Innovation, Leadership & Technology: Women Show the Way

Eight remarkable women from the , in Mansfield and Hamilton Sundstrand in Windsor Locks are finalists for the 2011 Women of Innovation Awards.

Sponsored by the Connecticut Technology Council, the awards will recognize trailblazing women from academia and the industry at a gala event on March 31 in Hartford.

“The awards, now in their seventh year, bring together a unique group of remarkable and talented women who we celebrate as innovators, role models and leaders in the technology, science and engineering fields. Our selections are made on the basis of extraordinary career accomplishments, peer recognition, creative energy and leadership,” said Beth Alquist, Women of Innovation Planning Committee Chair and partner at the law firm of Day Pitney. 

Here are the finalists' stories:

Emily Briere

• Education: Student, E.O. Smith High School
• Entrepreneur: Moxme.com, Certamen.com, Cut-Out Kids

Emily Briere, 16, a student at E.O. Smith High School in Mansfield-Storrs, wants to spend the rest of her life solving the world’s problems.

Think that’s a bit much?

How about this? Briere co-founded and is co-president of three companies, has helped build a school in Costa Rica, volunteered at a Cambodian orphanage, represented Poland at a Mock U.N. session in New York, tutors at the Math, Music and World Languages honors societies in school, hikes and skis, and is on her school tennis and soccer teams.

It’s evident she also reads a lot, given that she liberally sprinkles her conversation with famous quotes.

“As Einstein pointed out, while the classical scientist explores that which already exists, the engineer explores that which does not yet exist. The latter path fascinates me. I hope to pursue aerospace engineering – I have always been drawn to the mystery of space and its explorative energy – and to some day even work for NASA,” she said. “At the same time, I do not wish to remain myopic. I wish to remain actively grounded in my local and worldwide community, continually looking for ways to improve anything that strikes me, ranging from simple daily life to transnational global crises.”

Briere was nominated for the CTC award in the Youth Innovation and Leadership category by Frank Christison-Lagay, her high school guidance counselor. 

“Emily is a uniquely gifted, highly actualized young woman of accomplishment and promise. Her intellect is expressed in all she attempts, she excels in virtually everything. Emily’s creative, innovative spirit, and view of a world rich with possibilities are defining personal characteristics,” he said. “A clear example of this is Emily’s pivotal role in the conceptualization, visualization, and subsequent development and marketing of cutting edge computer websites, in particular Moxme.com, a software platform with a focus on school calendaring, communications, collaboration and contacts.”

Her other company Certamen.com, which is in the planning stage, seeks to create online inter-school academic competitions. Her third venture, Cut-Out Kids, is a video production company that creates corporate videos using cutout animation to raise money to do some of these other undertakings.

Her dad has always been her biggest inspiration.

“He is the one who has guided me to see the world as I do. I grew up with homemade puzzles and treasure hunts always challenging me to think deductively. He has raised me with a genuine love for learning. He has taught me that I really can do anything if I work hard enough at it,” she said.

She is also inspired by Randy Pausch’s the Last Lecture, where he talks about the meaning of bricks walls.

“When I meet brick walls in life, I think of them as just that; they aren’t infinite in height, it just might take some thinking and determination to get over them,” she explained.

Briere is also inspired by kids her age.

“When Abby Sunderland sought to be the youngest solo circumnavigator at age 16, I couldn’t help but ally myself with her adventure: in the same way that she faced a world of critics telling her that she couldn’t do it, I face adults in the business world every day telling me that I’m too young to be operating a business. We are both engaged in a quest for legitimacy, desperate to prove that age does not dictate success. I am proud of Abby for her daring solo voyage attempt, and hope to show the same bravery in my own entrepreneurial life,” she said.

To date, Briere has traveled to the U.K., Honduras, Costa Rica, Thailand, Cambodia, Italy, Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Canada, and at least two-dozen U.S. states. Next month, she is going to France as part of a school foreign exchange program. 

She also loves to vacation outdoors with her family.

“For one week each summer, my family – mom, dad, twin brother, and two younger siblings (they are also fraternal twins) – spend time in the Appalachian Mountains hiking amongst the various huts,” she said.

Additionally, she works part-time at the UConn Phonathon to be able to fulfill her immediate goal.

“I am earning money for a killer prom dress!” she said.

