Molly’s Bio
Molly Janasik is a Test Engineer at the University of Arizona where she tests detectors for the NASA spacecraft NEO Surveyor set to launch in 2026. She works hands-on with NASA flight equipment and also writes both the acquisition and test software for the project’s detector testing purposes. She is very excited to be getting hands-on experience working on a NASA mission fresh out of college and would love to work on human space exploration projects in the future. Her dream is to become an astronaut and be a force for good in the STEAM community encouraging and inspiring people, especially women, to want to make a positive difference in the world and make sure they have the tools necessary to do so.
She received her bachelor’s degree in Physics from Michigan State University where she presided over several clubs including MSU’s chapter of the Society of Women in Space Exploration (SWISE), Chaos Dance Team, and MSU’s chapter of AIAA. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Systems Engineering from The University of Arizona and continues to support her passion of dance.
WITH GROUPS CREATING PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE FEMALES TO CONSIDER STEM, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST BARRIER TO ENTRY THAT IS STILL PREVALENT TODAY?
It's so great how many new programs, clubs, organizations, etc. there are that encourage women to join STEM! These clubs provide community and in turn give women confidence in themselves and their abilities which is so important. And although there's been much improvement in women's involvement in STEM, we still have a long way to go. The biggest barrier we women face is the aversion to change. This goes for companies, organizations, and society in general that prefer to do things as they have always been done with the people who have always done them. This makes it hard for women who are trying to get into male-dominant fields and succeed, but we must not let this discourage us and just keep trying. To quote Michelle Obama, "when they go low, we go high." We also need companies and organizations to embrace change and include women more, preferably judging everyone based on performance and what they bring to the table instead of who they are or what they look like. This is when real change will happen.
WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU?
There are so many amazing men and women who inspire me every day. First and foremost are my wonderful parents because they have always been so loving, accepting, and encouraging of me and all the crazy things I've wanted to do with my life. I have never thought I couldn't do or be something because I grew up with so much confidence in myself and my abilities, and it's all thanks to my parents. They are both so kind, generous, fun, hard-working, and everything I want to be when I grow up.
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT/ACCOMPLISHMENT?
My proudest accomplishment would be starting the Michigan State University Chapter of the Society of Women in Space Exploration (SWISE) last year before graduating and seeing it bloom into what it is today. I was so lucky to meet the wonderful women at MSU who were also interested in aerospace and see them take their SWISE platform to new heights, especially the new president Katelynn Ehlert who has done such wonderful things this year. You can see more of what they are accomplishing at @msuswise on Instagram.