Ronin‘s Woman in Science Spotlight
Did you know that International Day of Women and Girls in Science was generated in 2015 after the inaugural High-Level World Women’s Health and Development Forum? This took place from February 10–11 and most of the distinguished guests and speakers at this forum varied across different levels from ministerial to professional. They were Women of Science and their impact was so great, that later that year it was declared that February 11th be International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Fast forward to 2023, women are increasing in their contribution to transforming the world through educational opportunity and scientific participation and preparation. Given the impact that Ronin has made and will continue to make in the Health Tech industry, it’s only fitting that we celebrate this special day and the brilliant women that inspire us to push our mission forward. Women are still underrepresented in STEM, which gives us all the more reason to highlight one of our very own!
Meet Dr. Sumana Srivatsa, Senior Data Scientist, ADS. One of the reasons she excitedly joined Ronin was because after participating in our Values & Culture Dive interview panel, she realized how much our values aligned with hers. “Navigate Ambiguity with Data”, “Always Be Designing”, and “One Team Same Dream” were just a few that resonated with her. As a data scientist, she is constantly striving to find the proof in a complex pudding, which requires learning from mistakes and building with an open mind. Of course, she also accredits her work to the team that she works with — one that is filled with diverse talents, and where every single person will go out of their way to help one another. Read on to learn about her journey in the science space, and some of her personal tidbits.
Q: How did you choose your field of work and did you have a role model that influenced your decision to work in science?
A: In high-school, I envisioned a career in the lab as a molecular biologist. But during my undergrad, I was drawn to courses focusing on math and statistics to explain biological processes. So, I decided to pursue my graduate studies in computational biology and by the end of my PhD I was convinced that I had found my calling at the intersection of statistics and medicine. I didn’t have one specific role model who influenced my decision. So many people have played direct and indirect roles in shaping my career choices, it would take an entire book to show my gratitude. But the generational progression of women in my life — from my grandma who had limited education opportunities, to my mother who travelled the world on business trips as a full-time working mother — is my constant source of inspiration to “break the glass ceiling”.
Q: Is there any scientific topic (outside of your field of research) that you think should have more scientific attention? Which one?
A: Women’s reproductive health issues are heavily under-researched and I think that’s a big overlooked opportunity in health care. I would love to see progress in this space!
Q: Upon joining Ronin, what scientific aspect of the company or your role were you most excited about?
A: I am really excited about my current project which focuses on developing data driven solutions for personalized cancer care. It’s a good blend of challenges in causal inference, personalized medicine, and real-world data, topics I enjoy intellectually and are important for driving our mission forward.
Q: What does our mission mean to you? and/or why does our mission resonate with you?
A: Ronin aims to develop data-driven solutions to improve clinical decision-making for cancer patients. Tied closely to their mission is Ronin’s value of “Service to Others Urgently”. This was apparent from my very first interaction with the Ronin team and continues to be a “North star” in all our decisions. Cancer upends the lives of so many and nothing makes me happier than knowing that my work can make a difference in their care.
Q: Besides your scientific interests, what are your personal interests?
A: I enjoy working on DIY projects. Of late, I’m into upcycling my household furnitures — there’s something very empowering about learning to use power tools! It gives me a great deal of satisfaction to build something tangible.
We are so lucky to have Dr. Sumana Srivatsa on our team and hope that her story has inspired you or other women in your life to carve a path in science. Yes, International Women & Girls in Science Day is officially on February 11th, but they should be celebrated EVERY day!
