Miss Next Century 2023 - Morgan Romano

Morgan Romano is an American chemical engineer. Romano was first runner up in the 2022 Miss USA pageant and assumed the title of Miss USA 2022 when R'Bonney Gabriel won the Miss Universe pageant. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) from the University of South Carolina in 2020 with a focus in chemical engineering.

Romano has used her platform as Miss USA to promote STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math) and STEAM subjects (STEM + Art), particularly with young women. Her interest in STEM began during her teenage years when she was also very involved with dance competitions and explored design interests such as fashion.

Romano continues to advocate and serve as a role model for STEM and STEAM by sharing her passion for engineering and fashion, demonstrating that scientists are diverse in their interests and experiences. She works with organizations and projects such as Best Buddies International, Project Scientist, and STEM Girls Change the World to inspire new generations of women to explore STEM careers. She has also partnered with Faron Medhi, Miss Teen USA 2022, to support Smile Train, the world's larges cleft-focused nonprofit.

Morgan Romano was named Future-ish's 13th Miss Next Century in 2023.

Social Media

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>> Facebook: morgan.romano90
>> Instagram: @officialmorganromano
>> LinkedIn: Morgan Romano

Additional Reading

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• Lee, K. (2023, January 26). Engineering alumna uses beauty pageants, philanthropy to inspire STEM interest in young girls. University of South Carolina.
• Malbrough, M. (2023, March 12). Concord native who won Miss USA breaking stereotypes and making a difference. WCNC Charlotte.
• Minevich. M. (2022, May 2). Beauty, Brains, AI And Fashion: Miss USA And Chemical Engineer Morgan Romano Empowering Girls In STEM. Forbes.

SeanChron | Bill Nye, From Stylish Scientist to Cause Model for Prostate Cancer Awareness

February 9, 2020. Bill Nye the Science Guy proved once again that scientists can be stylish. Nye took part in the 4th Annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show hosted by the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The event invites designers to reinvent the traditional men's blue jacket and brings together the fashion, entertainment, sports, and media worlds to raise awareness and funding for prostate cancer research. Nye is wearing a design by Nick Graham.

Read the full story here:

• Kacala, A. 2020. Bill Nye struts down catwalk in viral video. Today

High Style for Highest Honor in Science

May-Britt Moser and Matthew Hubble. Image credit: Geir Mogenand/NTNU.
Back in 2006, Future-ish set out to, among many other things, make scientists celebrities on par with actors and athletes. There has certainly been a lot of evidence of exactly this happening since that time but a recent development may be the best realization of this dream yet...a scientist and fashion designer collaborated to create a stunning gown worthy of any red carpet. Indeed, worthy of a Nobel Prize winner.

In December 2014, University College London's John O’Keefe and Norwegian University of Science and Technology's May-Britt and Edvard Moser (why yes, they are married) were awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering neuron "grid cells" that serve as a system in the brain for spacial positioning, essentially the brain's GPS system.

With this news, British engineer turned fashion designer Matthew Hubble, saw an opportunity to create a special couture gown for May-Britt Moser. Hubble approached Moser with the idea, she agreed, and the resulting Grid Cell Dress is a peace of sartorial art that both rises to the Nobel Prize Ceremony occasion and serves as a unique communication tool that is sure to engage whole new audiences in groundbreaking science.

In the video interview in Manaster's article list below, Hubble comments on the collaboration:

"if we can get more fashion communicating more science to more people and widening the talent pool that might be interested in a career in science or engineering, then its a great thing to know that I can inspire people, as well as role models such as May-Britt."

Read more about Moser and Hubble's collaboration in the linked articles below.

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• Ash, S. 2014. Today, Dr. May-Britt Moser from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) accepts her Nobel Prize in true startorial style. The STARtorialist.
• Boyle, A. 2014. Neurons Inspire Nobel Laureate May-Britt Moser's Dress. NBC News.
• Manaster, J. 2014. Glittering Nobel Gown Represents Scientists Work. Scientific American.
• McNally, V. 2014. One Nobel Recipient Accepted Her Prize Wearing A Gown Covered In Neurons That She Discovered. The Mary Sue.

Stylish Scientist | Heidi K. Smith

Future-ish is excited to promote a project of Olya Yarychkivska on her blog, Lunarka's Treasure Box. Each week, Olya posts a real life stylish scientist. This week, Olya selected UT-Austin behavioral ecologist, Heidi K. Smith. Follow the hyperlink above for more pics and bio.