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Rachel O’Neill

• Profession: Geneticist
• Employer: University of Connecticut
• Job Title: Associate Professor of Genetics and Genomics in the Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology; Head of the Microarray and Next Gen Sequencing Facility in the Center for Applied Genomics; Co-Director of the iPS Cell and Chromosome Core
• Education: BA (Hons) in Zoology, University of Texas, Austin; PhD in Genetics and Human Variation, La Trobe University, Australia

As a child, Rachel O’Neill’s favorite subject was science.

“I loved the idea of discovering new things about the world we live in and am an explorer at heart,” she said.

Now 41, O’Neill tries to figure how and why genomes – RNA and DNA molecules that contain unique hereditary information about health and disease – become unstable. Using several different animal models, from human to marsupial, she is trying understand how RNA helps to shape the genome and how they become destabilized, leading to problems in cell division, such as cancer, infertility and chromosome breaks.

“What I love most is the feeling of discovery, when one of my students comes to me with new data that is another piece in the puzzle of our research. We are tackling new problems and setting up new paradigms – the fundamental process of studying the amazing biological world around us. I also love the fact that my job includes a teaching component, which I view as an opportunity to share my enthusiasm for science with others,” she explained.

O’Neill has had many role models, foremost of whom are her parents, who she said showed support, dedication and compassion.

In college, she looked up to women like Barbara McClintock, Jenny Graves and Marilyn Renfree. “They’re amazing female scientists but had to fight for recognition for their work in a male dominated field. Now, I am honored to have a role model at UConn in Dr. Linda Strausbaugh, who continues to remind me what is worth focusing on in life and science and what is not,” she said.

It was Prof. Strausbaugh who nominated O’Neill for the CTC award in the Academic Innovation and Leadership category.

“I imagine that [she nominated me for] my involvement with science education and research. I have developed new course formats that provide hands-on experience for students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including courses in support of the Professional Science Masters Program,” she explained.

O’Neill is keen to help increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the sciences, such as women. She also volunteers in elementary school education for genetics through outreach activities and supports a broad research program at her lab to strengthen the area of genomics instrumentation at UConn.

When asked to comment on her research goals down the road, she said she was not exactly sure where her research would take her. “Which is why I love it so much!” she added.

“I hope that we can gain a thorough understanding of the elements in the genome that are fundamentally important in genome stability and cell division, and in doing so contribute to such efforts as cancer treatments and infertility. More specifically, I want to understand how selfish elements, such as viruses, are co-opted by the genome to perform basic and fundamental cellular processes and how these elements have contributed to the evolution of new species,” she said.

When O’Neill is not studying “selfish elements” – she loves to renovate her 1700s farmhouse. She also enjoys gardening, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, cross country skiing and traveling to fun and exotic places with her family.

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Jacquelynn McGuinness Garofano

• Position: Doctoral student at UConn in Materials Science and Engineering
• Education: BS (Hons) in Physics, Southern Connecticut State University; MS in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at UConn,

“My mother seems to think that one day I will earn a Nobel Prize for discovering something!” Garofano, 29, said, sounding amused. “[My goal is] to continue to be involved in materials research, publish papers and contribute to the innovation of science and technology.”

Garofano’s path involves electron microscopy techniques and the majority of her work involves transmission electron microscopy (TEM). An electron microscope is a scientific instrument that has the capability to examine materials very closely, using highly energized electrons.

A doctoral candidate at UConn, she was nominated for the CTC award in the Collegian Innovation and Leadership category by her advisor Mark Aindow. She was also nominated independently by Christine Broadbridge, Education Director at the Center for Research on Interface Structures and Phenomena (CRISP), a NSF-funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center located at Yale University.

In addition to her primary work as a doctoral research candidate, Garofano is an education and outreach Coordinator for CRISP where she organizes professional development workshops for educators, coordinates the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) summer program, and helps with the development and implementation of their website.  

“I have always wanted to pursue a PhD; the drive has always been there. Having the opportunity to begin materials research as an undergrad under Christine Broadbridge (who teaches at Southern Connecticut State University) led me to want to pursue a research career as a microscopist and materials scientist. I have been fortunate to have mentors in my life such as Christine and Mark, who encourage and support me and who have made such an impact both personally and professionally in my life,” she said.

A recipient of the Outstanding Woman Scholar Academic Achievement Award of the UConn Graduate School, she was also named the 2010 Outstanding Graduate Student of the MSE program as well as a nominee for the Alpha Sigma Mu professional honors society. Her research has already been published in seven journals including the Journal of Materials Science, Applied Physics Letters, and the Journal of the American Ceramic Society.

