Stylish Scientists: Heidi

'Stylish Scientists' is a weekly series that brings you an exclusive peek at women in science and their style.  

The motto of the 'Stylish Scientist' is: "Always look chic while making a discovery!"

At what stage of science career are you?
I’m still in the first year of my postdoc.

Tell us about your research, your inspiration and motivation in science

Broadly, I work on behavioral ecology and genetics of amphibians. My main project pertains to the genes and developmental processes that contribute to the túngara frog larynx. I think my inspiration in science comes from a childlike sense of wonder that I never lost. I like nature, animals and cannot really imagine doing anything else. Motivation has its peaks and valleys for me because there is so much frustration dotted with the small victories of discovery.  I try to maintain a positive perspective and I am fortunate to be in a lab with supportive people.

Your earliest fashion memory
I created a superhero outfit for myself with a smurf nightgown, smurfette slippers, a red bandana and orange sunglasses. Wearing this outfit always made me really happy and unstoppable.

Who influenced your style?
I idolized Punky Brewster and struggled to express myself in any way because I wore a school uniform. I would wear colorful sneaks or crazy ponytail holders. Outside of my uniform, my Mom always let me choose my own outfits and I’m eternally grateful for this (while she probably regrets it).

How did the places where you lived influence your style choices?
I’ve always just been myself when it comes to style. Since I’ve moved to Texas I definitely had to change it up a bit because it is so hot. I had to consider fabric choices for summer that wouldn’t cause me to faint.

Did your style change between your Ph.D. at NYC and your post-doctoral position in Texas?

I think I wear more color here because the shining sun makes me happy. I’m not wearing cowboy boots yet, but I won’t rule it out.

Your favorite brands and places to shop

I love to buy clothes from etsy online, vintage stores and I’ll never pass up a good garage sale.

Your everyday science uniform

A skirt and top or dress with leggings. I wear lots of color and comfortable shoes. Pockets
are also a must for lab keys.

What do you think about dressing nicely while doing experiments?

I think you can wear whatever you want whenever you want. I try not to get frog pee on my clothes, but when it happens it’s okay.

Any thoughts about how the general public perceives scientists and their appearance?

I wish they knew most of us only wear lab coats to stay warm.

Tell us more about your amazing Nature Afield blog

I started writing a sort of basic natural history/check out this cool animal blog because it is the kind of thing I would want to read. It is a convenient way for me to contribute to scientific outreach and inform not only the general public, but also my fellow biologists.

What other hobbies/projects do you have?

I also cohost a podcast on evolutionary biology called “Breaking Bio” (breakingbio.com) where we have guests on each week to talk about their work. I think it is entertaining and informative, but I may be biased.

Oh wait, you meant outside of science? I like to be outside.

In my free time, I like to do a bit of salamander hunting, hiking, and reading.

Pictures are provided by Heidi

Stylish Scientists: Siyu

'Stylish Scientists' is a weekly series that brings you an exclusive peek at women in science and their style.  

The motto of the 'Stylish Scientist' is: "Always look chic while making a discovery!"

Meet Siyu - our first stylish scientist from New York University! It was so nice to visit NYU labs and be just a bit (or maybe much) envious about their amazing location next to Washington Square park. Siyu is doing her Master's in Science degree at NYU while simultaneously applying to Ph.D. programs (good luck!) Siyu's sunny personality catalyzed our mutual admiration, and we shared so many smiles while shooting these pictures. Siyu is such a natural model with a unique sense of style. And she is so excited about science that she was ready to do experiments during the photo shoot!
Certainly I can say one thing: NYU's scientists must be really stylish if they are anything like Siyu. Let's talk more!

At what stage of science education are you?
Master’s of Science

Tell us about your research, your inspiration and motivation in science
I am working on epigenetic regulation in fission yeast. My current project is focusing on a specific centromere histone H3 variant CENPA, studying its abnormal expression phenotypes, effects and mechanisms involved. According to me, science is an area where I can apply my creative ideas, critical thinking, and intelligent hands to work in my field of interest.

Your earliest fashion memory
My dad was working in the cloth industry and he went abroad frequently for trade fairs. He always brought back a lot of fashion clothes from overseas. Additionally, I watched a lot of fashion shows on TV with the leading of his preference.

Who influenced your style?
I can hardly name one person who influenced my style, since I am changing my style everyday. If I have to say someone, then it should be my mood. I have been in love with hip-hop style since I was really young. I thought it was cool and special. Not everyone in school, especially girls, liked to look like a street boy. But that’s me - I like to be different and unique.

How did the places where you lived influence your style choices?
Korean and Japanese styles are very popular in my hometown.

Has your style changed after moving to NYC?
Of cause, I love the street style and hip-hop. NYC is the most developed and fashionable city in the world. It gave me more freedom in creating my own style.

