Fairness First Blog

Researchers’ voices in health equity

The Fairness First blog represents a space where researchers share with the broader community why health equity research matters to them, how do they connect to health equity, and what is the value of community engagement in the research process.

March 8, 2024

Celebrating Women in STEM

A Discussion with PMI’s Dr. Emily Cope, Katie Conn, Daisy Barroso, and Jaliyah McNeil

In recognition of International Women’s Day, this month’s post features four researchers from Dr. Emily Cope’s laboratory at NAU’s Pathogen and Microbiome Institute (PMI). Researchers who identify as women experience a variety of obstacles in the workplace, including inequitable funding, harassment, and lower pay – as well as social and educational barriers before they reach college. This post celebrates the accomplishments of female researchers at NAU and explores their experiences as women in STEM.

About the Researchers

Dr. Emily Cope is an associate professor in NAU’s Department of Biological Sciences and the assistant director at PMI where she leads the Cope Lab. She is also the lead on a SHERC-funded research project that is examining the connection between dietary fiber and asthma. Katie Conn, Daisy Barroso, and Jaliyah McNeil, work with Dr. Cope researching asthma (Daisy and Jaliyah) and Alzheimer’s disease (Katie). Katie and Daisy are both graduate students in the Cope Lab. Jaliyah is an undergraduate research assistant. As a CHER Core Scholar, Emily is currently working with SHERC’s Investigator Development Core. She’s “loving being able to foster early career scientists’ success.”

About the Research

The group shared their research goals and how their work reflects a health equity approach.

Emily, Katie, and Daisy work with Phoenix area partners – Dr. Sophia Williams, Dr. Matthew Rank, and Destiny Ogbeama – who lead the clinical side of their asthma research at Phoenix Children’s. Dr. Williams is a pulmonologist at Phoenix Children’s and is the medical director of the Breathmobile, a mobile asthma clinic that visits Phoenix area schools and community sites. Dr. Rank is an allergist and immunologist at Mayo Clinic and runs the severe asthma clinic at the Phoenix Children’s. They recruit participants from their clinical practice who want to be involved in the study.

EMILY: Asthma is a very common disease that has ties to the microbes* that live in and on the human body, called the microbiome. We’re interested in how asthma relates to what we eat. For example, our gut microbes process the fiber we eat into molecules that our bodies can use for energy and, importantly, can also help our immune systems function properly.

Unfortunately, there are clear disparities in who gets asthma and who has access to treatment. Because of this, it’s really important to look at diverse populations that include differences in lived experiences**, socioeconomic status, and healthcare access when studying asthma. For example, asthma affects approximately 16% of Black children compared to 7% of white children. Reporting an asthma attack or being hospitalized for asthma is more common in people residing in low-income, urban areas. Lastly, people living in this setting often experience nutritional health disparities and have diets that are low in dietary fiber. We really need to understand why these disparities happen and how they contribute to asthma prevalence or severity.

For this study, we’re partnering with the main asthma clinic, severe asthma clinic, and mobile asthma clinic (Breathmobile) at Phoenix Children’s. The Breathmobile reaches low income, urban populations in the Phoenix metropolitan area. We’re interested in understanding the relationship between dietary fiber and the gut microbiome because of the connection between healthy gut functioning and a healthy immune system. Our gut microbes metabolize fiber into molecules called short chain fatty acids that are a way for our gut microbes to communicate with our immune systems. A healthy immune system is associated with a lower risk for asthma. To study this, we’re collecting fecal samples and information about diet from children who have asthma and live in low-income, urban communities. We’re also doing a study where we will give some children a fiber supplement and others a placebo to see if we can use fiber to address health disparities in asthma by targeting the gut microbiome. Our other main focus in the lab is what Katie is working on. She’s interested in how the gut microbiome contributes to Alzheimer’s disease onset and pathologies. She’s doing some really interesting work in this arena, and we’re excited about what she’s finding.

*Microbes: “Microscopic organisms” are living things that are too small to be seen without a microscope.

**Lived experience: Knowledge based on a person’s identities and history

KATIE: While we don’t study this in the lab, one of the predictors of Alzheimer’s disease that relates to health equity is low educational attainment, which we know affects people of color more than other groups. Fewer opportunities for social engagement can also influence the severity of the disease. In addition to these social factors, the gut microbiome may be a predictor of Alzheimer’s – there are a few studies in mice and one in humans that suggest that the gut microbiome changes before we see pathologies (in mice) or symptoms (in humans). We are working on improving our understanding of how gut bacteria communicate bidirectionally with our brains through our nervous system and through systemic circulation of metabolites* in our bloodstream.

