Transcribed from an interview with Maria Kibtia, a BRAC University scholarship recipient, who is determined to improve lives through science.

My name is Maria Kibtia.

I grew up all over Bangladesh. My dad had a government job so we moved around a lot. It was an exciting childhood. I wasn’t locked up in a small space — I was exposed to different people, different cultures and religions. When I was a teenager, we came to Dhaka, the capital of the country. In high school, we started experiencing financial losses when my dad retired. Then he passed away.

We were getting by, but it wasn’t enough to put me in a university like BRAC. It’s a private school, and costs are high. I needed to find the right opportunity to get there.

Without the scholarship, I never would have been able to attend a school like BRAC University. Since I enrolled, I have maintained a perfect GPA. I’m involved in a lot of extra curricular activities, but my passion is biotechnology. I’m currently studying bacteria in the lab. One of the professors in my department knows how earnestly I work and how passionate I am to get one or two papers published. BRAC has been really kind to me. I really want to do even better in my life.

What motivates you?

It’s not just about myself. It’s for the community, for the world, for my family. I believe if I can work hard enough, and if I’m supported enough, I can make a difference. I don’t know if I’m talented enough, but I’m willing to work hard and give 200 percent for science.

Those people who discovered life-saving vaccines ­– they are humans like me. If they can do it, why can’t I? In order to get into a good postgraduate program, I’ll have to do really well here. If I can make a scientific breakthrough, that could help so many people.

Who do you look up to?

Even in the US, they can name hundreds of male scientists; but other than Marie Curie, how many female scientists can we name? There are a lot of female scientists in Harvard Medical, but they aren’t recognized. I really want this to change.

The girls — we do have some barriers, especially in Asia. Girls get more involved in household activities rather than pursue a career. If it’s not really paying well, it’s avoided.

If girls want, they can actually convert this into an advantage. Many girls don’t have to worry about covering their expenses if they’re part of a household. She can work just for science. I really want to pass on this idea that girls should be more into research and guys should take more responsibility for the family.

Maria Kibtia in the lab at BRAC University, Bangladesh.

Does your family support you?

My family is very supportive of me. I have to mention about the contributions my mother and sister do. They help me a lot. Usually, during the school days, I leave home at 7am and I come back at 8 or 9pm. I do classes, lab work — and my mother doesn’t even sleep at night so that she can cook for me, so that I have a healthy lunch. They are my motivation, they keep me alive. Another reason I want to do good is so that the world knows I am her daughter.

What is your advice to others?

I would say don’t let a single failure daunt you, step out, explore: This is what science means! Maybe you won’t find what you thought you were looking for, but you’ll definitely find something.

Another person that motivated me a lot is Marie Curie. I was an introvert growing up. I couldn’t make a lot of friends. I would be sad and alone. My mother would let me read books on all the great personalities and adventurers. And, by reading those books, I became acquainted with amazing ladies.

Marie Curie, she inspired me the most. We have the same first name. She also faced similar situations: Her family was well off in the beginning and then faced financial losses and bad health. But, she never gave up, and she dedicated her life to science. She never stopped. That sort of unselfishness and sacrifice, it seemed surreal growing up. How could someone be so dedicated?

But even though she is dead, we still admire her. She wasn’t doing it for glory or money. She worked for the people. She inspires me, and my mother inspires me.