“A lack of representation leads to a lack of confidence.”
Written by Ariel Barreiro
Introduction
On a sunny day in Pittsburgh, a rarity in March, I connected with Dr. Sara Chamberlin via Microsoft Teams, a virtual norm in the era of the Covid-19 pandemic. As a petite, fair-haired woman with glasses, it may not meet the eye that Chamberlin is well versed in materials science from a physics standpoint, or that she regularly does Tai-Chi and studies Eastern methodology training in weapons.
Her passion for physics ignited during her senior year of high school during a lab-centered physics course, which created a deviation from the assumed path that she would follow her father's footsteps and enter the medical field. “There was a couple weeks in Chemistry that were really interesting to me, when we were discussing electrons, atoms, and different orbitals. It came up again in physics [the structure of materials] and it was physics from then on,” Chamberlin said.
This realization steered her towards a career as a materials scientist interested in research. Chamberlin now teaches physics at Washington and Jefferson College, where she currently conducts research on the properties of different crystalline structures for sustainability and efficiency efforts in the energy and high-power electronic sectors.
Chamberlin recalls her first semester of college as being her hardest. “I struggled a lot that first semester - I got my first C!” she laughs. Not being the type to give up when life gets hard, Chamberlin learned to adjust to the new workload of college so that it would be her last C.
Based on that experience, she emphasizes the importance of leveraging undergraduate resources. She advocates for proactive engagement with professors, adept time management, and early involvement in research. However, for graduate students, Chamberlin underscores the significance of selecting a compatible research advisor who recognizes the pivotal role the relationship holds in shaping one's academic journey, just as her advisor Dr. Carol Hirschmugl at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee did. “You’re going to spend a lot of time together, so you want to be sure it’s a good relationship,” Chamberlin said.
As important as that relationship will be, Chamberlin felt her peers were her greatest mentors. “We [the students in a grad program] all stick together and help each other out. Their support is probably what’s most helpful those first few years,” she said.
Her professional trajectory spanned 11 years, encompassing undergraduate studies, a Ph.D. program, and postdoctoral positions. But none of it could have been possible without the support from her parents. “I was incredibly fortunate, my parents paid for my undergrad education. But I know it’s not like this for many students, and that’s a real concern,” Chamberlin said.
Research
As a materials scientist, Chamberlin focuses on exploring the properties of various materials - such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and gallium oxide, which are non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and abundant – and their interaction with light, putting an emphasis on identifying materials for sustainable energy sources, optoelectronics, and high-power electronics. A variety of optical and electrical properties are important for those materials’ integration into existing technologies like solar cells, touchscreens, and the chargers we use to power our laptops and cell phones.
“The first thing I’m interested in when studying a material is what kinds of wavelengths of light it absorbs. I’m hoping that by making some small changes to the material, I’m going to see the ‘window of shift’ change in either direction in its absorption,” said Chamberlin. Adding new elements to a crystalline material can also change how well it conducts electricity and heat, for example. All of these properties are important when enhancing the efficiency of photovoltaic devices – the conversion of solar energy to electric – or developing a new touchscreen material.
The research Chamberlin does is mostly outside of teaching. She said no two days are alike, between teaching and advising students in physics. While she cherishes collaborative experiences with students, recent opportunities for close engagement have been scarce after the Covid pandemic.
The Struggles of Women in STEM
Navigating work-life balance for women in STEM presents unique challenges. Chamberlin acknowledges societal expectations imposed on women – like being a caretaker or homemaker – and believes in the necessity of granting oneself grace amid the pursuit of balance. Reflecting on her personal journey, she credits her resilience to familial support and her martial arts training, which instilled discipline, resilience, and a space to decompress — necessary qualities in a male-dominated field.
“It’s non-negotiable for me — I tell myself, you gotta go [to Tai-Chi]!” she said. Chamberlin has trained in many disciplines, such as Tae Kwon Do, Karate, and most recently, Kung Fu weapons, citing the straight sword as her favorite weapon, and also the hardest to learn.
Despite occasionally feeling like an outsider, Chamberlin remains resolute in her dedication to her work, undeterred by gender dynamics. She believes that fostering an inclusive community and individual support systems to empower women and gender minorities in STEM is crucial for diversifying the field.
“There’s a lack of a sense of community and belonging, and a lack of representation leads to a lack of confidence,” Chamberlin said, and she is astutely aware that not everyone has a support system like hers. “I hope to be able to be that person to the students who don’t have it.”
She toys with the idea of implementing programs within the scientific community that integrate fitness, recognizing the invaluable skills it has imparted on her and the potential benefits it could offer students.
It's a long, arduous road to begin to achieve as a woman in science. With the right help and proper motivation — whatever that may be for you — you can get there. At the Chance to Change Lives Foundation (CCL-US), our mission is to support high impact experiential learning experiences for undergraduate students, especially from under-represented groups, to prepare them for twenty-first century research and develop careers in STEM disciplines.
The Chance to Change Lives Foundation (CCL-US (CCL-US) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to address some of the challenges facing students from underserved communities. We use a ‘pay-it-forward’ model to mentor and develop the next generation of leaders and knowledge creators in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. CCL-US launched the STEMNetX initiative in 2021 to begin to bridge the gaps in access to resources, awareness, capacity, and social capital through the STEMNetX Fellowship Program. The year-long STEMNetX Fellowship is centered around early-stage college students from Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) and Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs) in the western PA area interested in emerging STEM fields, with the goal of creating access to peers and mentors to support career exploration in STEM fields. There are multiple ways to support the Fellowship program, and we are always searching for new partnerships!