*Metabolites: Substances that are created during metabolism

Community Impact and a Health Equity Perspective

EMILY: I feel very passionate about the research we’re doing. I think there is a lot of community benefit. There are a lot of cool studies coming out about how exposure to microbes in early life is related to a lowered risk of asthma and allergies. I think our work is unique because we’re looking at children who already have asthma and exploring interventions that we can use to reduce the health inequities that we see in low-income urban populations. It’s also important to emphasize the potential benefits of dietary fiber, and dietary interventions overall, rather than developing a new drug that could be inaccessible or less accessible to people in the lower income communities where we’re working. Our ultimate goal is to develop culturally relevant behavioral health interventions in communities that show the impact of nutrition on more than body composition.

KATIE: In the context of Alzheimer’s, one of the ideas is a treatment that’s not only for people who have insurance or who can afford it. Theoretically, if we can find a way that the gut microbiome is related to Alzheimer’s disease, we could potentially design behavioral interventions (think diet and exercise over probiotic supplements) to prevent or treat the disease that would be much more affordable than what would be available in the form of a drug.

EMILY: For context, the treatments that are coming out for Alzheimer’s are very expensive. Probably around $25,000 each year for the uninsured.

DAISY: For me, this research is personally important because I come from a low socioeconomic status household and I’m also Hispanic. When you’re Mexican, you don’t have a lot of resources or access to health care. Culturally, it’s not something that is actively sought out. I think it’s really cool that things like the Breathmobile help children that are both insured and uninsured. That’s really meaningful for the community as well.

Experiences as Women in STEM

EMILY: I position myself as a cisgender* woman from a middle-class background. Though, I grew up in a rural California without any knowledge of what a university was like. I didn’t know what a college professor did until I went to college. Growing up, we had a farm and I loved animals. When I came to NAU as an undergraduate I was on the pre-vet track. However, I immediately realized that this was not going to be the path for me and I took microbiology with Professor Jeff Leid, who eventually became my PhD advisor. That class really turned everything on its head for me. I got really excited about other areas of science that I had never really been exposed to, joined a research lab, and realized that I was good at research.

My experience is probably similar to a lot of women with my lived experience. I think it’s getting better, but there are still a lot of structural challenges to being a woman in STEM. I have dealt with some challenges, especially as a young scientist coming in with new ideas and presenting in established fields. As a young female scientist in that space, it could be intimidating. For me, having strong female mentors and colleagues was important. My postdoc mentor, Dr. Sue Lynch, demonstrated strong leadership to me. While working for her I developed lasting friendships with women in her lab, many of whom were at different career stages, which was helpful as I moved through my own.

*Cisgender: Describes people whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth.

KATIE: My experience as a woman in STEM has been generally a good experience – especially working in a lab of women. Although it wasn’t all women when I started and my direct supervisor was a man, it was still awesome and empowering. I pursued a STEM path because I wanted to go to medical school. When I started working in Emily’s lab, I absolutely loved it – I still do. I’ve been on every project that’s gone through this lab and have felt excited to keep going.

There have been a couple of microaggressions that stuck with me. For example, someone told me that I was lucky my dad could pay for my education, which disregards my mom’s work, and the fact that I am financially independent from my parents. Another comment I’ve heard is that I don’t work well with men because we’re in an all-women lab. It’s mostly been facing assumptions made by others and I would say we work in an all-women lab because it’s a group of women who work well together – not because we’re purposefully selective. Rather, it naturally continued to be all women. I’ve also noticed that most of the students I teach in class are women. As a general rule, things are starting to move more towards a female future in academia, which is really impressive and encouraging for me.

DAISY: I have really enjoyed my experience so far. I have loved teaching BIO 205L and creating a fun and open learning environment for my students. Within our lab, I’ve learned and continue to learn so much from Emily, Katie, and the collaborators in my project. Our lab is probably one of the most diverse labs I’ve seen in the field. This is something that I really appreciate. We are pretty woman-dominated in comparison to other labs. And we all work really hard and well together to produce honest work. We’re truly a group of nerds sharing our love and passion for research.

Growing up, working in the medical field or STEM was out of the box for both sides of my family. Nobody on my dad’s side has gone to college. For my mom’s side, college is something that’s on the back burner. I was a student in Katie’s class before COVID and I was home for an entire year. I was going to drop out of college until I joined Katie’s class and thought, “whoa, this is cool.” Then I started working in Emily’s lab which I really, really enjoy. Katie really influenced my decision to pursue a path in STEM.

JALIYAH: I’m the youngest in the lab and I’ve had a pretty good experience being brought on and having so many people that have been there longer than me. I’ve always had a lot of good people to look up to. I think everyone has their own experiences and comes from different places. I’m also joining a new field and there’s such a huge learning curve. That comes with its own challenges.

I don’t have a clear answer for what made me pursue a path in STEM. It’s just interesting to me. I grew up seeing my mom work in a hospital and that was inspiring to have someone to look up to.

Advice for Other Women in STEM

EMILY: Moving through my career, I would say that one of the most important aspects for success – something I would advise other women in STEM to keep in mind – is to persist. I think this is important across the gender spectrum, but I think it’s particularly important for female-identifying people in STEM fields. Because there is a lot of pressure and a lot of criticism. One thing I’ve noticed as a woman in STEM is that we tend to internalize things a little bit more.