Sceleb | Igor Stagljar

Image credit: Sam Motala via U of T News
Igor Stagljar is a Canadian molecular biologist and Professor of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry at Donnelly Centre (CCBR) located at the Medical School of the University of Toronto. Born and raised in in Croatia, Stagljar received a BA from the University of Zagreb in 1990 followed by a PhD in molecular biology from Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich in 1994.

Stagljar's research has led to many groundbreaking discoveries and the elucidation of functions of various membrane proteins involved in human health and disease. His current studies are exploring how cell signaling and membrane transport pathways control cell behavior in normal and cancer cells. In addition to participating in sports and making wine as a hobby, Stagljar is also a co-founder of Dualsystems Biotech Inc, one of the world-leading companies in the field of interactive proteomics.

Stagljar first appeared on our Stylish Scientist List in 2014...with quite a Debut. He took the #1 spot on the men's list.

Environmental Health Scientist | Vanessa Galaviz

Vanessa Galaviz is an American environmental health scientist.

Galaviz completed degrees at San Diego State University and UC Diego and received her PhD in Environmental & Occupational Hygiene in 2013 from the University of Washington.

She has always had a strong interest in understanding and addressing the environmental health of minority and low-income communities. Her graduate work fell well within this area, researching diesel exposure among pedestrians who cross the US–Mexico border in San Ysidro, CA. The cross-border findings have already helped establish a biomarker for diesel exposure and has already been used by San Ysidro to consider policy changes.

Galaviz has already received multiple awards in her career, including the Casa Familiar ABRAZO Award in 2011, the the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Volunteer Award in 2012, and the Gilbert S. Omenn Award for Academic Excellence in 2013.

In addition to her academic work, Galaviz is very active in the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) and is passionate about inspiring high school and undergraduate students, especially minority students, to pursue science as a career. She is famous at for her ability to organize field trips and lab visits for budding scientists and uses any national meeting she may presenting her work at to also network with and recruit prospective students.

Computational Biologist | Holly M. Bik

Holly M. Bik is an American computational biologist. Bik completed her BS in Biological Sciences at Kings College in London in 2005 and her PhD in Biology at University of Southhampton in 2010. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis.

Bik is currently the primary investigator (PI) or Co-PI on multiple projects and has authored a long list of publications. She is an advocate of social media in the sciences and a strong proponent of the Open Access movement. Bik writes for several science websites and also authors Haute Science which connects her interest in art, fashion, and science.

Bik has appeared on our Stylish Scientist List since 2012 and expect to see her there for many years to come.

>> Eukaryotic Ebullience Blog
>> Haute Science Blog
>> Online Lab Book
>> Twitter: @Dr_Bik

Biochemist | Antonio E. Serrano

Antonio E. Serrano is a Chilean biochemist. Serrano received his BS in Medical Technology in 2001 and his PhD in Biochemistry in 2010, both from the Universidad de Chile. Serrano served as a teacher, lecturer, and researcher on multiple projects before his current position as postdoctoral researcher at the Universidad Catolica del Norte working in microbial nanobiotechnology.

Serrano is also Founder and President of Haimaitier Institute in Copiapó, Chile, a nonprofit research and development institute focused on the high-desert Atacama region and its distinct nature and culture.

When not doing research or running the nonprofit, Serrano can also be found on stage playing rhythm guitar and singing vocals for Morphonica.

Genetics & Development PhD Student | Olya Yarychkivska

Olya Yarychkivska is a Ukrainian PhD student in Genetics & Development at Columbia University. Prior to Columbia, Yarychkivska completed biology degrees at Manor College and Drexel University. In addition to her academic work, Yarychkivska is a musician and artist. She is passionate about environmental issues and volunteers in many community organizations.

Yarychkivska is also the creative mind behind Lunarka's Treasure Box where, among many and diverse topics, she started "Stylish Scientists" a weekly series on stylish researchers she comes across in her work.

Yarychkivska landed on our Future-ish Stylish Scientist List in 2013.

Science Diplomat | Marga Gual Soler

Marga Gual Soler is a Spanish cell biologist turned science diplomat, science advocate, and STEM activist. A self proclaimed "scientist without borders" she is passionate about science diplomacy and promoting women in science.

Gual Soler grew up on the small Spanish island of Mallorca located in the Mediterranean and traces her interest in science back to age 12 when she started reading science books in her villages small library. Gual Soler completed BS and MS degrees in biology at the University of Barcelona and then her PhD in molecular cell biology from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia in 2013.

