Diandra Martínez Cano •  Process Scientist

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I am a

PROCESS SCIENTIST

Diandra Martínez Cano

Presented by the AMGEN FOUNDATION
MY LIFE
MY PATH
MY WORK
FOR YOU 
MY PATH

How I became a visual designer, MENTOR & process scientist.

MAJOR INFLUENCES

  • My Parents

    I was torn between studying art and science, and my parents, who were both college-educated, encouraged me to explore science degrees.

  • Farm Field Trip

    During a field trip to a local farm, we were introduced to microbiology, and seeing how tiny organisms impacted the environment had a big impact on me.

  • Peruvian Amazon

    I grew up surrounded by incredible plants and animals, and nature was a big inspiration for me. I was also motivated by seeing the pollution that was damaging it.

  • Mentors

    I had a few great teachers and mentors over the years that really encouraged and supported me. Having others to turn to for advice opened a lot of doors for me.

It can be powerful to lean into our differences.

Growing up, the things that made me different became the things that guided me to the life I wanted. Now as a scientist, my creativity, culture, and unique perspectives are a strength. I see things a little differently that the people around me, and that helps me find solutions to problems that may be outside the typical box.

Major Milestones

Field Trip to Farm.

During high school, my class was invited to a local farm to learn about microbiology in plants, specifically diseases that were infecting local farms. This opened my eyes and piqued my interest in this subject. I was also inspired to tell my family about things that could be affecting our crops.

Earning my Degrees.

Getting research experience during my undergrad in Lima, Peru led to the internships I needed to get a scholarship for graduate school. That funding and support made my studies possible.

Amgen + PhD Program.

Moving to California and getting my job at Amgen was a huge transition for me. Now I get to do the work I love while also pursuing a rigorous PhD program where I can continue to grow.

Things I learned

along the way:

  • Embrace your failures.

    You can’t have success without it. Failure is an opportunity to learn something. Our job in STEM is often just as much about figuring out what doesn’t work as it is about figuring out what does. And it can be hard! Failure is inevitable, we might as well embrace it.

  • Keep your options open.

    I changed my mind a lot throughout my path in science. I knew I loved microbiology, but then got really interested in using bacteria to clean up oil spills. And that experience led me to bioreactors, which led me to Amgen. Each chapter had its own flavor, and I learned how important it is to stay open to new opportunities, and people!

  • Be patient with yourself.

    English is not my first language, and I struggled with my language skills for a long time. I didn’t want that to hold me back, and I realized there are a lot of people in STEM all around the world. I wasn’t the only one who was still learning. It was so much more important to put myself out there and try.

MY WORK →

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Tandem Photo • Illustrator: Nicole Medina

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