By: Sofia Gibson
Growing up in Albania, Sibora Peca always had big aspirations of a career in science. Today, she has overcome many of the challenges that women typically face and is managing a biotech business in New York. “As a young girl, learning about female role models like Marie Curie always inspired me and made me believe women can be what they want to be,” she says. Her passion for science and strong willpower have served as a powerful foundation to help her dismantle stereotypical prejudices about women, and to become a rising role model herself.
Progress on women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) thus far has been slow and has not achieved nearly enough. In 2023, the gender gap in STEM is significant worldwide, with women making up only 28% of the STEM workforce in the United States, 17% in the European Union 16% in Japan, and 14% in India. The lack of female role models in STEM is both a cause and a consequence of the gender gap in these fields. Addressing this issue requires not only increasing the visibility of existing female STEM professionals but also creating environments where more women can rise to prominent roles. This, in turn, will help inspire and encourage future generations of women to pursue and thrive in STEM careers.
Sibora is a role model for many young women who wish to pursue STEM and leadership. At only 30 years old, Sibora is now working at the forefront of leading-edge biotech research on the skin microbiome, managing and growing the US business of Sequential Skin, a global biotech start-up that is shaping new research on the human microbiome. “The skin microbiome is a fascinating new field of research,” she says enthusiastically. “We are only still learning about all the microorganisms that live on our body and the complex role that they play in maintaining our health.”
Getting where she is now has not been easy however, needing to overcome many of the challenges and stigma that women typically face working in science and business. Growing up in Albania did not help either. “Albania remained largely isolated from the world until 1991, when the fall of the communist dictatorship finally opened its borders and re-established diplomatic ties with the West.” She explains. “Consequently, scientific research is limited, and opportunities for pursuing a career in science are few. Traditional gender roles and significant gender inequality present other considerable challenges for women striving for success in this field.”
Sibora’s dedication brought her to the US, where she completed her studies in Biology and Neuroscience. “Coming to the US has opened a new world, and so many new opportunities for me” she says. “A turning point for me was to join Sequential Skin, a biotech start-up, which gave me so many ways to develop my skill set and allowed me to become a true expert in the microbiome field. The companies’ headquarters are in the UK, part of the science team is in Singapore, and they allowed me the opportunity to create a US business presence. Today we have a team working in the New York office at JLabs, which is part of the global Johnson & Johnson network. My day-to-day work is to manage the lab and define the groundbreaking research we are doing with our clients, often large pharma companies. I particularly love the research aspect, and to be able to shape our understanding of how all the different bacteria impact our health.”
As a woman, Sibora is particularly interested in some of the more recently emerging areas of research, such as the vaginal microbiome. “Microorganisms that colonize the vagina and their balance are extremely important for female health. Imbalances in the vaginal microbiome, for example by using very harsh cleaning ingredients or douching, are directly related to your reproductive and overall health. I’d love to see more research in this field and break some of the stigma related to women’s health.”
Sibora is clearly not done yet. “My future ambition is to establish a company dedicated to women’s health and to empower other women to achieve their aspirations. Through my own journey, I aim to inspire young women, particularly those from developing countries, to believe that their dreams are attainable. No matter the challenges, keep pursuing your passions and staying true to yourself.” With her drive and talent in science and business leadership, Sibora serves as inspiration for young women who aspire to follow the STEM path.
Published by: Nelly Chavez
