· Sharvari Narendra, M.S. , Saba Nafees, Ph.D. , Amulya Shastry, M.S. , Dina Issakova, Ph.D. · Podcast · 39 min listen
A Coffee with Lorena Pantano: science, community, and the work that connects them
Lorena Pantano on AI, allyship, and building community in bioinformatics.
In this episode of A Coffee with CompBio, we sit down with Lorena Pantano - a bioinformatician with about two decades of experience, founder of Boston Women+ in Bioinformatics, and co-founder of the Health Integrity Project. We talk about her journey through computational biology, how the field has shifted over the years (AI included), and the work she’s done to build community and open doors for others along the way. Fittingly for Pride Month, we also dig into what allyship looks like in science. A conversation about the work, the why, and what comes next.
As part of our conversation, we also highlight two initiatives that reflect the mission Lorena discussed throughout the episode: creating opportunities for women in bioinformatics and building a more supportive, inclusive scientific community. These efforts include our upcoming Fall Fundraiser, which helps support programs and networking opportunities for women in data science and bioinformatics, and the Advocacy Committee’s “Return to Work” panel, aimed at helping professionals navigate career transitions after a career break. Both initiatives stem from the organization’s ongoing commitment to addressing barriers in STEM and fostering professional growth through mentorship, advocacy, and community engagement.
Boston Women+ in Bioinformatics Fall Fundraiser:
Boston Women in Bioinformatics is hosting our Fall Fundraiser on September 29th, focusing on the impact that data scientists with female-lived experiences bring to health data analysis. The evening will include a panel discussion, dinner, and networking with academic and industry professionals. We’re actively looking for sponsors. Head to our Fall Fundraiser page to learn more or reach out about getting involved.
Boston Women+ in Bioinformatics “Return to Work” panel:
The BWIB Advocacy Committee is looking for women in the Bioinformatics field to join our “Return to Work” panel in October 2026 (Date TBD).
We are looking for professionals to share their experiences after having taken a break in their careers, whether it was voluntary or involuntary (also includes professionals who were on maternity leaves). We are hoping that your experience will help women going through the same right now and give them a direction on how they can navigate their careers. If you are interested in being a panelist, please fill this form.
Application deadline: August 31, 2026 at 11:59 pm EST
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saba-nafees/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharvarinarendra/ Go through all the podcast episodes on the Boston Women in Bioinformatics website: https://boston-wib.org/category/podcast If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe and leave us a review.
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Thanks Amulya Shastry for editing and management support, Dina Issakova for the cover art, and Valisha Shah and Elyse Loveman for social media support.
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