On the occasion of February 11, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL) brought together five female researchers to talk—without hierarchies or generational labels—about what it means today to dedicate oneself to science. The group interview, featuring professionals from different biomedical fields, offers an honest perspective on scientific vocation, the structural challenges of a research career, and the need to continue building female role models.
Vocation and role models: Diverse paths to science
Far from presenting a uniform image, the participants share diverse trajectories and different ways of arriving at research. Some recall an early, almost intuitive calling. Patricia Maiso, head of preclinical studies in the Hematology Research Group, expresses it clearly: “I’ve always wanted to be a scientist. As far back as I can remember—when I was eight or nine—I already wanted to work in a laboratory.” In her case, the idea of conducting research—especially in the field of cancer—was present from a very young age.
Others describe a more gradual path. María Muñoz, a Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral researcher in the Headaches and Other Non-Degenerative Neurological Diseases Group, summarizes that natural evolution: “It’s not a specific moment; it’s a process. You realize that science allows you to ask questions and answer them.” In her experience, curiosity and the desire to understand the mechanisms of disease shaped her direction.
Alicia García, a data scientist specializing in bioinformatics, also acknowledges that her career took shape as she discovered new possibilities: “There are paths you don’t even know exist.” Her move into bioinformatics and data science exemplifies how modern science opens doors that, just a few years ago, were not even part of many students’ imagination.
In the field of psychology and mental health, Covadonga García explains that her approach to research was gradual: “I discovered the world of research later on and realized it was an area where I felt comfortable.” That connection between clinical practice and research has defined her professional development.
For Mónica López, head of the Nanomedicine Group and Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Cantabria, the context when she began was very different. “In my time, no one talked about role models. We followed our instincts. We didn’t have the internet or access to the information that exists today,” she recalls. Her reflection highlights how much has changed—and how much still needs to change—regarding the visibility of women, especially in scientific leadership positions.
Passion and demands: Ongoing challenges
Beyond how each story began, they all agree on what keeps them in science: constant learning and the excitement of discovery. The opportunity to generate knowledge and see a project come to fruition is one of the greatest rewards. “When an experiment works, it’s a real thrill,” they share during the conversation.
That enthusiasm, however, coexists with structural obstacles. The lack of job stability and the continuous need to compete for funding create sustained pressure over time. Several of them note that they have seen brilliant colleagues leave scientific careers due to the difficulty of securing long-term positions.
Work–life balance, especially motherhood, takes center stage in the discussion. Mónica López describes it with a vivid metaphor: “The train of science keeps moving, and if you get off to have a child, by the time you want to get back on, several carriages have already passed.” Although they acknowledge improvements in funding calls and evaluation processes that now better account for these periods, they emphasize that the impact on professional trajectories remains unequal.
They also address the limited presence of women in top leadership positions. Patricia Maiso insists that the challenge is not only quantitative: “It’s not just about having more women in science, but about women reaching positions of greater responsibility.” Female representation decreases as one advances in the academic career ladder, despite the fact that women make up the majority in many biomedical degree programs.
Looking to the future and paving the way
When they speak about the future, they do so with realism but also optimism. They talk about consolidating research lines, leading their own projects, and contributing to a more collaborative science connected to society. The opportunity to work in networks, engage with other countries, and be part of diverse scientific communities is one of the greatest values they highlight.
Their message to girls and young women is clear and shared. Alicia García encourages them to explore without fear: “There may be a girl who wants to study something technological and isn’t even considering it. You have to look where you don’t always dare to look.” Today’s science needs diverse profiles and fresh perspectives.
María Muñoz underscores the importance of confidence: “If you have a focus and it’s something you like, why not?” Feeling supported helps, they agree, but it is also essential not to impose limits on oneself.
Drawing from her experience, Mónica López offers a direct message to students who hesitate in their final years: “Scientific research is an investment in training; it furnishes your mind for far more things than you can imagine.” An idea that Covadonga García complements by reminding us that, despite the difficulties, “it’s tough, but it’s incredibly rewarding.”
With this initiative, IDIVAL joins the commemoration of February 11 by giving voice to five researchers who, from different fields, share the same conviction: science needs diversity, it needs women, and it needs real role models. First-person stories that show that, although the path is not always easy, building science in the feminine is both possible and necessary.
