This special event on "mom guilt" brought together an exceptional lineup of speakers delving into research on mom guilt and work-family choices, and sharing personal insights into overcoming mom guilt while balancing motherhood and a demanding academic career.  Attendees learned about the research on how mothers’ choices and careers are influenced by gender stereotypes and their social context, and heard the empowering journeys of established academic mothers and leaders in their research field.

Dr. Lianne Aarntzen (Twitter: @AarntzenLianne) is a social scientist and postdoctoral researcher at Utrecht University who studies how men and women’s experiences and choices are influenced by their social context. She discussed her recent research on how gender stereotypes shape parents’ work-family guilt and their work-family choices. 

Dr. Jen Heemstra, a distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis, is not only a renowned leader in the research field but also advocates for science through her influential social media platforms (Twitter: @jenheemstra), blog [insert link https://thingsthatchangethewayithink.blogspot.com/] and by speaking at various events.

Dr. Anja Lux is a professor for Integrated Immunology at Friedrich Alexander University, in Germany.  In addition to leading a lab researching the mechanisms and therapeutic potentials of immunoglobulins, she is highly engaged in advocacy efforts for women at her university.

Dr. Chrystal Starbird (@drstarbird) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Starbird is a strong advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, and publishes regularly on strategies to maximize the impact of mentoring and building an inclusive lab. 

Event: December 12, 2023