Elizabeth Bondi

Describe the path you took to end up where you are now. When did you know you were interested in STEAM?

I have been interested in STEAM for as long as I can remember. I attended a public high school in upstate New York, and while I enjoyed my math and science courses, I never focused my efforts on any specific aspect of STEAM. Like many approaching graduation, I had a lot of trouble narrowing down my interests into a future major and career path.

When and how did you become involved in your field of study? What jobs and experiences have you had?

It wasn't until the summer before my senior year of high school that I participated in an internship at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where I conducted research on eye tracking in collaboration with professors, postdoctoral scholars, PhD students, fellow high school students, and more. The process of forming hypotheses and testing them, along with the collaborative environment, were extremely inspiring to me. I loved being able to work with a group of people that were passionate about STEAM. Better yet, I was able to experience first-hand how technology and research could be used throughout society.

It was after this internship that I decided to commit to a career in STEAM. I started my path at RIT, working towards a BS in Imaging Science. While at RIT, I also had the opportunity to intern at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Harris. The additional research experience that I gained during my undergraduate program, both from school and the internships, were so interesting to me that I decided to continue my education and go to grad school.

After applying to various schools, I started my PhD program in Computer Science at the University of Southern California before transferring to Harvard University. Since starting this program, I have been conducting research on artificial intelligence and how it can be applied in society. I also had the opportunity to expand on this research through internships at Microsoft and DeepMind. My time in grad school is soon coming to an end, and I can't wait to see what the future has in store.

What advice do you have for high school age girls who want to go into your field of study (or STEAM in general)? What skills were most beneficial to you on your path, and what do you wish you had known starting out?

One of the biggest challenges to overcome at the start is knowing what you want to do in your career. This is a big decision to make in high school, and it can seem a bit scary. I think it's very important to try things that you think might interest you. Try out a few extracurricular activities at school, look into internships or part-time opportunities, and/or participate in online courses. The internship I did at RIT really helped me decide which step to take first.

Not everyone has access to educational and career development opportunities, however, which is another challenge that you may need to overcome. The good news is that more and more resources are being created to make STEAM accessible to people of all age groups. For example, I have been working on an initiative called Try AI (artificial intelligence) to make research experiences more accessible for high school and undergraduate students, especially those from historically underrepresented groups. If you have trouble finding opportunities or resources, consider emailing someone at a local university, such as a professor in one of your fields of interest or an admissions counselor. You may also consider reaching out to a high school guidance counselor, or even someone on this website for advice!

What does it mean to you to use STEAM for positive change?

I think that STEAM can be a powerful force for good in the world. In my current research, I strive to build AI systems to support projects in conservation and public health.

However, I also think that we will only be able to create tools that truly contribute to addressing societal challenges if our teams are composed of people with a diverse range of experiences and viewpoints.

Have you ever faced discrimination, peer pressure, or gender bias as a woman interested in STEAM? How did you address it and what is your advice to young women who might face the same things today?

I have faced some bias throughout my journey. One thing that has really helped me is having a strong support network of friends, family, and even colleagues. To find a support network, I suggest looking for women in STEAM groups or clubs at your school, company, and beyond.