Alice Terrill: Antibiotic Optimisation and Owning Your Space in STEM

Name: Alice Terrill (she/her)

Career Stage: PhD Candidate at Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science

Field: Pharmaceutical Sciences

Research Area: Optimising antibiotic dosing to combat antimicrobial resistance

Historically, when women began entering male-dominated fields, one of the steps that we take to help ourselves be considered seriously is to hide our femininity. While for some women minimal make up, a pant-suit, and hair pulled back with no earrings is how they like to express themselves, for others it is a disguise, conscious or otherwise, to hide their “woman-ness” and to better be accepted by male peers. Thankfully as more women enter these fields this is starting to change, but it’s happening slowly.

When most people picture a scientist, they think of a white lab coat and safety glasses, or perhaps a nerd with thick glasses in front of a computer screen. STEM conferences frequently have dress codes just so scientists don’t show up in cargo shorts, socks and sandals. This stereotype is one I don’t fit. While I am a nerd, I don’t fit the typical image of a scientist either. I choose to wear brightly coloured dresses, often with loud floral patterns. This is part of how I like to express myself.

However, in choosing to do this, I am aware that it can impact how others perceive me. At work, I’m sometimes more recognised for how I dress than my research into antimicrobial research and PK/PD modelling. If I dressed more plainly, or more traditionally masculine, I doubt my clothing would be a noteworthy description of who I am. Yet I continue to present this way, because it’s my small way of showing that women and non-binary people belong in STEM, however they choose to present.

My pathway to a PhD wasn’t always smooth. I was the first in my family to attend university, so even a bachelor degree was a huge step for me. My parents didn’t initially support my decision to pursue a PhD, wanting me to enter the workforce straight away and not understanding the potential benefits of further study.

I’m in the final year of my PhD now, and while it’s been a challenge at times, it’s a journey that I am proud of and has led to some fantastic opportunities. My studies focus on the optimisation of dosing regimens of antibiotics to overcome the antimicrobial resistance crisis, something I feel passionately about and get the sense that I am having a positive impact on the world. I’ve attended conferences in Spain, and all over Australia. I lived in Denmark for two months to complete a research placement. I’ve also been Student Representative of two national societies which allowed me to build board networks across the country.

I am passionate about STEM beyond just my PhD, I am an Assistant Lecturer and support with the teaching of a variety of units. I have had the privilege of talking about my research on Triple RRR radio, the Dose of Pharma Podcast, and at Melbourne’s Soapbox Science. I participate in STEM-pals, a pen pal program where I write about science back and forth with a primary school student. I have also worked with the National Youth Science Forum for several years.

I will continue to show up, still wearing brightly coloured dresses, because I truly believe that the more we make space for individuality in STEM, the more welcoming, inclusive and ultimately the more innovative, it will become.