Women in STEM 2026 highlights list spotlights 10 leaders across science and technology

The Women in STEM 2026 Highlights list features 10 women across engineering, physics, biotechnology, chemistry and genetics, with a goal of giving girls and young women visible role models in fields where women remain underrepresented. The list includes NASA astronauts, Nobel Prize-winning research, biotech founders and a genetics pioneer.

Why it matters: - Women make up roughly 30% of the global STEM workforce, but women hold less than 10% of leadership roles in many STEM fields. - The list is designed to help girls and young women see examples of women leading in science and technology. - The organizers say visible role models can make STEM careers feel more attainable for the next generation.

What happened: - The Women in STEM 2026 Highlights list was released on October 19, 2026. - The list spotlights 10 women across engineering, biotechnology, chemistry, physics and genetics. - The list and bios are available at the Women in STEM highlights site.

The details: - Two engineers on the list are also NASA astronauts: Jasmin Moghbeli and Christina Koch. - Moghbeli earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering with information technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. - Koch earned bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and physics, plus a master’s degree in electrical engineering, from North Carolina State University. - Anne L’Huillier, one of the physicists on the list, won the Nobel Prize in physics for work on ultra-short light pulses used to measure molecular processes. - Kersten Perez is an astrophysicist studying dark matter interactions using cosmic particles. - Three women on the list are biotech founders who have taken companies public and developed drugs for multiple diseases. - Sharon Mates founded Intracellular Therapies, led the company for more than 20 years and helped secure approval of CAPLYTA, a novel antipsychotic drug. - Shoshana Shendelman founded Applied Therapeutics, advanced drugs for rare diseases and heart failure, and is now CEO of Cyana Therapeutics, which is developing oncology drugs for solid tumors. - Rachel Haurwitz is a co-founder of Caribou Biosciences with Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna and has led the company for 10 years. - Less than 3% of biotech CEOs are women, and the share is even smaller at public biotech companies. - Michelle C. Chang is featured for synthetic methods that advanced halogenated natural products of medical importance and biomass conversion for energy and environmental science. - Chang’s work is being applied in areas ranging from biofuels to pharmaceuticals. - Zhenan Bao is featured for discovering the nano confinement effect of conjugated polymers in polymer blends. - Bao’s research helped establish the foundation for skin-inspired electronic materials and devices, including soft robotics and wearable and implantable electronics. - Nancy Wexler is highlighted for her role in the discovery of the gene that causes Huntington’s disease. - Wexler led a research team into a remote part of Venezuela, and the samples collected there helped locate the Huntington’s gene and create a genetic test. - Wexler has also held public policy roles and received awards for scientific research and public service.

Between the lines: - The list reflects a broader push to counter the long-standing perception that math and science are male-dominated fields. - The release argues that girls often lose confidence in STEM during secondary school when they do not see enough women in those careers. - The mix of astronauts, Nobel-recognized researchers, founders and policy leaders is meant to show that women are shaping STEM in multiple ways, not just one career path.

What's next: - The Women in STEM effort says the list is intended to keep expanding visibility for women in STEM and help shape future career choices. - The group is positioning the highlights list as an annual reference point for students, educators and aspiring scientists.

The bottom line: - The 2026 list uses high-profile achievements to make a simple case: more visible women in STEM can help grow the pipeline for the next generation.