Dr. Jo Handelsman first peered into a microscope at the age of 12 and became fascinated with science. Dr. Handelsman is committed to fostering the future of women and underrepresented persons in STEM, promoting science to serve the public, and conducting groundbreaking research. As a plant pathologist and microbiologist, she has made vast contributions to scientific advancements in metagenomics, soil science, antibiotic discovery, and much more. She received the Presidential Award for Science Mentoring in 2011 and has served as an expert leader in many roles, including a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor at UW and Yale, the Associate Director for Science under President Obama’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, and now as the Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery.