For her research applying synthetic biology to engineer anaerobic acetogen for the production of fuels and chemicals.
I am Shivani Garg. I am a Synthetic Biologist working at LanzaTech, a gas fermentation company based in Chicago, Illinois, USA. I obtained my Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Iowa State University.
During my graduate studies, I embarked on an entrepreneurial endeavor, founding a biotechnology start-up, OmegaChea Biorenewables, focused on harnessing microbial fermentation to convert sugars into lubricants. Though the start-up faced challenges and did not traverse the valley of death, it served as a profound learning experience for me.
Subsequently, my academic pursuit brought me to the Metabolic Engineering laboratory at Rice University in Houston for post-doctoral training. Here, I delved into the realm of gas fermentation, a fun journey that led me to Intrexon in San Francisco where I worked on converting methane to fuels. Destiny steered me back to the Midwest in 2018, where I found my professional home at LanzaTech, and have been working on anaerobic gas fermentation to convert syngas into fuels and chemicals.
My passion lies in harnessing the immense natural diversity present in enzymes and microbes, adeptly engineering them to synthesize invaluable products otherwise reliant on conventional chemical processes. Over my 15-year career traversing both academic and industrial spheres, I have contributed to diverse projects ranging from fermentation of sugars to fermentation of gases (methane and carbon dioxide) to make fuels and chemicals.
I remain committed to pushing the boundaries of scientific innovation, continually striving to transform theoretical possibilities into tangible solutions that positively impact our world.
Ashwini Bedekar, Ph.D. Research Scientist, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
For her research contributions to environmental biotechnology and bioprocess engineering. Specifically, for her research on the biological conversion of methane through the use of methane-eating bacteria to mitigate climate change and utilize waste gases.
Dr. Ashwini Bedekar is a dedicated environmental biotechnologist with a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from India.
With over 8 years of experience, she has developed innovative technologies to address environmental challenges, focusing on issues like global warming and water pollution. Her passion for environmental issues has driven her academic pursuits, leading to prestigious fellowships from renowned institutions such as the Department of Biotechnology, University Grant Commission, and the Department of Science and Technology, India.
After relocating to the USA and pursuing a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ashwini has become a committed research scientist. Her current focus lies in the biological conversion of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, using methane-eating bacteria known as methanotrophs. Her primary goal is to transform methane gas into valuable chemicals, contributing significantly to environmental sustainability.
Ashwini attributes her professional achievements to the unwavering support of family. In her free time, she finds joy in the simple pleasures of life, engaging in playful activities and sharing delightful moments with her 2 years old son. Long walks with her family in nature bring her solace and connection, providing a perfect balance to her busy professional life. Ashwini’s dedication, passion, and family support continue to drive her impactful contributions to the field of environmental biotechnology.
This December, we are celebrating this year’s winners of our Annual Innovator & Motivator Awards! In total this year, we honored seven amazing women in STEM, spread over three Innovator Awards, three Motivator Awards, and one Mentoring Program Award.
Welcome Speech by Alexandra “Sasha” Prokuda Executive Director of the Chicago Council on Science and Technology
Alexandra “Sasha” Prokuda, PhD, is the Executive Director of the Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST). During her work with C2ST, Sasha has helped to develop over 200 programs, worked with local, national, and international partners to bring fun and engaging science activities for the public, and prepared and presented reports on science outreach practices at conferences. Before working at C2ST, she was a research and teaching assistant and contributing consultant for the UC Riverside Institute for Development of Education Applications (IDEA Lab). While working on her graduate degree, she volunteered at the Riverside Metropolitan Museum, taught an after-school class at a local elementary school, and founded a scientific meet-up group. Before graduate school, Sasha interpreted science for the public all over the US while working with birds, weasels, deer, bears and Giant Redwoods. Sasha holds a Ph.D. in Evolutionary and Behavioral Biology from the University of California, Riverside and a B.S. in Biology from Pennsylvania State University.
Innovator Awards
Shivani Garg, Ph.D. Project Manager, LanzaTech
For her research applying synthetic biology to engineer anaerobic acetogen for the production of fuels and chemicals.
Shivani is a Synthetic Biologist working at LanzaTech, a gas fermentation company. She obtained her Ph.D. in Molecule Biology and Biochemistry from Iowa State University, before founding a biotechnology start-up, OmegaChea Biorenewables, focused on harnessing microbial fermentation to convert sugars into lubricants. She continued her training through a postdoc in the Metabolic Engineering Laboratory at Rice University, focused on gas fermentation, before joining LanzaTech in 2018.
Sruti Dammalapati, M.S. Scientist – AI & Computational Biology, LanzaTech
For her research on high-performing biocatalysts using computer-guided methods and applied machine learning techniques to model systems.
Sruti is a scientist on the AI & Computational Biology team at LanzaTech. She holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering with a specialization in Applied Math. In her role at LanzaTech, she actively contributes to the execution of computational experiments, employing machine learning models to enhance biocatalyst design, optimize processes, and predict cellular phenotypes. She specializes in understanding, analyzing, and visualizing complex datasets generated by our interdisciplinary science teams. Beyond that, Sruti stays current with the latest research in the field to keep her work cutting-edge.
Ashwini Bedekar, Ph.D. Research Scientist, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
For her research contributions to environmental biotechnology and bioprocess engineering. Specifically, for her research on the biological conversion of methane through the use of methane-eating bacteria to mitigate climate change and utilize waste gases.
Dr. Ashwini Bedekar is a dedicated environmental biotechnologist with a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from India. With over 8 years of experience, she has developed innovative technologies to address environmental challenges, focusing on issues like global warming and water pollution. After relocating to the USA and pursuing a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ashwini has become a committed research scientist. Her primary goal is to transform methane gas into valuable chemicals, contributing significantly to environmental sustainability.
For her development of the first-ever mentorship program at LanzaTech, along with her continued dedication to mentoring women in STEM through her participation in AWIS-CAC’s Summer Mentoring Circles, Northwestern University’s scientific internship program, and the iGEM Uganda Team.
Hilary Kenny, Ph.D. Research Associate Professor, University of Chicago
For her demonstration of continued dedication to the support and mentorship of women in STEM disciplines.
Hilary A. Kenny, Ph.D. is a Research Associate Professor in the Gordon Center for Integrative Sciences at the University of Chicago. Dr. Kenny is the co-director of the Ovarian Cancer Research Group and an upper-level cancer biology course, ‘Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis’ at University of Chicago. Dr. Kenny’s research focuses on the role of the tumor microenvironment during ovarian cancer development and metastasis. Her research has focused on the molecular mechanisms involved in ovarian cancer adhesion, invasion, metabolic activity, and proliferation of multiple microenvironmental factors, including fibronectin, vitronectin, mesothelial cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, adipocytes, NK cells, T cells, and ovarian cancer stem cells. She utilizes different 3D organotypic cultures composed of primary human cells to investigate the different mechanisms of ovarian cancer development, metastasis, resistance to therapy, and confirm these mechanisms in vivo in mouse xenograft models. Dr. Kenny has adapted a 3D organotypic culture to a reliable and robust quantitative high-throughput screen.
Lucille Ray, Ph.D., M.S. Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Illinois Chicago
For her dedication to mentorship and education for women and LGBTQIA+ persons in STEM through her participation in ComSciCon 2022’s “Advocating for Science” and IIT’s “Queer in STEM” panels, in addition to her continued support of aspiring research scientists in her positional as a postdoctoral fellow.
Lucille Ray is a postdoctoral fellow at University of Illinois Chicago in the Cancer Health Equity and Career Development T32 program. Her research explores the gut microbiome and its impact on cancer disease states, such as colon cancer and breast cancer, through regulation of hormone circulation in the gut. Her long term goals are to improve health outcomes for marginalized populations through increased research in areas of high health outcome disparity. This includes improved communication and outreach with members of marginalized and underrepresented communities to increase participation in science and bring their voices into the scientific dialogue. Online she can be found on Linkedin and on X (formerly twitter).
