Wednesday February 11, 2026
As a Medical Scientist in Anatomical Pathology, Mei plays a vital role in diagnosing disease, interpreting tissue samples and helping doctors understand what is happening in a patient’s body.
“Anatomical pathology looks at disease on a cellular level. Our job is to detect abnormalities and give doctors the information they need to ultimately give patients the best care we can”
Mei loved Biology from a young age, but it wasn’t until her placements that she really understood the breadth of hospital science and Pathology.
“I had no idea this world of science even existed until I did placement, and I’ve stuck with it ever since.”
Mei believes deeply in the importance of women and girls entering scientific fields, not simply for representation, but for the perspective they bring.
“Women have so much to offer science, and there’s such a need to get everyone on board. Everyone is created with incredible intelligence, and we need all of it.”
Mei draws inspiration from trailblazers like Professor Fiona Wood, known for her groundbreaking spray-on skin technology for burns victims, and closer to home, Eastern Health Associate Program Director Laboratory Operations, Dr Tania Marsden, whose PhD explored stillbirths and placental pathology.
These women, Mei says, show the impact that curiosity, dedication, and compassion can have when channelled through science.
For Mei, being a woman in science is both humbling and motivating.
“I never pictured myself as a scientist, but when I look at the world around us, I’m just in awe. Science lets me understand that world, its design, its beauty. And it’s amazing to be part of that.”
Kristin, a Medical Scientist in Microbiology at Eastern Health, speaks about her work with confidence, humility, and genuine passion.
Science has always pulled her in, even as a child. “I loved a good crime thriller. Always just had a natural ability for science and I was often the only girl in a class of boy’s type stuff”
Characters like Dana Scully from The X-Files piqued her interest; women who investigated, questioned, and took up space in scientific worlds often portrayed as male-dominated.
Microbiology for Kristin, is where creativity meets logic. She talks about studying growth patterns, assessing organisms and the ins and outs of Microbiology.
“You’re looking at all the different growth patterns, what they look like compared to each other, how much they’re growing, and if they should be growing there.”
When talking about what her job means to her, Kristin keeps it simple.
“Knowing you’ve been able to help someone at a critical point in their life… like a patient with sepsis, and we give them blood culture results that they weren’t expecting. Suddenly they have a mode of treatment.”
Kristin remembers being the only one her physics class in high school, an isolation that helped shape her future determination. Now raising two daughters herself, she is proud of her contribution to science and her ability to raise her daughters with the same determination.
“My girls see what I do. They’ve always been proud, ‘Oh, my mum’s a scientist.’”
“If I’m perfectly frank, I don’t think a woman in science should be any different to men in science. Women can often be better scientists from an analytical perspective.”
When asked about girls who want to enter science but don’t feel particularly brave, her answer is simple, to follow your aptitude and passion.
“You should always follow something that captures your interest or imagination. You don’t have to do boring. You can play with the gross stuff. It’s fun.”
