ROLE MODELS

GEERAT VERMEIJ

Job Title: Distinguished Professor of Paleobiology and Evolutionary Biology

Disability: Blindness

Why did you want to work in STEM?

Enormous curiosity about science from early childhood.

What’s your favourite thing about your job or about working in STEM?

Doing research, writing, and teaching.

What are your top tips for a disabled young person interested in STEM as a career?

Curiosity; a good education; hard work; asking interesting questions; reading lots of books and papers; putting facts and ideas together; engaging with peers, experts and assistants.

What advantages has your disability given you in your field?

I detect tactile details that others might overlook.