Mentoring Program Award
Laura Passe High School Chemistry Teacher, Oswego CUSD
For her continued dedication to organizing and running the AWIS-CAC Summer Mentoring Circle Program. Thanks to Laura’s help, our mentoring program has grown immensely over the last year!
Please join AWIS Chicago in our 10th year of celebration of women in science, as we honor Yamuna Krishnan and Miiri Kotche, recipients of the 2016 Innovator and Motivator Awards. Our annual awards dinner will include short talks by our distinguished awardees about their work, career paths, and insights on women in science. Registration includes family style dinner, unlimited water and pop, and networking.
When: Thursday, July 14, 2016 from 6:00 Pm to 9:00 PM (CDT)
Where: Athena Greek Restaurant 212 S. Halsted St. Chicago, IL 60661
AWIS Chicago will honor Kate Keahey – 2015 Innovator Award Recepient and Dimitra Georganopoulou-2015 Motivator Award Recipient.
Kate Keahey, Ph.D.
Kate is a computer scientist at Argonne National Laboratory and a senior fellow at the University of Chicago Computation Institute. Why She Won: Kate Keahey received her Ph.D. in computer science from Indiana University in 1997. She then joined Los Alamos National Laboratory, where her research helped lay the foundation for the design of the Common Component Architecture. In 2001, she joined Argonne National Laboratory, where she is a computer scientist. She is also a senior fellow at the University of Chicago Computation Institute. Keahey is the creator of Nimbus, a world-renowned toolkit for turning a cluster into an infrastructure-as-a-service cloud. She has also served as co-principal investigator and principal investigator on several federally funded projects, including the DOE Center for Enabling Distributed Petascale Science; the NSF Chameleon project to develop a large-scale reconfigurable experimental environment for cloud research; and a DOE project to develop an architecture for online data analysis. Currently, she is also chair of the Advisory Board of Grid’5000 and vice-chair of the cloud computing track for CCGrid 2015.
Dimitra Georganopoulou, Ph.D.
Dimitra Georganopoulou is the Innovation and Commercialization Officer of the Innovation and New Ventures Office (INVO) at Northwestern University.
Why She Won: Dimitra uses her wide range of experience in industry and academic settings to to encourage female scientists to find a way to incorporate their passions into any work environment, cultivate their professional relationships, and believe in their place in the field of their choosing. Dimitra was the Head of Operations and Vice President of Research & Development of Ohmx Corporation, an in-vitro diagnostics and biomarker development company. She had previously worked for Nanosphere and Inverness Medical (now Alere) in biosensor development. She is the co-founder of Global Scientific Editing (GSE) and the President of Women in Bio (WIB). She serves on the Board of Chicago American Association of Clinical Chemists (C-AACC) and on the Springboard Life Sciences Alumnae Committee.
2014 AWIS Chicago Awards Dinner Featured Awardees:
Innovator Award – Dr. Tanya Berger-Wolf, Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she heads the Computational Population Biology Lab.
It’s our great pleasure to honor Dr. Tanya Berger-Wolf, Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she heads the Computational Population Biology Lab. Her research interests are in applications of computational techniques to problems in ecology, from genetics to social interactions. Dr. Berger-Wolf received her Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2002. After spending some time as a postdoctoral fellow working in computational phylogenetics and doing research in computational epidemiology, she returned to Illinois. She has received numerous awards for her research and mentoring, including the US National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2008 and the UIC Mentor of the Year (2009) and Graduate Mentor (2012) awards.
Motivator Award – Dr. Erin L. Thomas, Gender Diversity Specialist at Argonne National Laboratory.
