Maddy Sibula

General Info

What will be your most valuable contribution to your TechWomen host company?

The most valuable contribution to my company will be my work ethic. Being born and bred in Zimbabwe, I believe I have learned to be resilient and to stand against the harsh pressures that rise against women. I am a person who believes in working hard to achieve my goals and I try to learn very fast, especially if I am given a task beforehand. As an African, I believe my cultural beliefs will also stand out. We are African, we have ubuntu, which will be my most important contribution.

The Top Three Things I Would Like to Learn or Experience During my Mentorship

1. Learn about newer technologies that utilize bioinformatics, gene editing and other molecular techniques to control diseases
2. Expand knowledge of how to start up a science-based business/lab for solving community problems in agriculture
3. Develop networking skills and collaborate with other leaders in the field of biotechnology research

Mentorship Characteristic

• Have exposure to the company culture
• Participate in a skills-building course, either provided by my mentor’s company or identify a free resource online
• Focus on leadership skills building
• Have exposure to specialized industry techniques
• Exposes me to new tools and platforms

Ideal Company Type

I would like to be exposed to a company that has high tech equipment in biotechnology that may be involved in vaccine development, veterinary or medical research. A lot of research and product development would also be involved with a large lab set-up where several scientists work on newer technologies including CRISPR and establishing bio-banks for future analyses. The company should also possibly do a lot of bioinformatics and genetic diversity studies of human and animal disease.

Additional Technical Skills

Molecular biology and PCR techniques; analyzing sequences and constructing phylogenetic trees; develop feed formulations for domestic animals to fight off parasites; complete histological sections of parasites and animal organs

What are three adjectives that best describe you in the work place?

1. Goal-oriented
2. Curious
3. Serious

What impact will your mentorship have on your career and professional path?

I am one person who has always been confined and chained by a low self-esteem and self-doubt. I think this will help me re-configure the way I do my research and to live in a fuller way. This will go a long way in enhancing my ability to interact with other professionals and to know that my contribution to the science field, no matter how small, means a lot. My career has been stagnant for long; I think this exposure will enable me to increase my network and collaborate more with international professionals resulting in an improvement in my career.

After participating in the TechWomen program, how will you leverage your mentorship experience to make an impact in your home country?

I have always wanted to work with girls in research, particularly from rural areas. I believe that the TechWomen experience will give me exposure to high-tech equipment and consequently help me to set up my own research lab where I will work with girls and members of the community. I have always wanted to set up a bio-bank and library for parasites in the National Museum. This experience will give me the confidence and necessary boost to do so. Setting up these with the help of girls will be a monumental reminder of what girls in STEM can accomplish.

Work History

Years of Full-time Work Experience

9

Primary Professional Focus

• Bio or medical technology
• Individual contributor leading innovation
• Scientist and researcher

Education History