Jo Dos Santos Dias
“Don't be afraid to ask for what you want - the worst they’ll say is no and you’ve probably heard that before anyway.”
I speak 4 languages. I love African and Spanish dance. Novelas, or soap operas, are my guilty pleasure and way of staying connected to my culture. I moved to the US from Cape Verde as a highschooler and didn’t know any English. As a Black, immigrant, Queer woman, I have to constantly fight stereotypes and defy odds. I run day-to-day logistics and teach students about the work going on in a biotech lab. I am a STEAM Education Coordinator.
I am the STEAM Education Senior Coordinator at Vertex Pharmaceuticals. If you’ve ever attended a field trip at a local STEM facility, I might have been the person running the show (or someone with a job like mine). As a student, you might hop on a bus, check out some lab equipment, meet some scientists, and do some cool activities – but what you don’t see is all of the work that goes on behind the scenes to make that possible. That’s where I come in. On an average day, I might do anything from arranging transportation details to setting up the class schedule and laboratory equipment to coordinating with teachers to make sure our goals align. I also help with recruiting other people who work at our company as volunteers to help teach courses or give behind-the-scenes talks or tours. I also get the special honor of selecting the students who are chosen for our summer internship programs. My job has a lot of moving parts, but my favorite part is actually teaching the classes. That’s when I get to really connect with the students and show them the amazing possibilities of working in biotech. I get to dive into the science, and also help provide students with a deeper understanding of diseases that might disproportionately affect their communities, and what we’re doing about that.
Believe it or not, I was once one of the students on the very same tours I now lead! My "aha" moment occurred during a school field trip to Vertex. I was amazed by everything that goes on in the lab and fascinated by the real world impact that access to new treatments can have on individuals, families, and whole communities. For example, throughout history (and in some cases still today!), many racial and ethnic minorities in the United States have been excluded from or underrepresented in clinical trials. This means that members of these groups often had more limited access to life-saving medicines, and the research didn’t always reflect the needs of everyone. My company is working on diseases such as sickle cell, which disproportionately affects the Black community. To reduce the gap in knowledge and treatments, we prioritize directly engaging these communities more in our clinical trials. It’s a small but really important step towards equity in healthcare. As an educator, I believe that the programs I lead can show students how this industry might relate to their own goals, just like it did for me. And as a Black woman, an immigrant, and a member of the LGBTQ community, I believe that sharing my perspective on STEM and sparking personal connections with my students can inspire and motivate others to see themselves in biotech careers.
I grew up in Cape Verde, off the coast of West Africa. My childhood memories are rooted in my love of running around barefoot in the sand and between the dirt jungle roads. School was my happy place of learning, but it was also challenging to grow up so far away from my mother, who left when I was very young to pursue the 'American Dream.' I was raised in part by my mother’s friend, who became a second mother to me, and throughout school I would help her sell pastries in my free time, which taught me a strong work ethic. As I made my way through high school, I enjoyed dancing and playing soccer. Although I worked hard and excelled in school, I didn't have my sights set on college or any particular career. When I was 17 years old, it was finally time for me to move to the US to join my mother. I was about to graduate high school in Cape Verde, however, when I arrived in the States, I was sent back to the 10th grade because I didn’t speak English. I remember experiencing a strong “culture shock” when I arrived, even down to the way that people greet each other with a handshake here versus a kiss on the cheek and big hug in Cape Verde. Despite this, my hard-working and odds-defying spirit helped me stay focused and patient as I built a new path for myself in a new country. After that impactful field trip my school took to visit Vertex, I started interning at the company every summer and set my eyes on attending university. I was awarded a Posse Scholarship and other scholarships that I applied for, which allowed me to go to college in New York without accumulating debt. Initially, I was a biochemistry major, but organic chemistry didn’t feel like a match for me, and I decided to change my major to biology. I was always interested in issues outside of STEM as well, and double majored in gender studies, with a minor in Spanish language. Throughout college, I continued interning at Vertex, which helped me build the network and gateway that I needed to land a part-time job while finishing my senior year. Ultimately, it was that one field trip that led me to where I am today.
I absolutely love to dance traditional African dance and Spanish dance styles. On most evenings, you can find me reliving my childhood through watching Novelas, or soap operas. I enjoy cooking Brazilian food and baking cakes. I have a goal to see all 50 states and travel to many countries around the world. I value spending time with my friends and family and we are always looking to try new, fun things to do.
I was about to graduate high school in Cape Verde, and then I moved to the US and was pushed back to sophomore year because I didn’t speak English.
Take advantage of the resources already available to and around you. There might be more than you realize. Make connections with people, and don’t hesitate to ask them to help you find your next opportunity. A lot of opportunities in STEM come from building relationships and trust over time, so getting to know a company through internships or research experience can go a long way. And never hesitate to go to the big meetings where the decision-makers are, and bring your best self to the table.