Your favorite brands and places to shop
I shop a lot in Century 21, and Soho sometimes.

What do you think about dressing nicely while doing experiments?
It can make me feel more confident about everything

Any thoughts about how the general public perceives scientists and their appearance?
Sloppy dressing, they don’t care about fashion, and stay in lab all day long.

What are your favorite things to do/see in NYC?
Walking on the street to find the most impressive styles; hanging out with my friends: Karaoke, card games; Sports: volleyball, basketball, although I am not good at it, LOL.

Pictures are taken by me

Runway show: Fashion, Ukrainian Style

At the end of September, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend "Fashion, Ukrainian Style," a runway show of contemporary wearable art at the Ukrainian Museum in New York City. This presentation showcased the collections of three designers: one based in the US, Elena Vasilevsky, as well as two from Ukraine, Oksana Karavanska and Katya Pshechenko. The event was organized as the capstone of a recent exhibition in the museum entitled "Out of Tradition: Contemporary Decorative and Applied Art," which showcased 150 works of decorative art (including pieces produced by the above-mentioned designers) all rooted in the rich culture of Ukraine.

The runway show was definitely a highly anticipated event; tickets were sold out quickly six weeks beforehand, and organizers had to add a second-floor gallery in order to accommodate the waiting list. The eager audience was treated to four different collections: Oksana Karavanska pret-a-porte meets couture, Katya Pshechenko pret-a-porte, and two collections by Elena Vasilevsky - pret-a-porte and a jewelry show.

I've been eager to see Karavanska's collection, since I remember her as a prominent fashion designer from my teenage years. As the first model entered - I knew we were in for a special treat. The twenty pieces selected for this show were mostly white and black, with hints of mocha. Accessories - shoes and flower crowns - provided some of the color accents in green, red, pink and blue. Each piece was intricately embellished with delicate embroidery, openwork and exquisite details. I got the feeling that if I were to hold one of these items I would have to do so with extreme care for its dainty embellishments and luxurious fabrics. At the same time, the silhouettes were strong, modern and architectural. This juxtaposition of fragile feminine embroidery with a strong modern silhouette in neutral colors felt really timeless and eternal. It reminded me of traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts or "vyshyvanky" - they can be really old and intricately-embroidered but remain strong against the flow of time and changes of fashion.  

I got to talk to Karavanska, who was very gracious and enthusiastic to explain more about her creations. I was curious to find out about the meaning behind the name of the collection - "The Garden of Unmelting Sculptures." Karavanska explained that this collection is dedicated to Lina Kostenko, a famous Ukrainian poetess who published a collection of poetry with the identical title. This name seemed very appropriate to Karavanska because it conveyed something that is beautiful and eternal - a collection of works of art resistant to time. And so Karavanka's aim was to produce wearable art, an exquisite collection of hand-made couture pieces with technically-difficult detailing and everlasting appeal. Above all, her desire was to leave these special pieces to the next generations with pride - her contribution to fashion, art and the timeless tradition of "vyshyvanka". 

We also chatted about Ukrainian fashion and its international reach. According to Karavanska, Ukrainian fashion is taking small steps abroad, and she was delighted to bring her collection to the US. This personal connection with her clients and people who are interested in her designs is very dear to her. For this reason, she stopped showing her collections at Ukrainian Fashion Week but instead started organizing private fashion shows for her dedicated clients in Lviv. She hopes to build similar relationships abroad, and I certainly hope that she'll come back to New York City with more collections to show.  

I didn't get the chance to speak to the other two designers, Pshechenko and Vasilevsky, but I'd like to make several observations about their collections. Katya Pshechenko is a young, talented designer from Kyiv, who not only designs clothes but also accessories such as hats and jewelery.  Her collection had a unique feel: feminine silhouettes executed in unexpected fabrics that added structure and dimension to the designs. Matching hats, necklaces, headpieces and handbags made the collection very cohesive. I was especially fond of her long coats paired with tall rectangular hats; they reminded me of Kyivska (Kievan) Rus', the predecessor of modern Ukraine, and its women, specifically its princesses or "knyahyni." NYC-based Elena Vasilevsky presented two collections: beautiful jewelery pieces and a ready-to wear collection that was very feminine and seductive, executed in lace, rich brocade, leather and fur.

The runway show was followed by a Viennese coffee reception, open access to the exhibition, a silent auction and interviews with the designers. Overall, it was very inspiring to see modern Ukrainian designers and other showcased artists drawing inspirations from Ukrainian tradition and culture, while creating something unique and modern. I'm looking forward to attending more fashion events in the future, and, in the meantime, if you're interested to find out more about current Ukrainian designers, please visit Ukrainian Fashion Week. And if you travel to NYC - make sure to stop by the Ukrainian Museum and check out their special exhibitions! Enjoy more photos from the event and exhibit below:

Jewelery and millinery. Masha Archer, Katya Pshechenko, Motria Jackevych Holowinsky.

