These women have significantly contributed to the STEM community by promoting the empowerment of women in STEM,  served as educators or mentors for young women in STEM, and continue to raise the awareness and importance of STEM in their communities.

Neha Kharche

Senior Research Chemist @ Function of Beauty

Neha Kharche is a Senior Research Chemist at Function of Beauty. She has over seven years of experience in the cosmetic industry and has worked with brands like L’oreal, Johnson and Johnson, and Cipla (global pharmaceutical firm) before Function of Beauty.

Her cosmetic industry experience includes research, development, and formulating a variety of products for skin care and hair care. She received her bachelor’s degree in Cosmetic Technology back in India and graduated with a Master’s degree in Cosmetic Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ in 2014.

When not working, she likes to keep busy. She enjoys hanging out with friends, go on hikes, and recently developed an interest in jigsaw puzzles and house plants. (She created a green corner in her house to help destress.)

Kimberly Arcand, Ph.D

Visualization Scientist, Emerging Tech Lead, Science Communicator

Dr. Kimberly Arcand is a leading expert in astronomy visualization and has been a pioneer in 3D imaging, printing, and extended reality applications with astrophysics data. Kim began her career in molecular biology and public health before moving to NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory in 1998.

She is an expert in studying the perception and comprehension of high-energy data visualization across the novice-expert spectrum, and is principal researcher in the Aesthetics and Astronomy image response research project with international participation. Her current projects include sonification of spatial data, screen-based holograms and other intersections of emerging technology and astrophysics. She has co-written seven non-fiction science books including her first two science-related children’s books that came out last year.