February 11, 2025 marks the 10th annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, this day celebrates the importance of diversity in research, and acknowledges that “full and equal access to and participation in science, technology and innovation for women and girls of all ages is imperative for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.”
Dr. Freda Miller (she/her) is a professor with both the Michael Smith Laboratories (MSL) and the Department of Medical Genetics. She also currently holds the position of Deputy Director with the MSL. Her research program explores the intersection of neuroscience and stem cells, with the goal of finding new approaches to promote brain repair in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders.
In recognition of this date of significance, we spoke with Dr. Miller about her experiences in research, mentorship and leadership, and what advice she has for young women in science.
What did your journey to becoming a researcher and faculty member look like?
For me, a lot of it was kind of accidental. I always thought I would be a writer, but then in high school I had really inspiring chemistry teacher who encouraged us to experiment with new things, and that’s where I really caught fire for science. From there, it was just one step at a time. I never had an ambition to be a professor or a scientist, I just wanted to do something I found interesting, and at each step I kept re-evaluating and trying what came next.