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Junxia Ma

• Education: Just completed PhD in VLSI testing from UConn; MS and BS in Electrical Engineering, China

Originally from China, Junxia Ma, 29, a daughter of farmers, came to the U.S. in 2007 to get a PhD at UConn. Her passion was to explore the technology challenges in the testing of Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI).

She just completed her doctoral research about how to fit as many transistors in a single integrated circuit chip with the least amount of problems. In other words, Ma and researchers like her are working to make consumer electronic products sleeker, lighter and more efficient.

“Semiconductors have become as small as 28 mm and continue to keep shrinking. That means we are seeing thinner, smaller and very cool electronic products, such as iPad 2,” she said. “But as chips get smaller, there are problems related to geometry and low supply voltage.”

Ma’s calling is, like Dorothy sings in the Wizard of Oz, to make those problems melt away like lemon drops by striving to attain perfection in what she does.

“I want to be an excellent engineer,” she said.

While Ma had always excelled at math and science, she did not think of becoming an engineer until inspired to do so by her high school teacher.

For her research excellence at UConn, she was nominated for the CTC award in the Collegian Innovation and Leadership category by her advisor Mohammad Tehranipoor.

When Ma’s not working on integrated circuits, she loves to travel, hike and play tennis.

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Anuradha Kodali

• Position: Doctoral student at UConn in Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Education: MS in Engineering

Anuradha Kodali, 26, is a doctoral candidate at UConn researching on systems optimization, specifically fault diagnosis of automotive and aerospace systems. In other words, she tries to identify factors that make aircraft and automobiles unsafe, so that engineers can fix it on time because an accident occurs.

 Nominated for the CTC award in the Collegian Innovation and Leadership category by her advisor, Prof. Krishna R. Pattipati, for developing fault diagnostic algorithms as part of her PhD research, Kodali said finds the practicality of her research and its immediate acceptance into the real world fascinating.

“These algorithms increase the efficiency of the diagnostic performance by isolating the exact root-cause. Practically, this implies reduction in on-site costs to customers. Another singular feature is their applicability in the detection of nuclear or biological terrorist plots in public spaces, land mines in large areas, and other security concerns, based on the influential factor-data. Thus, these algorithms not only offer monetary benefits, but also help in countering emergency situations by properly and rapidly detecting them and enabling the deployment of remedial actions,” she said.

Growing up in India, Kodali imbibed the idea that engineers had a responsibility to build a better word. “I was deeply inspired by M. Visvesvaraya, a famous engineer and scholar, and Homi J. Bhabha, pioneer in India’s atomic energy development,” she said. “My goal is to make my research as practically viable as possible so that it benefits lots of people and in turn society.”

 When she’s not working with machines, Kodali enjoying writing poetry in her native Telugu language. She also loves to read, especially non-fiction, and watches cricket and soccer matches.

 But that’s not all.

 “I also plan on studying economics and Indian philosophy in the future,” she said.

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Deborah Orosz

• Profession: Chemical Engineer
• Employer: Hamilton Sundstrand, Windsor Locks
• Job Title: Operating Effectiveness Manager
• Education: BS in Chemical Engineering, UConn; MS in Technology Management, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 

Growing up, Deborah Orosz, 43, was inspired by her mother’s Can Do attitude. “You can be anything you want to be,” Orosz was told consistently.

But she had to look no further than her family tree to pick a career path. “We had a number of accomplished engineers who led by innovation, including the founders of Standard Motors Construction, who built the first six cylinder gas engine in the U.S.,” she said.

After completing high school, she also had the opportunity to job shadow a woman who was a flight test engineer at Pratt & Whitney. 

“This experience changed my view of what an engineer looks like and solidified my decision to enter UConn as a chemical engineering major,” she said.

Orosz works at Hamilton Sundstrand’s Air Management Systems business, where she focuses on processes for greening the company’s products, as well as on processes to increase efficiency. 

“My work is about creating culture change, which I find exciting and rewarding. Changing the culture of an organization, the way people think and work, is a challenging undertaking. But it is exhilarating when you can step back and look at the progress and the way it is positively impacting people and the business,” she pointed out.

It’s also important to her to share her passion with others who are just starting out.

“I want to be a role model for young woman, so they can see themselves as engineering leaders,” she said.

Orosz is fulfilling her wish by being on the advisory board of the Academy of Engineering and Green Technologies at Hartford Public High School. Her employer’s parent company, United Technologies Corp. (UTC), supports the program.

