Camila Meza is a scientist and process engineer working in the biopharmaceutical industry. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and her Master’s degree in Biopharmaceutical Process Engineering and is currently pursuing a second Master’s degree in Biotechnology Management. She is a polyglot, an active mentor with Latinas in Engineering and InspiraStem and a member of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering Delaware Valley Chapter.
I did not grow up knowing exactly what I wanted to do. All I knew was that I needed to go to college, get a degree, and succeed. That was the goal. That is what we are told is the American Dream. Go to school, get a degree, and everything will work out. But no one really teaches you how to do that.
I am first generation in the United States, so if I did not know how the system worked, my parents definitely did not know either. I do not blame them at all. We were all learning together. I just knew I needed to complete college and figure things out as I went.
As a kid, I did not think about who was missing from certain spaces. You are not thinking about the color of someone’s skin or whether they look like you. You are just a kid, living and learning. It is not until you become an adult that you begin to notice differences and patterns.
Growing up, I did not see many Latinas or Latinos in STEM, especially in science and engineering roles. As I moved forward in my education, that absence became more visible. I did not see many people who looked like me or understood my culture, and for a long time I did not even realize how much that mattered.
I started college studying Biology because I was curious about the human body and disease. For a long time, I thought medicine was the path for me. At the same time, I was always drawn to building and problem solving. Engineering interested me, especially because my father is a civil engineer, but I was often told it was not a career for women. I was encouraged to study nursing or dental hygiene instead because those were seen as more appropriate.
Even then, I knew I wanted something more challenging. I wanted to help people, but I also wanted to build, think, and create.
How I Found My Way Into Biopharmaceuticals
I did not always know I wanted to go into this line of work. I knew I wanted to do engineering in some form, and I knew I wanted to help people, but I did not know what that would look like.
Everything changed during my last year of undergrad when my mother was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. At that time, I became her primary caregiver. I drove her to appointments, picked up her medications, and helped manage everything while working full time and going to school full time. I was a student, an employee, and a caregiver all at once.
During that time, I felt like my dreams were done. I knew I needed a job that could make money in case my mother never recovered and I had to pause my studies. Stability became very real to me.
That is when I came across Biopharmaceutical Process Engineering. What drew me to it was that it combined engineering, medicine, and real world application. The program was short, it made sense, and it felt realistic for where I was in life. I applied hoping my mother would get a little better, and I was accepted.
One experience that truly solidified my interest was being sent to Ireland to study at the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training. Being immersed in an environment fully dedicated to bioprocessing was honestly amazing. Seeing how biopharmaceutical manufacturing is taught and standardized at a national level made everything click. That experience confirmed for me that this was the industry I wanted to be in.
From that point on, every day became a new opportunity. I continued learning, finding new interests, and slowly paving my own way in the field.
What I Do Now and What Has Been Hard
Today, I work as a scientist and process engineer in the biopharmaceutical industry. I support manufacturing and process development and help ensure therapies can be produced safely and consistently.
One of the hardest parts of this job has been dealing with imposter syndrome. A lot of the time I work with people who have doctoral degrees or more experience than I do, and I sometimes feel like I am not enough or that I do not belong.
But the reality is that I do belong. I remind myself that I bring certain qualities that set me apart. This industry is tough. There will always be someone with better internships or more schooling. What I have is determination and tenacity, and that has carried me far.
What I also appreciate about this field is how flexible it is. There are so many paths you can take. You can work in the lab, in clinical settings, in regulatory affairs, in teaching, or in management. There are many niches. A lot of the time you can teach someone a technical skill, but you cannot teach someone how to work with people. That is where the difference lies.
Representation and Finding Community
As I progressed in my career, I became more aware of how few Latinas and Latinos I saw around me in science and engineering spaces. Once I noticed it, I could not unsee it. There were not many people who shared my background or understood my culture, and at times that felt isolating.
Because of that, I intentionally started looking for Latinas and Latinos in STEM on social media. I wanted to see people who looked like me doing the work I hoped to do. I started by finding one person, then another, and slowly that turned into a growing network.
That network made a difference. It reminded me that I was not alone and that representation matters, even if you do not realize it at first. Finding community helped me stay grounded and motivated, and it showed me how powerful visibility can be. That experience is what pushed me toward mentorship and outreach, and why I now make an effort to be visible for others who are still searching.
Looking Ahead and Why Mentorship Matters to Me
When I think about the future, I see myself in leadership. I enjoy working with people, guiding them, and mentoring them. The idea of having a team really interests me because it combines science with human behavior and psychology.
I have had negative experiences with management before, and I do not want others to feel unsupported or unheard the way I once did. I truly believe work culture is shaped by leadership, and I want to be part of creating healthier environments.
That is why I stay involved as a mentor with Latinas in Engineering and InspiraStem. Even after programs end, I believe mentorship should continue. I am also a member of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering Delaware Valley Chapter, and I am currently pursuing my second masters degree in Biotechnology Management.
Advice I Would Give to Others
I truly believe there is no right or wrong way to start. In my experience, I just got started. I did not know about internships or teaching assistant roles until my last year of college. All I knew was that I needed to finish school and keep moving forward.
My advice is to learn about anything that makes you curious or draws your attention. Follow that curiosity. That is often how doors open.
For young girls especially, I want you to know that you can be feminine and still be smart. There is a stigma that you cannot be woman-like and intelligent at the same time, especially in male dominated fields. You can be a wife, a sister, a partner, and a woman in STEM. One role does not cancel out the others.
For Latinas pursuing STEM, this journey is long and challenging. You might not see many people who look like you or understand your culture at first, and that can feel discouraging. Keep going anyway. Remember that you might not see representation now, but you may be the reason someone else sees it in the future.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camila-meza-hernandez-4aabb9126/
Instagram:@16cameza
TikTok: @camilus396
Links: https://latinaengineer.com/
I did not grow up knowing exactly what I wanted to do. All I knew was that I needed to go to college, get a degree, and succeed. That was the goal. That is what we are told is the American Dream. Go to school, get a degree, and everything will work out. But no one really teaches you how to do that.
I am first generation in the United States, so if I did not know how the system worked, my parents definitely did not know either. I do not blame them at all. We were all learning together. I just knew I needed to complete college and figure things out as I went.
As a kid, I did not think about who was missing from certain spaces. You are not thinking about the color of someone’s skin or whether they look like you. You are just a kid, living and learning. It is not until you become an adult that you begin to notice differences and patterns.
Growing up, I did not see many Latinas or Latinos in STEM, especially in science and engineering roles. As I moved forward in my education, that absence became more visible. I did not see many people who looked like me or understood my culture, and for a long time I did not even realize how much that mattered.
I started college studying Biology because I was curious about the human body and disease. For a long time, I thought medicine was the path for me. At the same time, I was always drawn to building and problem solving. Engineering interested me, especially because my father is a civil engineer, but I was often told it was not a career for women. I was encouraged to study nursing or dental hygiene instead because those were seen as more appropriate.
Even then, I knew I wanted something more challenging. I wanted to help people, but I also wanted to build, think, and create.
How I Found My Way Into Biopharmaceuticals
I did not always know I wanted to go into this line of work. I knew I wanted to do engineering in some form, and I knew I wanted to help people, but I did not know what that would look like.
Everything changed during my last year of undergrad when my mother was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. At that time, I became her primary caregiver. I drove her to appointments, picked up her medications, and helped manage everything while working full time and going to school full time. I was a student, an employee, and a caregiver all at once.
During that time, I felt like my dreams were done. I knew I needed a job that could make money in case my mother never recovered and I had to pause my studies. Stability became very real to me.
That is when I came across Biopharmaceutical Process Engineering. What drew me to it was that it combined engineering, medicine, and real world application. The program was short, it made sense, and it felt realistic for where I was in life. I applied hoping my mother would get a little better, and I was accepted.
One experience that truly solidified my interest was being sent to Ireland to study at the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training. Being immersed in an environment fully dedicated to bioprocessing was honestly amazing. Seeing how biopharmaceutical manufacturing is taught and standardized at a national level made everything click. That experience confirmed for me that this was the industry I wanted to be in.
From that point on, every day became a new opportunity. I continued learning, finding new interests, and slowly paving my own way in the field.
What I Do Now and What Has Been Hard
Today, I work as a scientist and process engineer in the biopharmaceutical industry. I support manufacturing and process development and help ensure therapies can be produced safely and consistently.
One of the hardest parts of this job has been dealing with imposter syndrome. A lot of the time I work with people who have doctoral degrees or more experience than I do, and I sometimes feel like I am not enough or that I do not belong.
But the reality is that I do belong. I remind myself that I bring certain qualities that set me apart. This industry is tough. There will always be someone with better internships or more schooling. What I have is determination and tenacity, and that has carried me far.
What I also appreciate about this field is how flexible it is. There are so many paths you can take. You can work in the lab, in clinical settings, in regulatory affairs, in teaching, or in management. There are many niches. A lot of the time you can teach someone a technical skill, but you cannot teach someone how to work with people. That is where the difference lies.
Representation and Finding Community
As I progressed in my career, I became more aware of how few Latinas and Latinos I saw around me in science and engineering spaces. Once I noticed it, I could not unsee it. There were not many people who shared my background or understood my culture, and at times that felt isolating.
Because of that, I intentionally started looking for Latinas and Latinos in STEM on social media. I wanted to see people who looked like me doing the work I hoped to do. I started by finding one person, then another, and slowly that turned into a growing network.
That network made a difference. It reminded me that I was not alone and that representation matters, even if you do not realize it at first. Finding community helped me stay grounded and motivated, and it showed me how powerful visibility can be. That experience is what pushed me toward mentorship and outreach, and why I now make an effort to be visible for others who are still searching.
Looking Ahead and Why Mentorship Matters to Me
When I think about the future, I see myself in leadership. I enjoy working with people, guiding them, and mentoring them. The idea of having a team really interests me because it combines science with human behavior and psychology.
I have had negative experiences with management before, and I do not want others to feel unsupported or unheard the way I once did. I truly believe work culture is shaped by leadership, and I want to be part of creating healthier environments.
That is why I stay involved as a mentor with Latinas in Engineering and InspiraStem. Even after programs end, I believe mentorship should continue. I am also a member of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering Delaware Valley Chapter, and I am currently pursuing my second masters degree in Biotechnology Management.
Advice I Would Give to Others
I truly believe there is no right or wrong way to start. In my experience, I just got started. I did not know about internships or teaching assistant roles until my last year of college. All I knew was that I needed to finish school and keep moving forward.
My advice is to learn about anything that makes you curious or draws your attention. Follow that curiosity. That is often how doors open.
For young girls especially, I want you to know that you can be feminine and still be smart. There is a stigma that you cannot be woman-like and intelligent at the same time, especially in male dominated fields. You can be a wife, a sister, a partner, and a woman in STEM. One role does not cancel out the others.
For Latinas pursuing STEM, this journey is long and challenging. You might not see many people who look like you or understand your culture at first, and that can feel discouraging. Keep going anyway. Remember that you might not see representation now, but you may be the reason someone else sees it in the future.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camila-meza-hernandez-4aabb9126/
Instagram:@16cameza
TikTok: @camilus396
Links: https://latinaengineer.com/
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