Recognizing Women & Girls in Science

In commemoration of International Day of Women & Girls in Science, we spoke with Anh Hoang, Senior Research Associate at Alkermes to learn more about her journey into the STEM field. 

Tell us about yourself – where are you from, what is your background and what kind of work do you do at Alkermes?

I’m Anh Hoang, Senior Research Associate at Alkermes. I was born in Vietnam, where I worked in the banking and accounting field before moving to the United States. While my daughter was in elementary school, I studied chemistry and biology at a community college in Massachusetts and joined Alkermes shortly after graduating. I originally joined as a laboratory technician, but in the last 12 years, have worked across many projects at Alkermes and currently work in our analytical development laboratories.

What encouraged you early in life and your academic career to pursue a career in STEM?

Growing up in the post-Vietnam War era, our schools had a limited amount of resources and tools available, especially when it came to studying the sciences. My high school chemistry teacher helped show me the wonder of science. She made chemistry both accessible to me and helped me to better understand how it can shape our lives. She encouraged me to grow, both personally and professionally, and provided me with many of the skills I needed to understand that a career in STEM was possible.

Who were your role models? Did you have any women in your life or in society that you look to as an example on how to be successful as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field?

As a high school student, my chemistry teacher not only helped show us the magic that chemistry can create but also said something to me that has shaped my career at Alkermes: “when you learn something, that knowledge becomes your own.” Since joining Alkermes, I’ve better understood what that meant. When we discover something in our lab, by creating something new or deepening our understanding of something that already exists, that knowledge can belong to all of us, and we can use it to help make a difference in people’s lives. 

Can you talk about why it’s important that young women and girls see themselves as future leaders in the STEM field? How did you begin to see yourself in that way?

In many ways, my daughter has helped me to understand the importance of being confident and assured in my own capabilities. She is currently finishing her master’s degree in finance and has just started her first part-time job working in the banking industry. In talking with her about her work and goals, I’ve realized how important it is for young women to be confident, to realize that there is power in not being afraid to be your authentic self. While I’ve worked hard to help her see herself as a leader, I’ve also benefited greatly from watching her learn and grow as a young woman.    

What does Alkermes’ commitment to being a welcoming workplace mean to you?

I really appreciate the working environment and day-to-day attitude that my colleagues at Alkermes bring to the lab. That openness and welcoming environment is a big reason that I’ve been here for more than a decade. Our culture, specifically embracing the different perspectives and backgrounds that everyone has, makes coming to work enjoyable and also helps us to make progress on behalf of the people we hope to serve.