Oksana Karavanska

Ianina Symonenko, unknown authors

Guest at the reception: stunning combination of traditional Ukrainian elements with modern style! (Can't get enough of the stylish lady above, especially the color coordination of her rings, nails polish, lip color and "vyshyvanka" colors!)

All photos were taken by me.

Stylish Scientists: Junko

'Stylish Scientists' is a weekly series that brings you an exclusive peek at women in science and their style.  

The motto of the 'Stylish Scientist' is: "Always look chic while making a discovery!"

At what stage of science education are you?
I am starting the third year of my PhD.

Tell us about your research and your inspiration and motivation in science
I study the endocrine functions of bone. Specifically, our lab study bone, which is the latest appeared organ in vertebrates, to investigate its influence on the whole-body physiology such as glucose metabolism and male fertility. My motivation in science is that, as a geneticist, I would like to show scientifically that life consists of interdependent mechanisms written by simple codes and no organ works by itself.  I feel like old biology gave us a lot of significant basic knowledge of life, but at the same time, it’s like missing the forest for the trees. So, taking advantage of the current advanced knowledge of genetics, my motivation is to do biology by seeing the trees and find a new forest! My inspiration comes from many great scientists here at Columbia!

Your earliest fashion memory
When I was small, I started to learn baton twirling. When I performed, my instructors always did make up for me. I remember that I was excited and happy to wear makeup like adults do! Also, many costumes for performance were girly and shining, decorated with many sparkles. I always felt special when I wore a new design of the costume and was very happy to wear something I usually do not wear!

Who influenced your style?
I am not the type of person who loves to go shopping often… But fortunately, many of my friends are very fashionable and they influenced my style :). My friends know where to go shopping and I always ask them about the latest trends before I go shopping :). I’m trying to look nice like my friends!

How did the places where you lived influence your style choices?
I was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. Like in NYC, there are many people with various styles in Tokyo. Also, there are many shops and department stores so it was easy to catch up on the latest trends. Since there is no typical style in Tokyo, I loved to wear very different styles depending on the feeling of the day :). Also, since there are clear four seasons in Tokyo, I changed the color choices of my clothes depending on the season!

How different is way of dressing in Tokyo and NYC?
I think the biggest difference between Tokyo and NYC fashion is the color. When I go to shopping in NYC, I find many clothes, bags and even cosmetics with vivid, bright and primary colors. However, I think Japanese tend not to wear clothes with primary colors.

Sometimes I can tell if people are from Japan or not based on the color of clothes. Also, heels sold here are very high compared to heels sold in Tokyo. I think that is because people often use car to go out in the states and people in Japan often walk to go out. So I recommend to buy heels in Japan if people have a chance to go because they are much more comfortable :).

Your favorite brands and places to shop
My favorite brands and places to shop are Zara, Aritzia, Jill Stuart, J.Crew, UNIQLO, Free people…etc.

Your everyday science uniform
I usually wear jeans or skirt with blouse and cardigan.  I change what I am wearing depending on the experiments of the day. If I have to spend a lot of time in mouse room, I usually tie my hair and wear flat shoes and jeans. If I have a lot of bench work, I wear skirt and heels (of course with a lab coat) :).

What do you think about dressing nicely while doing experiments?
I think it is very good to dress nicely while doing experiments. Considering safety in the lab, we do not need to be extremely fashionable. But we can look clean and neat every day. Also, I spend most of my time in the lab so that I want to wear something I like!

Any thoughts about how the general public perceives scientists and their appearance?
I think general public may still think that scientists are men and are indifferent to fashion. Indeed, when I meet with new people, some say that I do not look like a scientist because I am a girl and wear nice clothes… :(! In reality, I know that most of scientists are stylish and well-dressed. So, I am not concerned about how general public thinks about how scientists look because what scientists should be known of by society is by their findings. On the other hand, in terms of education, it is important that scientists interact with public and tell people, especially young people, that we can look nice and do cool experiments! I was one of the kids who decided to become a scientist after I met with stylish and talented women scientists :).

What are your favorite things to do/see in NYC?
I like walking around Bryant park area when I have time because my favorite pastry shop is there :). Also I love reading novels and I love to go to book stores and read books at my favorite cafe. I sometimes enjoy attending events held by Japanese student group at main campus to meet with new people! :) I used to enjoy teaching Japanese so if I can find time, I want to teach Japanese again in NYC! 

What are your recommendations to see in Japan?
Since I am from Tokyo, I recommend to go see Tokyo! J If you like fashion, there are so many shops so you will never get bored in Tokyo! Also, please try real Japanese food and sweets! :)

All photos are taken and edited by me.