On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we spoke with Susanna Zucca, Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of enGenome, about her journey, her motivations, and her perspective on the future of women in science.

What motivates you most about working in science today?

What motivates me most is working in this field at a time when science, medicine, and technology have matured enough to unlock transformative discoveries with real-world impact.

Being able to contribute during this pivotal moment, and to help shape what comes next, is why it matters for the women and girls entering the field now.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to a young woman considering a career in science?

Step into the uncertainty anyway: breakthroughs come from learning as you go, paired with hard work, big vision, and scientific precision.

From your perspective as a CSO, what has changed for women in science, and what still needs to change?

Science and technology have become increasingly open to anyone with clarity of purpose and intuition, regardless of gender, and this is something I’ve experienced firsthand.

There is still room for improvement, especially at senior levels, but I believe a merit-driven approach is a model that should extend well beyond science into many other fields.

How did your journey in science begin?

In high school, I interned at a biomedical engineering university, where I was introduced to the idea that the genome could be understood through data. That was the moment I first fell in love with understanding how things work.

Today, as a mother of two young girls, that early curiosity is paired with a strong desire to help build a more equitable world in science and beyond.

What led you to choose your career path?

I entered science at a moment of transition. In 2004, I chose biomedical engineering because it was already clear that genomics would profoundly shape medicine and biology in the years to come, shortly after the first draft of the Human Genome was released.

In 2009, I began a PhD in bioengineering and bioinformatics, motivated by the arrival of next-generation sequencing and the emerging need to tackle the growing complexity of genomic data.

What challenges have you observed for women in science today?

The challenge today is less about access and more about retention. Too many talented women leave before reaching senior roles due to structural barriers that still favor linear career paths.

While support around family and flexibility is slowly improving, leadership systems must continue to evolve to retain and value diverse career trajectories.

What words of encouragement would you share with young girls considering STEM?

Trust your curiosity and don’t be afraid of complexity. STEM is built by people who ask questions before they have all the answers, and your perspective can shape what comes next.

At enGenome, we believe that scientific progress depends on diverse perspectives, rigorous thinking, and the courage to ask difficult questions. Encouraging more women and girls to pursue careers in science is not only a matter of equity, but of innovation and quality. The future of genomics will be shaped by those who combine curiosity with precision, and we are committed to supporting an environment where talent can grow, contribute, and lead.