When Janhvi Dubey signed up for Intro to Architecture and Engineering, she didn’t know what she was getting herself into.

"I had never done anything related to engineering before high school," says Dubey, noting that her dad, a trained mechanical engineer, had urged her to take the course.

"I didn't have any female figures to look up to," she says. "I was always a really good student, but I wasn't exactly sure if I was built to be able to understand engineering and do tasks in that field. It was something in which I always considered myself to be inferior. I was timid."

So when, in that class, Dubey found herself to be the minority – in terms of both ethnicity and gender – she understandably felt intimidated.

"But then I realized I’m unique," she says. "Being a minority fueled me and pushed me to show everyone I was unique and I deserved to pursue engineering too."

And in trying to prove it to everyone else, she also proved it to herself.

FINDING HER VOICE

Shocked at how much she enjoyed engineering – and how good she naturally was at it – Dubey decided to pursue more opportunities in the STEM, science, technology, engineering and math, fields.

The summer after her intro class, she joined the Abbott team as a high school STEM intern working in global security. The next two summers, she continued as a high school intern, working in diagnostics and corporate engineering. She returned as a college intern, focusing on operations with Abbott’s molecular diagnostics division and this summer working in heart failure research and development in Pleasanton, Calif.

"I think all of the opportunities I’ve gotten at Abbott have been learning experiences," she says.

For example, she has toured research and development, manufacturing, diagnostic and medical device sites. She researched key biomarkers for diagnostic tests, studied company training plans and developed internal and external communications.

Now a student at the Georgia Institute of Technology, she credits Abbott mentors – specifically Beth McQuiston, M.D., R.D., Medical Director, Diagnostics – for helping her decide to major in biomedical engineering.

"Every person I've worked with has been important in helping me, shaping me and I think that’'s helped me so much in becoming who I am today," Dubey says.

McQuiston describes Dubey as team-oriented yet a leader and someone who sees both the big picture and the details.

"You can expect her to lead the way in science and in her community," McQuiston said. "I'm excited to see what Abbott interns like Janhvi will achieve with their scientific and engineering pursuits."

LEADING THROUGH SERVICE

As Dubey plans her college and professional career, she prioritizes opportunities for servant leadership, acting as an Abbott campus ambassador and a teaching assistant at her college. She hopes to secure a research position in her school's heart laboratory and find ways to help others through technology and robotics.

"The phrase 'each one, reach one' guides me in my goal to help people," Dubey says. "It reminds me of my duty to the community. Abbott invested in me as an intern, providing me meaningful academic and professional experience. I have the responsibility to give back to someone who deserves similar opportunity."