Another thing I’ve learned is to pick your battles. Not every battle is going to be worth the energy, but some absolutely are. Additionally, learn to say no. This is something that I continue to struggle with. Statistically, women in STEM fields tend to take on more administrative and service roles or tasks and that can detract from the research impact that women may have. Lastly, don’t be afraid to have high aspirations and to think highly of yourself. We, and I’m probably overgeneralizing here, tend to underestimate ourselves and feel very uncomfortable highlighting our strengths. I think this can harm your progress when you compare yourself or your qualities to non-female identifying people. Anecdotally, I have seen more imposter syndrome in women throughout my career – we tend to position ourselves a little bit differently.

KATIE: Be assertive. Take risks and ask for what you want. Ask for more and be direct. It’s okay for women to do that, even if it’s not something that we’re trained to do. You have to learn to be assertive even if it’s uncomfortable. Like learning how to communicate, it’s a life skill that applies to more than just your work.

DAISY: Knowing what opportunities are available and taking advantage of them is really important. That’s the advice I would give to other women in STEM. I feel that the majority of women who come from low socioeconomic and diverse backgrounds may see participating in research as something that is out of their reach. I want to be able to share these opportunities in my class and make sure they know what resources are available to achieve their dreams after college.

JALIYAH: My advice is to be kind to yourself. Everyone starts somewhere. You may not know as much as other people did when they started and some things will take longer to learn. So be kind to yourself.

Researcher Role Models

Role models can be a crucial part of success in research and in any career. They provide guidance, mentorship, and inspiration. The group discussed who they look up to.

KATIE: Emily has easily been the greatest influence on my career and a role model to me in my personal and professional life. I took Emily’s Introduction to Microbiology Lecture the first semester of my freshman year of college. Within that same semester, I changed my major and asked Emily if I could work for her, first as a teaching assistant and later as an undergraduate research assistant in her lab. She’s taught me to be assertive, especially where it concerns the integrity of my research. Emily encourages us and advocates for us when we can’t do it for ourselves.

DAISY: There’s Katie. As I previously said, she’s the reason that I started working at PMI. And Emily of course – she cares so deeply about our success in and out of the lab. We are truly blessed to be under her mentorship. Dr. Sophia Williams is a role model as well. She drives the mobile asthma clinic to sixteen schools across Maricopa county and I think it’s really cool, the work that she’s doing.

JALIYAH: Emily is a great, great leader in this lab. I’ve heard so many stories, and from my personal experiences with her. And Katie and Daisy; and everyone in the lab. Whenever I hear them speak, all attention is on them. They are amazing in everything that they do. It inspires you to want to do your own work as well as they do theirs.

EMILY: One of my role models is Julie Baldwin (Regents’ Professor of Health Sciences and CHER’s Executive Director). I admire her deeply for her impact in research and her leadership capacity. One thing that inspires me about Julie is that she really lifts people up, at every stage of their academic careers. I aspire to be a similar person, mentor, and leader. I’m also going to turn this around on my lab. You have all taught me so much. You are my role models as well.

Creating Work-Life Balance

KATIE: At work, I am very organized and strategic. This way, I can leave work at work. When I’m off the clock, I love calling my family, taking my dog for a walk, and spending time outside. I’m leaving room to experience life and not make work my life.

DAISY: For daily planning, I use a lot of calendars and even have one called “in case all fails” for days when I need a backup plan. Outside of work, my friends and I like to do things that aren’t school related. Having a good support system with friends and family is really important. Also, one thing that I love about our lab is that we value mental health. We have two meetings throughout the semester to see how everyone is doing and share tips that have helped with our mental health.

JALIYAH: One thing that I do to make sure that I’m caring for myself is to be kind to myself. I always remind myself to be open to learning from people who have been in the same place, and that it’s ok to ask questions. It’s ok to not know everything. I always take breathers, especially in the lab. Outside of the lab, I appreciate time by myself. I have a cute little dog and I spend lots of time with him. He’s good for my soul.

EMILY: I want to point out that the check-ins Daisy mentioned were her idea and I think it’s a really great way to bond as a team and make sure that everyone is doing ok. Emotional, mental, and physical health are really important for staying productive as a researcher, teacher, and mentor. My husband and I really like to take our two dogs out on hikes. As Jaliyah also said, our dogs are a source of pure joy for us. I also exercise regularly and have a meditation practice. Lastly, I’m surrounded by a rich community of friends and colleagues who are very supportive of one another.

Want to connect?
Contact the researchers:
Dr. Emily Cope: emily.cope@nau.edu
Katie Conn: kac765@nau.edu 

Interested in learning more about health equity research at NAU and in the community?

Visit CHER’s social media for short stories that highlight SHERC researchers, students, lab spaces, and more! Look for “Fit it in a Minute” posts.