In addition, we will be honoring Dr. Erin L. Thomas, Gender Diversity Specialist, at Argonne National Laboratory. Inherrole,shedevelops institutionalapproachesforenhancinggenderdiversity,inclusion,andequityinSTEMcareers.Beforeher timeatArgonne,Dr.ThomasconsultedforCatalyst,Inc.,aleadingnon-‐profit organizationdedicatedtoadvancingwomenatwork,whileconductingherdoctoralresearch.Dr.Thomas‘researchprogram informshercurrentrole,asitsoverarchingobjectivesareto:1)ensurethattheuniqueexperiencesof minoritywomendonotgooverlookedindiversity&inclusioninitiativesand2)developinterventions that disruptgender-‐basedassumptionsandexpectations.Herprimarylineofresearchexaminesthe intersectionsofgenderandraceandtheimplicationsofmultipleminoritystatusesinworkplace, economic,andsocialpolicycontexts.Dr.Thomas‘researchhasreceivedrecognitionandfundingfromnumerousorganizationsliketheNationalScienceFoundation,theRobertWoodJohnsonFoundation,theAmericanPsychologicalAssociation,andtheSocietyforthePsychologicalStudyofSocialIssues.ShereceivedBAsinPsychologyandInternationalStudiesandanMS, MPhil, andPhD inSocial Psychologyall fromYaleUniversity.
7th Innovator Award – Dr. Barbara Di Eugenio, of the University of Illinois Chicago, for demonstrating innovative approaches in computational models of Natural Language Processing. Her work is applied to various interactive applications in education technology and human-robot interactions, where users can hold a natural conversation with a computer.
2nd Motivator Award – Dr. Lily Rin-Laures, of Marshall, Gerstein & Borun, LLP, for her work in initiating a new chapter of Women in Bio in Chicago (WIB), for which she was President until 2012. She is also active in Girls4Science (a nonprofit dedicated to exposing girls aged 10-18 to STEM) and Coalition for Women’s Initiatives in Law Firms. She has also served as a mentor for Menttium, a cross-company mentoring program for female leaders.
Congratulations to our 2011 AWIS Chicago Innovator Award winner Kawtar Hafidi!
A nuclear physicist at Argonne National Laboratory, Kawtar is an example of how women can thrive in fields typically dominated by men. She leads by example and promotes success among her students pursuing careers in the sciences.
Our annual award dinner will include a talk by Kawtar about her research and career path, dinner, and time for networking among attendees.
Where: Reza’s Restaurant, 432 W. Ontario St., Chicago, IL 60654 When: Thursday, June 23rd, 6:30 – 8:30 pm Cost:$25 for members, $30 for non-members, $20 for students
Dinner, soft drinks and dessert provided
4th Annual AWIS-CAC Innovator Award: Sometimes, you have to jump. Dr. Alicia Loffler was honored as the 2010 AWIS Innovator Award winner.
Dr. Loffler is the Associate Vice President for Innovation and New Ventures in the newly created Innovations and New Ventures Office at Northwestern University. She spoke about her career and how she has worked at many different types of jobs, never being afraid to make the “jump” when the opportunity presented itself. She encouraged people to look for new opportunities in their own careers and lives and not to be afraid to take a chance on a new path.
Want to keep yourself up-to-date on AWIS Chicago activities? Follow AWIS Chicago on Twitter! You can request to be added to our listserve by clicking here, and join the AWIS Chicago group on LinkedIn and Facebook by clicking the icons on the bottom right of this page.
2009 Innovator Award Winner Dr. Tijana Rajh (right) and AWIS Chicago Chapter President Sandra Pearce (left)
3rd Annual AWIS-CAC Innovator Award: Capturing Life at the Interface.
Dr. Tijana Rajh was honored as the 2009 AWIS Innovator Award winner.
Dr. Rajh is a chemist at Argonne National Laboraties. She gave a brief talk at the dinner about her career and experiences as a female scientist. *Support for Northwestern University students generously provided by the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University Integrated Graduate Program.
Want to keep yourself up-to-date on AWIS Chicago activities? Follow AWIS Chicago on Twitter! You can request to be added to our listserve by clicking here, and join the AWIS Chicago group on LinkedIn and Facebook by clicking the icons on the bottom right of this page.
