Meet OSTEM’s ‘Woman in Science’ Dr. Beverly Girten
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, or OSTEM, aims to engage students in NASA’s mission with an emphasis on the four pillars of STEM: science, technology, engineering and math. One OSTEM scientist has transcended a spectacular career within the work of science and innovation, but her favorite part is sharing that wonder of discovery with students. Meet Dr. Beverly Girten, OSTEM’s manager of informal education and engagement.
For Girten, her interest in science and exploration began as a child growing up in the suburbs of Dayton, Ohio. Girten’s mother served as a registered nurse and army officer in World War II, instilling the importance of science, curiosity and understanding the world around us in her daughter at a young age. Girten loved exploring the outdoors and living creatures around her home with her siblings. She also loved sightseeing in museums and at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. A short distance away, Girten had access to the largest air force museum in the world.
Girten’s desire to explore only grew with the Apollo Moon landing during her middle-school days. Although she was always fascinated with space, it was then she decided she wanted to be a scientist and work for NASA. This, too, coincided with when she started facing some forms of gender inequality. In addition to her passion for science, Girten loved to run and had a talent for track and field. In the seventh grade, she clocked the fastest time for the 600-meter dash in the school. Around the same time, the school announced they were looking for interested students to join the track-and-field team. When walking into the meeting, however, the coach asked what she was doing there. Despite being the fastest runner in the school, she was a girl — and it was a boys’ team.
Girten faced a similar scenario during her undergraduate studies. There, again, was no women’s intercollegiate track-and-field team. But this time she had Title IX on her side, and she got the university to establish the first women’s intercollegiate track-and-field team at the school. Girten carried this dogged determination into her professional life. Always an admirer of those who broke glass ceilings and pushed boundaries, she wanted to make a difference.
Later, Girten earned a bachelor’s of science degree in biology from Miami University in Ohio, a master’s degree in exercise physiology from the University of Akron and a doctorate from Ohio State University with an emphasis on cardiovascular physiology. Throughout her science studies, Girten made sure to complete education courses that would allow her to get teaching certifications in science. She loved doing science and research, but also wanted to take that knowledge and make an impact on young people.
After earning her bachelor’s degree, Girten spent four years coaching and teaching high school biology. As she shifted to a more research-focused career, she remained involved in activities that would allow her to work with the younger generation, such as promoting STEM in schools and taking her nieces and nephews to museums and other STEM-based activities. Upon obtaining her master’s and doctorate degrees, Girten went on to a post-doctoral fellowship with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and then served on the faculty of Wright State University School of Medicine. She received funding to do research for pharmaceutical companies. During this time, she connected with the inventor of Dobutamine, a drug used to treat heart failure (and used to treat her own mother), who worked for Eli Lilly and Company pharmaceuticals. After he left Lilly, he founded a new pharmaceutical company based in San Diego, California, and offered Girten a job.
During this time, Girten’s mother’s health was declining. Though she had been receiving treatment through their local Veterans Health Administration, San Diego had better treatment options. Girten accepted the job and brought her mother with her. While in San Diego for eight years, Girten’s real-world STEM exploration flourished. She started as manager of Pharmacology and advanced to senior director of Biology and Strategic Research. She obtained 14 patents, oversaw a clinical trial, was involved in identifying which chemical compounds were successful for a variety of treatments and eventually became the employee with the most time under her belt at the company.
Girten fulfilled her lifelong dream when she landed at NASA’s Ames Research Center, where she worked as a space life scientist, branch chief, acting division chief and, later, deputy director of International Space Station utilization. At Ames, she had the opportunity to lend her efforts on 14 different space flight missions, interact with astronauts during onboard experiments and attend launches to load experiments on the spacecraft. After a decade contributing directly to NASA’s missions, she moved on to more strategic aspects within the Center Director’s Office. A few years later, when she came to NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on a detail for the Office of the Administrator, she ended up staying.
Today, Girten calls OSTEM home. Her role allows her to continue her lifelong passion for education. Inspiring the next generation of scientists and explorers is a priority for Girten, who hopes to reignite the excitement the Apollo Generation experienced within the Artemis Generation. Despite the hard work that goes into achieving one’s goals, she still maintains that passion is the most important factor.
“Make sure that you choose something you are very passionate about, and that you want to spend a large part of your life pursuing,” Girten said. “You can be good at something, (and) you can be the best at it; but, if you don’t have the passion for it, you might not stick with it.”
OSTEM is committed to creating unique opportunities for students to contribute to NASA’s work in exploration and discovery and in building a diverse future STEM workforce by engaging students in authentic learning experiences with NASA’s people, content and facilities.
More information on how to inspire the young minds in your life can be found here.
