Mercedes Taylor came face to face with herself as a life-size statue on the National Mall and thought, “Is that how tall I am?” Somehow, the height was more of a shock than the statue’s neon orange hue.  

The assistant professor in UMD’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is one of 120  women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) now being honored on the Mall and a number of Smithsonian museums in a temporary showcase. “#IfThenSheCan—The Exhibit,” part of the Smithsonian’s “Women’s Futures Month,” will run through March 27, coinciding with much of Women’s History Month.

Lei Chen, Alicia Kollár and Pratyush Tiwary were recognized for their distinguished performance and unique potential to make substantial contributions to their field.

Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a technological breakthrough in analytical neuroscience: the ability to profile the proteins inside of a single live neuron.