In addition to her coursework and research with the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland, she joined their Science Ambassadors Program. But it was her work after her PhD, with an international NGO that provided science education programs across many countries, that she fully realized her interest in the role science cooperation and diplomacy can play in human health and environment issues in international development. In 2013, she solidified her own science and policy skills by completing a high-level internship with the United Nations in New York City that culminated in opportunities to attend and present at UN agency meetings in Geneva and Paris.

Gual Soler's science activism is most apparent when the topic of inspiring women and girls to pursue STEM careers...she is an eager advocate and networker on the subject and is an expert at channeling the power of social media around the challenge.

Outside of her science diplomacy and promotion efforts, Gual Soler is an international traveler and an avid scuba diver having explored "underwater paradises" of Australia, Bali, Borneo, Cuba and Mexico.

Perhaps most impressive of all, at least for us here at Future-ish, is that she landed the #2 spot on our women's 2013 Stylish Scientist List...in her first year on the list!
Congrats Marga, we can't wait to see the great things you will accomplish in your career!!!

Sceleb | Crystal Dilworth

Crystal Dilworth is an American molecular neurologist. Dilworth completed her BS in Biochemisty at UC San Diego and is currently a Molecular Neuroscience PhD student at Caltech.

Already an accomplished rythmic gymnast, violinist, ballet dancer, and choreographer before college, it was an internship at Scripps Institution of Oceanography that convinced her that science was "cool". Later, while pursuing ballet at the Ailey School of dance in NYC, it was chemistry seminars at Columbia University that made her realize her interest in science as a career.

A true renaissance woman, Dilworth is happy to prove that you can do it all. In addition to her academic work, she continues to dance professionally and has dabbled in acting and edutainment. She is the host of FailLab on TestTube, a Discovery Digital Network and was a lead character in the Caltech student-produced film, PHD Movie. She is also part of the creative team that produces PHD Comics.

One thing that spans all of Dilworth's work is her passion for breaking stereotypes and inspiring young people to pursue STEM subjects. This fact comes across quite well in Dilworth's presentation at the 2013 TedXYouth at Caltech below:



Dilworth debuted on our Stylish Scientist List in 2013. Just a guess but she'll probably be there again in the future. And again, and again, and again.

>> TEDxYouth: The Myth of the Scientist
>> Twitter: @PolycrystalhD

Sceleb | Iva Tolić-Nørrelykke

Image credit: Christopher Ing via Fresh Photons
Iva Tolić-Nørrelykke is a Croatian biophysicist.

Tolić-Nørrelykke earned her Diploma in Molecular Biology in 1996 and her PhD in Molecular Biology in 2002, both from the University of Zagreb in Croatia. Along the way she also conducted research at Harvard and the Niels Borh Institute in Denmark and completed post-doc research at the European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS) in Italy. Since 2005, she has worked at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Germany as a Research Group Leader and a Senior Research Group Leader. Her work now focuses on microtubules and motors in cell division.

When not leading experiments or other academic work, Tolić-Nørrelykke can likely be found at the beach, sailing, traveling, or appreciating some good music.

Tolić-Nørrelykke was named on our Stylish Scientist List for 2013.

Bioethics Researcher | Kelly Edwards

Kelly Edwards is an American bioethics researcher. Edwards completed her BA in Philosophy at Occidental College in California, her MA in Medical Ethics at the University of Washington (UW), and then her PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, also at UW. She is now an Associate Professor in the Department of Bioethics and Humanities at the UW School of Medicine and core faculty for the UW Institute for Public Health Genetics. Edwards became Associate Dean of UW The Graduate School in 2013.

Edwards serves leadership roles in multiple centers and studies at the UW including the Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health and the Center for Genomics and Healthcare Equality among others. Edwards is particularly passionate about community-based research practices, biobanking governance, environmental justice, ethics in research and training practice, feminist and narrative approaches to bioethics, science outreach and engagement, and public policy.

Edwards was named on our 2013 Stylish Scientist List.

>> Twitter: @EngagedEthics
>> Website

Sceleb | Pardis Sabeti

Pardis Sabeti is an American computational geneticist. Born in Tehran, Sabeti's family moved to the US from Iran when she was four years old.

Sabeti completed a BS in biology at MIT where she was also class president and a member of the varsity tennis team. She was Rhodes Scholar at Oxford and received a doctorate in evolutionary genetics in 2002. In 2006, Sabeti completed a MD, summa cum laude, at Harvard Medical School. Sabeti is now an associate professor Harvard University in the Center for Systems Biology and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. She also holds positions at the Harvard School of Public Health the Broad Institute.

