Shengrong Bu remembers spending many happy hours in her father’s lab. It was there she discovered her love of engineering.

“It’s great to think deeply about problems nobody has thought about before, and I discovered that I am good at it,” says the Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering.

Bu followed in her engineering professor father’s footsteps — a journey that has taken her from China to Australia and Scotland and finally to Brock’s Yousef Haj-Ahmad Department of Engineering.

An expert on energy system decarbonization, which involves switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, she uses artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalization tools to increase the penetration of renewable energy and ensure stable and sustainable power grids.

Bu’s path to where she is today was at times lonely and frustrating.

“Engineering is still a male-dominated field, and that often means being one of the only women in the room,” she says. “Despite these challenges, I have also found inspiring and supportive women to work with.”

Developing her network of women scientist colleagues has led Bu to develop a passion for mentoring girls and young women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). At one point, she served as mentoring co-chair in N2Women, an international network of women scientists supporting their junior colleagues.

She encourages girls to explore the engineering field through opportunities such as summer camps and young women who are starting their engineering research careers to connect with others.

“Get yourself a mentor. Build mentorships at different stages in your career, reach out to people to get the information and encouragement that will help you to grow and succeed,” she says.

In honour of International Women’s Day, scholars from Brock’s five other teaching Faculties are sharing tips — in their own words — on building successful research careers as women.

Antonia Mantonakis, Professor of Marketing in the Goodman School of Business, researches how people choose, buy and consume wine.

“Being the only female ‘full’ Marketing professor at Goodman, and the only person in the world who applies behavioural science to wine consumption, I’ve learned you must promote your research with the same dedication as you would to a business. If you’re the only person in your role, you call yourself ‘the first.’ Pinpoint what you’re ‘the first’ for and leverage your network. For example, I connected with my networks to share my insights as the ‘first female business professor’ keynote speaker at the 2026 Ontario Craft Wineries Conference. I’m ‘The Wine Psychologist.’ Previous keynote speakers, such as ‘The Food Professor’ and Dr. Damien Wilson from Sonoma, were all male.”

Behnaz Mirzai, Professor of History, studies the history of the Middle East in the 19th and 20th centuries, focusing on former African slave communities, their relationships with other ethnic groups and their influence in modern-day Iran and the Middle East.

“Women face numerous challenges in pursuing their research interests in many societies, including bearing heavy family and domestic responsibilities. My advice is that women should not be limited by personal duties, cultural biases and legal discriminations or societal expectations placed on them. I encourage women researchers to move forward with big ideas and strive for success. By demonstrating growth and strength in their career, women not only change their own lives for the better but also act as role models for other women researchers, family and community. A successful professional life can be created with their resilience and determination, enabling their personal life to flourish.”

Jaime Barratt, Assistant Professor of Educational Studies, researches how Early Childhood Educators can promote and foster physical literacy in young children.

“My advice to women considering or just starting out on a research career is to be strategic, confident and willing to take chances on yourself, even when you don’t feel ready. As you navigate the complexities of research and your field, you need to remain wildly curious and relentless in the pursuit of what matters to you. Surround yourself with people who challenge and support you; challenge stereotypes; and, most of all, advocate for yourself. Finally, it is important to raise others up. The most fulfilling part of this journey is being able to foster a space where more women, especially in undervalued fields like early childhood education, can thrive and lead.”

Janelle Joseph, Associate Professor of Health Sciences and Sport Management, studies racial justice, health and sport, including how physical activities are a means to enhance health and how sport, leisure, martial art and dance practices connect people to land, homelands and new identities.

“The key advice I give to women starting a research career is to clarify their mission and research questions to become effective leaders. Why are they interested in a particular topic, theory, method or community? What outcomes are they aiming for? Decision fatigue can hamper productivity. With all of the personal and professional demands for women’s time, and expectations to care for others, they need to make decisions effectively and efficiently to have time for what really matters to them. Getting really clear about their mission and research questions helps because then they can filter all decisions through what has already been stated as priorities, which makes leading easier. I always ask myself, does this request, opportunity or task align with a decolonial praxis? If so, leadership is easy.”

Karen Louise Smith, Associate Professor of Communication, Popular Culture and Film, conducts research that explores the themes of openness, privacy and participation in digital society.

“When I think about International Women’s Day, my first response is to make sure we’re thinking inclusively and applying an intersectional lens to all facets of our research work. For example, are our research processes safe and accessible to transgender and non-binary participants? Are we reflecting the lived experience of people who are part of Black, Indigenous and racialized communities in our research topics and results? In honour of International Women’s Day, my advice to junior researchers is to prepare to learn and to keep learning from the community.”