VT College of Science Magazine Annual 2014 | Page 15

“The high level of commitment and travel is not always appealing to
people who may be planning to have a family,” she said. “Part of the
decline in diversity as people move through the pipeline to become
professors at Ph.D.-granting institutions is the lack of mentors and
role models. When I joined Virginia Tech chemistry there was one
other female faculty member and no minority members. My unique
background made this a comfortable setting for me. Despite what
people want to say, if you don’t see someone else you can relate to
who is doing a job you are considering, it’s difficult to believe this is
a good career path for you.”
To help students, Brewer tries to make them see what they’re attempting is doable, and at the same time help them understand they
need to enjoy what they’re trying to do.
“I pass along that it’s doable, but most important for students is to
find something they’re passionate about,” she said. “The fact you got
admitted to Virginia Tech means you can do it. That’s not a question.
I’ve had a reasonable number of grad students move on to academic
positions and post-docs. I don’t think there’s a better job (than academics), and them seeing my view on my job, that is helpful.
Brewer’s own research is largely centered on light-activated drugs,
specifically to treat cancer, and on solar energy. Brewer’s work is
funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department
of Energy’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences.

“I have Crohn’s Disease and I spent a lot of time in hospitals. This
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