CT tech group honors women of science

ROB VARNON rvarnon@ctpost.com
Article Last Updated: 02/01/2008 08:47:10 PM EST

One leads an international pharmaceutical company's new drug discovery lab. Another is in charge of improving the chances of surviving attacks for helicopter pilots and passengers. A third, the youngest and still in high school, has already worked on laboratory studies of drug abuse, AIDS and Alzheimer's.

These three area residents were among the eight women the Connecticut Technology Council recognized for pioneering advances in the state during the fourth annual Women of Innovation Awards program Wednesday.

The annual ceremony was conceived as a way to find leaders and encourage innovation in the state.

Anshika Kaushik, a senior at Fairfield Ludlow High School, was the youngest award recipient, earning the Youth Innovation and Leadership prize. She also received the $1,500 Jana Moak Scholarship from the council. Kaushik has already logged an impressive amount of time in laboratories.

"I was really shocked and still am," Kaushik said Friday. She admitted she hadn't prepared a speech for the night and winged what Connecticut Technology Council Membership Director Michael Scricca called an impressive and well-received presentation. Kaushik said what really stood out were the accomplishments of the other women honored that night, and the call to bridge the curiosity gap in the upcoming generation made by the event's keynote speaker Sigal Zarmi, GE corporate financial services chief information officer.

Kaushik said she believes there are some students who aren't always focusing on the sciences or other pursuits for the right reasons. She said some teachers complain their students are just doing these things for college or just for grades, rather than because they are curious or inspired.

But she admitted her actual experience with her peers doesn't necessarily back this theory. "I haven't seen too much of it," Kaushik said. "Most of the people I see are active." She said she knows plenty of students who are enthralled with politics or other pursuits, including the sciences.

As for her future, Kaushik said she's always wanted to be a doctor, but she's thinking of pursuing a career in biomedical engineering.

"She's an outstanding student academically, but she goes above and beyond," said Christina Caron, a counselor at Ludlowe who recommended Kaushik for the prize. "She just spends countless hours trying to help people through research. She doesn't do it to better her rsum, she's really interested."

In the summer of 2006, Kaushik worked in two St. Louis-based Washington University labs. In one she studied collagen and how it reacted and in the other she learned about interviewing techniques involved in a study of drug abuse among women.

The award recipients were chosen from a field of finalists and Kaushik beat out three other high school students in her category.

In the professional categories, their peers nominated the field of competitors and a panel of judges selected the winners.

Dr. Sheenah Mische, a Ridgefield resident and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceutical's director of translational sciences, took home the top prize for Community Innovation and Leadership.

Mische's department is responsible for using new technology to discover drugs. She was also honored for being involved in community programs aimed at spurring more interest in the sciences.

In what may have been the most competitive field, Stratford resident Suzan DeGarmo was recognized for her work as Sikorsky Aircraft's lead survivability engineer.

DeGarmo came out on top of a strong field of 16 other scientists and engineers in the Large Business Innovation and Leadership category.

She also won United Technologies Corp. bragging rights by edging out competition from UTC sister companies Pratt & Whitney, UTC Power and Hamilton Sundstrand.

DeGarmo leads Sikorsky's efforts to improve the safety of its helicopters when they come under direct attack. According to the council, DeGarmo's work was instrumental in a number of Sikorsky programs, including Joint Aircraft Survivability Program, Joint Combat Assessment Team and the Army Aircraft Shootdown Assessment Team.

Norwalk resident Deborah Moss was selected the Entrepreneurial Innovation and Leadership Award. Moss founded Avalence, a Milford company that developed hydrogen-generating equipment to produce nearly emission-free fuel for transportation and power.

The other winners were:

Erin Lavik, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, Yale University, New Haven, won the Academic Innovation and Leadership Award.

DeCarol Davis, U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadet, New London, won Collegian Innovation and Leadership Award.

Diane Jorkasky, vice president of Global Clinical Research Operations, Pfizer Inc., New London, Research Innovation and Leadership Award.

Kristin Muschett, president and chief executive officer HABCO Inc., Glastonbury, won Small Business Innovation and Leadership Award.

Rob Varnon, who covers business, can be reached at 330-6216.