Sabeti's awards include a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award in the Biomedical Sciences, a Packard Foundation award in Science and Engineering, and an NIH Innovator Award. She also received awards from NIAID, TMTI, and the Gates Foundation and is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, a PopTech Science Fellow, and a National Geographic Emerging Explorer.

Firmly in the 'rockstar scientist' category, Sabeti is also the lead singer and writer for the alternative rock band Thousand Days.

Sabeti also debuted on our Stylish Scientist List in 2013.

Stylish Scientist | Lizzy Harley

Future-ish is excited to promote a project of Olya Yarychkivska on her blog, Lunarka's Treasure Box. Each week, Olya posts a real life stylish scientist. This week, Olya selected London-based evolutionary biologist Lizzy Harley as her muse. Follow the hyperlink above for more pics and bio. It just so happens that Lizzy has her own stylish scientist blog, Scientist Chic, so make sure to surf over there too.

Stylish Scientist | Elena Luccheta

Future-ish is excited to promote a project of Olya Yarychkivska on her blog, Lunarka's Treasure Box. Each week, Olya posts a real life stylish scientist. This week, Olya selected her first post-doc to profile, Dr. Elena Luccheta. Follow the hyperlink above for more pics and bio.

Stylish Scientist | Kara Marshall

Future-ish is excited to promote a project of Olya Yarychkivska on her blog, Lunarka's Treasure Box. Each week, Olya posts a real life stylish scientist. This week, Olya chose Kara Marshall as her subject, a PhD student at the Columbia School of Medicine. Follow the hyperlink above for more pics and bio.

Stylish Scientist | Sam Galindo

Future-ish is excited to promote a project of Olya Yarychkivska on her blog, Lunarka's Treasure Box. Each week, Olya posts a real life stylish scientist. This week, Olya chose Sam Galindo, a PhD student in Genetics & Development, as her sartorial subject. Follow the hyperlink for more pics and bio.

Digital Innovation Researcher | Cathy N. Davis

Cathy N. Davidson is an American English Professor, digital innovation researcher, and institutional change consultant.

Davidson received her BA in Philosophy and English from Elmhurst College in 1970 and then completed her MA and and PhD in English at the University of New York-Binghamton by 1974. Davidson conducted postdoctoral research in linguistics and literary theory at the University of Chicago. She has also received honorary doctorates from Elmhurst College and Northwestern University.

Davidson was a Professor of English at Michigan State University from 1976 to 1989 and served as visiting professor at universities around the world for several years in England, Japan, and Spain. She joined the faculty at Duke University as a Professor of English in 1989. Today, she holds two prestigious chairs at Duke, the Ruth F. DeVarney Professor of English and the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies. Her academic and consulting work focuses the history of technology, collaboration, cognition, innovative learning-applications, virtual communities, digital literacy, and new media.

Davidson has served in leadership positions at Duke and held many external leadership roles as well, including the role of Editor of American Literature from 1989 to 1999. She has received numerous grants, fellowships, and awards which has supported her efforts to bridge the humanities and social sciences with natural sciences. In 2010, she was appointed to a six-year term on the National Council on the Humanities after being nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate. In this role she has been a passionate advocate for including the arts in efforts to develop better STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education.

Davidson was named on our Stylish Scientist List in 2012 and 2013.

>> Twitter: @CathyNDavidson
>> Wikipedia

Sceleb | Feryal Özel

Feryal Özel is a Turkish astrophysicist. Özel completed her BS in Physics and Applied Mathematics at Columbia in 1996 and her MS in Physics in 1997 at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen. She received her Phd in Astrophysics from Harvard University in 2002. Özel is currently an Associate Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Arizona. She is the recipient of many awards and fellowships and published numerous articles on a variety of topics. Özel is also very interested in sustainable energy and participates in the Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy (ARISE).

In addition to her academic work, Özel has written articles for mainstream press and appeared on CNN International and several TV shows including the Universe series on History Channel and Big Ideas on PBS. Özel also worked with Louis Vuitton as a spokesperson to support women's literacy in the Middle East. In 2010, Özel also served as a spokesperson for a Louis Vuitton women's literacy campaign. 

Özel has been on our Stylish Scientist List since 2012. She was also added to our PISA List and Citizens of the Next Century List in 2013.