Belonging in the Lab: Katherine Vasquez on Resilience, Identity & Becoming a Scientist

In this episode of Her Path to Success, Sia sits down with Katherine Vasquez, a first-generation Latina scientist whose journey from Lone Star College to a Bioengineering PhD at Rice University challenges every stereotype about who belongs in STEM.Katherine shares how the Women in Neuroscience (WiN) Internship reshaped her future, how mentors like Dr. Nico Osier helped her see her own potential, and what it means to stay resilient while navigating academia as a first-gen student.Together, they explore identity, imposter syndrome, late starts, mentorship, and the importance of representation in research. Katherine’s story is a powerful reminder that there is no “right timeline” to becoming a scientist—only your own.