By Alana Tang
“One of the key things that I value most is always paying it forward,” said Dr. Herdeline Ardoña, assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine’s Chemical and Molecular Engineering Department.
This mindset has led Dr. Ardoña to adopt the role of a mentor and leader for her team in UC Irvine’s Ardoña Research Group, mirroring the guidance she received from her own role models in years past.
Growing up in the Philippines, Dr. Ardoña was exposed to the world of science from a young age. A mother in nursing, a father who encouraged engineering, and a grandmother who worked as a chemical engineer all served as her motivation to pursue higher education in science despite looming barriers; as both an immigrant and a woman, Dr. Ardoña faced the pressure of the stigmas attached to two defining aspects of her identity in science.
Yet, from a PhD in chemistry from Johns Hopkins University to a postdoctoral research position at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University to her position as an assistant professor at UC Irvine, Dr. Ardoña has striven to not only endure but excel in her studies.
“Seeing my family’s day-to-day passion and dedication has really molded me towards the type of scientist and researcher that I've become,” Dr. Ardoña said.
In her current research, Dr. Ardoña and her team focus on the applications of biomolecules and macromolecules in tissue modeling. Of particular interest to Dr. Ardoña’s group is the use of their engineered materials to explore cardiac cells and investigating their uses in research for various disciplines.
For instance, by using the molecules to create artificial scaffolds for lab-grown models of a heart, Dr. Ardoña’s group investigates the biophysics behind a real-life heart’s reactions to various stimuli as well as possible medical applications for the technology.
Dr. Ardoña highlighted the efficacy of an interdisciplinary approach in terms of solving modern scientific problems. Beyond that, however, she noted the joy she found in being able to work with the young scientists, describing it as “having the honor of training them.”
In that vein, Dr. Ardoña noted the importance of fostering a supportive environment for herself and her peers. To do so, she seeks out individuals for her research group who have a passion for science, dedication, curiosity, and strong teamwork skills.
“At the end of the day, we can do excellent research if everyone feels supported in the lab,” Dr. Ardoña said.
As a testament to her commitment to her lab team, Dr. Ardoña cited her proudest accomplishment to date as the opportunity to see her mentees succeed in their fields of choice and further the future of science. Her predictions for such new developments include more advanced tissue engineering, personalized medicine, and, of course, AI and machine learning.
Still, at the core of science, Dr. Ardoña believes that humanity—as in compassion and integrity, not merely physical humans—will persist.
As she herself said, “Behind every scientist is a human.”
