The STEM Demystified Digital Portal is now live, a new home for real STEM stories made for teachers, educators, and curious young learners. Built to make STEM feel closer, friendlier, and genuinely possible, the portal brings together global role‑model stories, interactive exploration, and classroom‑ready inspiration. It’s a growing resource designed to help children see themselves in STEM, and to give educators an easy way to bring real‑world representation into lessons. Explore the portal at stemdemystified.com.
Welcome to another edition of STEM Demystified, a project to tackle the under-representation of women in STEM. This weekly Newsletter showcases how women are conquering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics worldwide.
This week, I am thrilled to highlight Naziha S., an inspiring figure in pharmaceutical sciences and science communication. Originally from Bangladesh, she attained a bachelor’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a master’s in Advanced Drug Delivery (ADD).
Naziha’s journey into STEM began during her IGCSEs (International General Certificate of Secondary Education), where her passion for chemistry and biology laid the foundation for her future career. From excelling academically to becoming a science tutor and mentor, Naziha’s curiosity and communication skills have been at the forefront of her work. Her commitment to applying both technical expertise and communication has led her to diverse roles, culminating in her current position as a Clinical Research Associate at Bangladesh Clinical Trials Limited (BCTL).
Through her work and her experiences with organisations like Edinburgh Science, Naziha has developed strong public speaking and networking skills, helping her thrive in a sector that combines her love of science and communication.
Let’s dive into Naziha’s remarkable journey and explore how she’s conquering STEM.
What was your trajectory from school to where you currently are professionally/academically?
As a high schooler, I enjoyed studying English, chemistry and biology. My interest got deeper as I moved from A levels to higher studies. I was an introvert most of my life and shied away from opportunities and human interaction. But, as I grew older, I noticed that the only conversation that excited me was when I talked about science with young individuals, and that eventually helped me become a science tutor.
Fast forward a few years, I realised I could do much more with my existing skills. If I nurtured my communication skills, I could also pursue a career in science communication. During my master’s, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and began working with Edinburgh Science (an educational charity organisation) to get trained in science communication. It was an excellent opportunity to refurbish public speaking and networking skills by interacting with people from diverse STEM backgrounds.
I worked as a science editor at Medify, from April 2024- December 2024. Currently, I am working as a clinical research associate at a contract research organisation (CRO). My bachelor’s project focused entirely on ADD, which sparked my fascination towards the drug delivery and clinical trials. I would say, I found science before science found me. Learning about innovative drug delivery systems and understanding what it takes to develop robust therapeutic approaches and commercialize them led me to a career centred around healthcare sector.
What motivated you to get into STEM? Did you have a female role model or anyone who inspired you? If so, who?
I was raised in a family setting, where STEM has always been an obvious choice for most people, hence, it did not take time for me to decide which career path I would pursue.
I would not say I have only one role model, many have inspired me at different times of my career. Role models that often come to mind: maternal aunt (doctor), paternal cousin (doctor), father (engineer), paternal uncle (pharmacist). In addition, my peers/friends/ classmates have excelled in their individual careers, which kept me the motivation alive through and through.
During my master’s program, I applied for a career program “Broadening Horizons” organized by the Royal Society of Chemistry. This helped me find people who hold similar passion and were navigating life as an international student.
My career goal is to utilize my knowledge to go into the intricacies of clinical research and help our pioneers take local clinical research to greater heights.
What’s your most important professional/academic achievement?
Graduating with a cum laude distinction in my bachelors
Did you face any challenge throughout your professional/academic journey? How did you overcome it?
Personal/internal challenges-my poor time management, lack of discipline; Thankfully no financial challenges.
External challenges: competition, opportunities, financial difficulties as an international student within UK.
In your opinion, what needs to be done to attract more women into STEM?
Looking into diversity, women’s accessibility needs, identifying what tools they need to have a career in STEM, identifying their perspective towards STEM, and recognising challenges such as health, financial, socioeconomic barriers, etc.
What advice would you give to anyone looking into a career in STEM (or those who do not consider it)?
– Career is a journey. I think rather than focusing on the outcomes, we should be open to the idea of exploring. We should focus on the journey first, see what lesson and opportunity it offers, and gather experience before putting it to action.
– What we should instil a knack for learning in the next generation; create a liking towards learning.
Naziha’s journey demonstrates the incredible potential that emerges when passion and persistence meet opportunity. From her early fascination with healthcare subjects to her current role as a Science Editor, Naziha’s path reflects her dedication to learning and contributing to the scientific community. Her story is an inspiration to those aspiring to balance both technical and non-technical skills in STEM, showing that a career in science is not limited to the lab but extends to communication and outreach.
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