, and finishing countless online courses she signed up for.

Nikita is a Master of Economics student at the University of Tokyo on the Japanese MEXT government scholarship. She majored in computer science, international relations and geography at Auckland University of Technology and the University of Wellington. Nikita interned for the United Nations in 2019 and went on to work in Investment Management. When she is not studying, she is devouring fashion magazines and creating content for the crypto education community Crypto Girls HQ.

Tiffany Wang is a junior at Temple University, Japan Campus. She is majoring in international affairs and minoring in political science. She strongly believes an inclusive workplace is essential for people of all genders, and everyone deserves equal access to STEM fields. Her next step after university will be grad school, where she plans to study international law and international relations. Aside from reading, playing piano, and walking her dogs, she also enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Negar is a research student at Kyushu University, focusing on her graduate studies in cognitive neuroscience. With a bachelor's in Biotechnology, she is curious about the intricacies of human behaviors and decision-making. She has explored her interest in science communication through her work as a part-time science journalist. She collaborated with several organizations to coordinate events in Iran, aiming to make science accessible and engaging for a diverse audience. Outside of her academic pursuits, she enjoys simple pleasures like sipping tea and going for walks, whether in the vibrant city or amidst the beauty of nature.

Yuna Komurasaki is a senior at The American School in Japan. She is highly interested in the field of biomedicine and neuropsychology. She is also a passionate advocate for gender equality and hopes that the field of STEM could be equally open to everyone. In the future, she hopes to be actively engaging in the field of medicine. Aside from advocating for gender equality, she also partakes in reading novels, cooking, watching documentaries, and spending time with her loved ones.

Aryanna Reyes is currently a rising senior at Nile C. Kinnick High School. She is highly interested in examining various professions and studies in STEM, building inclusive communities, and communicating with others. She hopes to find passion in a specific field by participating in the related courses in school and her interest in medicine. When she isn't doing homework, Aryanna enjoys exploring different genres of music and delving into crafts.

Maya Rexrode is a rising senior at the American School in Japan. She is most interested in biology at a molecular level and applying maths to biology and chemistry. Though, she has lately taken an interest in computer science as well. She advocates for using STEM to build inclusive and fair communities, starting with opening the field of STEM to all genders. Outside of school, she enjoys cafe hopping, scrapbooking, and playing instruments!