“I was inspired to get into science when I read Marie Curie’s autobiography at the age of 11. It intrigued me, and made me want to learn more about atoms and chemical reactions – as well as a desire to leave a trace in the scientific world.

“Now I am in working in science, I feel proud to represent women. I feel particularly proud to represent the women who have been excluded from universities and research, despite their great insight and passion, and I am grateful for all the pioneering women who made it possible for our generation to work and research as we do today.

“That said, I do also think that the time has come for the term ‘woman in science’ to be carefully considered. I am a scientist – being a woman is a separate fact that should not seem unusual in this profession, and I hope those times will come.”

Read Dr Gerta Cami-Kobeci's staff profile here.

“I have always been interested in the way the world works. When it came time to choose an area to focus on, I chose the human body with an especial interest in cancer and our immune system. I am far too squeamish to be a medical doctor, and I wanted to know how things worked at a cellular and molecular level – becoming a biochemist was therefore a natural choice.

“As a woman in science, it is important to show girls that science can be for them and that they can use the skills they learn in science to develop their careers, not only in science but in many other areas too.

"Developing a range of skills has been very beneficial in my management roles – the need to accurately record what is going on, to undertake information research to move your work forward, to effectively communicate complex ideas and to deliver to projects in an organised and timely manner, and within budget, were all skills I honed in the lab.”

Read Dr Maria Simon's staff profile here.

“I was hooked on archaeology and science from the day I went on a school trip, aged 7, to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow. There are two things I love about being a woman in science: the first is showing my female students that it’s possible to have a career in the field and encouraging them to have one; the second is being able to tell my students – male and female – about important scientific discoveries that were made by women, especially those that weren’t properly acknowledged by society at the time.

“The most rewarding part of my job is witnessing the academic development of my students during the course of their studies. I get a real thrill seeing my students graduate and go on to further study or work in the industry.”

Read Dr Lindsay McDermott's staff profile here.

“I was very much inspired by my university lecturers, they have always provided me guidance and I have learned a lot from them; they were and still are always there to guide me.

“It is difficult to describe in few words why I am proud to be a woman in science. It is basically implementing my research ideas towards action and that leads to achievements.

“The most rewarding thing for me is to see the success of my students both in terms of achieving good grades and their goals. Also, many more female students have come forward and are now studying Life Science subjects compared to a few years ago. It is indeed rewarding to see!”

Read Dr Bushra Ahmed's staff profile here.