“Working with the young students to expand their world view and encourage them to reach for their dreams has been an amazing experience,” she said. 

Orosz was nominated for the CTC award in the Business Innovation and Leadership category by her boss, Tom Pelland, Vice President  & General Manager of Air Management Systems, in recognition of three initiatives that she led at Hamilton Sundstrand.

• Reducing the environmental impact of the company’s products. 
• Leadership in ensuring compliance with emerging environmental regulations. 
• Successful outcomes in advancing an internal quality system called ACE.

Outside of work, Orosz said she has a high energy level and loves doing anything that keeps her active.

“I wake up every day and go out for a four-mile run before work. On Sunday mornings, I head into the woods with my dog for a run. I think the fresh air and exercise helps keep the mind focused and positive,” she said. “I also enjoy yoga and teach classes in my hometown of Granby. This is a great way to stay connected with the community and get to meet all types of people.”

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Teresa Cowles

• Profession: Systems Engineer
• Employer: Hamilton Sundstrand, Windsor Locks
• Job Title: Air Management Systems Requirements Engineering Manager
• Education: BS in Mechanical Engineering

Teresa Cowles, 49, loves challenging herself to constantly expand her technical skill-set and knowledge.

Her direct supervisor, John Maljanian, Manager of Air Management Systems, and the department head of her engineering organization, Matt Day, Director of Air Management Systems, nominated her for the CTC award in the Business Innovation and Leadership category, for her leadership and innovation in developing a new process in the area of requirements engineering, which has become the benchmark for the corporation.

“Hamilton Sundstrand has evolved into an integrator of Aircraft Systems (versus supplying components for an aircraft), which requires clear understanding, decomposition, and development  of requirements as well as the traceability that the product indeed meets these requirements. Having worked as a project engineer across multiple aircraft platforms, I have a solid foundation in what it takes to design and develop a new product/system, and have applied this to developing a key new process that will increase the productivity of the organization so that the right product is delivered to our customers,” Cowles explained.

As a kid, she was inspired by her father Robert Balinskas, an engineer in the Hamilton Sundstrand Space Land and Sea organization for 33 years.

“He loved his job. To this day he still fondly reminisces about the work and people from his career. I desired to study math in college, but was challenged by my father to study engineering. I chose mechanical engineering, which was what my dad studied, as I was good in both math and science. Engineering is the practical application of these disciplines, which is what he loved,” she said.  

Her first boss, Gerry Cosman, was also a role model and mentor.

“I worked for him for 10 years – something that’s unheard of today – and he taught me to be a good engineer, to question anything that didn’t make sense to me, understand that the documentation around a product is critical in proving its airworthiness, and allowed me to take on more and more responsibility leading to leadership positions,” she recalled.  

Down the road, Cowles hopes to continue making advances in developing and implementing a new requirements engineering process.

When she’s not working, Cowles loves to cook, quilt, and garden. She also enjoys reading spy and mystery novels. 

“Family vacations are centered around outside activities, specifically visiting National Parks, hiking and biking,” she said.

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Jeanne Larsen

• Profession: Software Engineer
• Employer: Hamilton Sundstrand, Windsor Locks
• Job Title: Senior Fellow, Discipline Lead for Software Engineering
• Education: BS in Computer Engineering, UConn; BS in Mathematics, UConn; MS in Engineering Management, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Systems Engineering Certificate, MIT 

As a kid, Jeanne Larsen loved math so much that she initially went to college intending to become a math teacher. But during one school break she visited her high school physics teacher, Leeland Cobb, who encouraged her to look at engineering.

“The rest is history. I found a technology area that I excelled at and a profession that I love. The challenge of problem solving and the technology is very rewarding to me. Every product is a new opportunity to learn and grow, and I love being a part of that,” she said.

A software aerospace engineer at Hamilton Sundstrand, Larsen is  developing embedded software that makes airplanes fly. She is also working on improving the critical processes that are used to develop and verify the software for quality and safety.

Her work in leading the organization’s software team’s development and certification of the Boeing 787 aircraft systems led Matt Day, Director of Air Management Systems, to nominate her for the CTC award in the Business Innovation and Leadership category.

Larsen said that down the road, she wants to be known as someone who values process and quality and is a strong advocate of continuous improvement.

Her interests include soccer, walking, biking, and being outdoors.

Learn more about Connecticut Technology Council and Women of Innovation awards atwww.ct.org/Women_of_Innovation.asp