Harford

Susan Yim about age 30, working at a computer

Susan Yim, biologist, was featured in the 1996 Maryland Women at Work educational kit, produced by the Maryland History Project, a precursor to the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center. The kit was designed to teach students about women’s history and accomplishments.

Read a 2004 feature that summarizes her story and her work in ensuring website accessibility for individuals with disabilities: Life After Stroke, Proficio, by Michele Wojciechowski, Spring 2004

Here is a summary of an interview with Susan Yim at the time:

Career Experience: I have worked as a biologist/researcher at several medical centers, and am currently employed by the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Harford County.

Career Responsibilities: My duties include mainly literature research, data review and analysis, and manipulation of scientific databases. Typically a work day consists of spending 6-8 hours at the computer. Since I work at home, I first call into the APG base (via modem), check my e-mail messages, and “talk” to my supervisor on the mainframe computer to get weekly or monthly assignments. I then proceed to research the appropriate databases or reference lists.

Career Choices: My family and most of my friends are medically/scientifically/health-oriented, so I just naturally gravitated to this field. I also had some terrific biology teachers from high school through graduate school who served as very positive influences. Additionally, I think that science, more than any other area, offers such huge diversity and opportunity – it would be difficult not to find some aspect appealing. I worked briefly as a computer programmer in the summer of ’91 at the Martin Marietta company.

Due to a debilitating stroke (details below), I spent a year at the Maryland Rehabilitation Center, during which time I completed the Computer Programming course offered there. Because I could no longer participate in “hands on” science, it was hoped that some kind of link could be developed for me between computer and the research I was previously engaged in. I have found science (and, hopefully, all fields in this day and age) to be absent of gender prejudice.Career Preparation

I have a degree in biological science, and training in computer programming. I also plan to complete a master’s program in molecular biology. Additionally, for my current job, it was necessary for me to become very familiar with navigating the Internet and associated database.

My advice – not only for science, but for any field is: Keep going to school – forever. I don’t think it’s possible to ever learn too much. Continuing education will make you a more interesting happier, and always more employable person.

Future Plans: I would like to supervise my own research rather than just supporting someone else’s projects.

Additional InformationI had a brainstem stroke 14 years ago, when I was 23, resulting in quadriplegia and an inability to talk. There was a large gap in both my educational and career history from 1981-1991. I currently reside with my parents at their home in Timonium. I work out of my home, as previously described, operating the computer with special thumb – switches which I use to input Morse Code. The code is translated into English letters on the screen with special software.

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