When all the pieces fall into place, miraculous things happen. Hannah Davis is living proof. At 23, she’s a promising scientist and Research Associate at Pairidex, Inc., a company focused on pioneering blood cancer detection methods—potentially life-saving innovations for leukemia patients. Her journey, from a small-town high school to cutting-edge biomedical research, represents the full realization of BioSTL’s vision to change the world through innovation and education.
Hannah’s story exemplifies the profound impact of the Science Coach program, which began as a BioSTL effort to foster the next generation of STEM professionals. But support does not end there. Through BioGenerator, BioSTL’s startup arm, young companies have access to complex, sophisticated lab space and equipment to pursue early-stage innovation.
Just six years ago, Hannah was a high school junior in Hayti, Missouri, a small, struggling town of 2,500 in the bootheel. Her school, like many in rural areas, lacked the labs, equipment, and support systems necessary to inspire scientific curiosity beyond the basics.
Hannah had no ambitions of becoming a scientist; in fact, she didn’t even know such careers existed. That changed when her science teacher, Tiska Rodgers, saw her potential. “She was inquisitive, confident, and determined,” said Tiska. “I just let her be who she needed to be and gave her the opportunities she didn’t have. And Hannah ran with them.”
The turning point came during her junior year when Tiska showed the class a documentary about students competing at the international science fair. For the first time, Hannah saw kids her age doing groundbreaking research. Science became something she could pursue. Without access to a proper lab, she turned to bioinformatics, a computer technology that collects, stores and analyzes biological data. Her passion was so intense she often biked to a local fast-food restaurant to use their Wi-Fi for research.
Enter Jill Ott, Executive Director of Science Coach. Recognizing Hannah’s drive, Jill made it her mission to support her. Science Coach, a nonprofit organization, equips students and teachers with the resources needed for advanced research experiences. Jill secured a new computer for Hannah when her outdated one couldn’t run data-rich bioinformatics software.
The help from Science Coach opened never-imagined windows of opportunity. Hannah earned a spot at the international science fair, presenting her research to a global audience. The experience cemented her ambition to pursue biomedical science and earned her a scholarship to Washington University. There, under the mentorship of Dr. Andrew Young, Hannah conducted groundbreaking research on gene fusion pathways in blood cancers—work with significant clinical promise. He saw the path from academia to commercialization and pointed Hannah to BioGenerator who invests in promising companies and entrepreneurs.
Reflecting on her journey, Hannah credits her mentors and the continued support she receives to pursue the work. “They believed in me when I couldn’t see the possibilities myself.”
Now, as a scientist at Pairidex, Hannah is dedicated to paying it forward. “I think everyone from where I’m from—and schools like it—deserves the same chance I had. All they lack is opportunity.”
Science Coach and BioGenerator provide that opportunity to promising young scientists and their powerful ideas to change the world through innovation.
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