Shoshana Levy touched countless lives in myriad ways: as a visionary scientist, a generous collaborator, a devoted mother and partner, and an inspiration to many. For Anne Wojcicki, Shoshana’s influence was particularly resonant, helping to shape her life and career—and, ultimately, inspiring her to make a generous gift to Stanford in Shoshana’s name.

The mother of Anne’s closest childhood friend, Shoshana demonstrated an endless quest for knowledge and embodied the principles of equality and mutual respect both in marriage and the workplace—values that have guided Anne ever since. “We kids would be in the kitchen washing dishes after dinner, and Ron and Shosh would be sitting together in the living room, reading scientific publications and discussing the articles,” Anne says of her friend Karen’s parents, Ron and Shoshana Levy. “This was at a time when it wasn’t all that common for women to be working in science, or to have equality in the workplace and at home. Yet Shoshana was just as influential as Ron was in both areas. That had a huge impact on me.”

While Shoshana’s impact on Anne was profound, her contributions to science and academia were equally remarkable.

Breaking Barriers in Medicine and Mentorship

A former professor of medicine in the Division of Oncology at Stanford, Shoshana Levy, PhD, is renowned for having identified a family of proteins called tetraspanins, which affect how cells move, divide, and interact with other cells. This family of proteins is thought to be involved in cancer metastasis and may be a target for future cancer therapies. Shoshana, who passed away in November 2022, worked in a lab adjacent to that of her husband, Ronald Levy, MD, who is the Robert K. and Helen K. Summy Professor in the School of Medicine.

Beyond her work in the lab and her groundbreaking discoveries, Shoshana was a mentor to countless students, fellows, and early-career faculty at Stanford. Her experience as a woman pursuing a career in science, while juggling the demands of parenthood, inspired her to encourage other women to do the same—and to make the path for them easier to follow.

“Young people need to have role models who teach them how to dream,” says Anne, who received a biology degree from Yale University and went on to found a company that revolutionized consumer-driven genetic testing and research. “Shoshana was that role model for so many people, and certainly for me.”

A Deeply Personal Gift to Honor a Family Friend and Mentor

Following Shoshana’s passing, Anne wanted to find a way to honor the person who had such a profound influence on her both personally and professionally. Knowing that Shoshana was passionate about supporting women in science and had long chaired the Katharine McCormick Advanced Postdoctoral Scholar Fellowship to Support Women in Academic Medicine, Anne decided to create a lasting gift in Shoshana’s name. And so the Shoshana Levy Early Career Awards to Support Women in Science came to be.

With a goal to support the advancement of women in science, the awards were established in November 2023 and were designed to be very broad and inclusive. Not only are they open to postdoctoral students, instructors, and research scientists in any field of science, but the awardees are allowed wide latitude in how the award funds are used, such as for stipends/salaries, health care premiums, travel, and other approved expenses. What’s more, while most awards have strict time restrictions based on when a person’s degree was conferred, the funds from the Shoshana Levy Early Career Awards can be used over an extended period of time: up to one or two years, depending on their use. They will be awarded to two scientists annually.

Perhaps one of the most notable features of the Shoshana Levy Early Career Awards is that as an endowed gift, they will be available in perpetuity. “This ensures expanded opportunities for people pursuing careers in medical research forever,” says Ron, who, along with his three daughters, remains close with Anne and worked with her to design the parameters of the awards. “Not only will they provide crucial funding to help attract and retain the best advanced degree candidates from around the world, but they will have an impact on future generations, helping to develop the scientific leaders of tomorrow.”

Two Stellar Scientists Recognized

The first two awardees are, as Ron says, the exact type of scientists Shoshana would have been proud to support. Belgin Yalcin, PhD, is an instructor in the lab of Michelle Monje, MD, PhD, the Milan Gambhir Professor of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at the Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences. And Xiaoyu Chen, PhD, is a research scientist in the lab of Sergiu Pasca, MD, the Kenneth T. Norris, Jr. Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

Belgin’s research explores the role myelin plays in brain function, particularly as it relates to cognition and memory. Her recent work reveals how opioids hijack myelin’s adaptive process, contributing to addiction. This discovery not only sheds light on the mechanisms of addiction but also deepens our understanding of myelin’s involvement in the brain’s reward system, which is linked to various neurological disorders.

Xiaoyu, meanwhile, studies genetic variants that are associated with brain disorders. Using stem cells to create models that help her understand these disorders better, Xiaoyu’s goal is to use this knowledge to develop new treatments for brain-related conditions.

Both awardees say the flexibility of the award funds has been incredibly helpful, allowing them to carry out their work more easily and efficiently by allocating resources where they are most needed. For Belgin and Xiaoyu, that includes everything from salary support to equipment purchases and travel to conferences—even ancillary expenses. “One very thoughtful detail about this award is that the travel budget can be used for childcare, which has been very helpful for me as a new mother,” Belgin says.

Adds Xiaoyu: “Thanks to the amazing flexibility of the funds, I do not have to spend excessive time detailing my study needs, as so often happens with other fellowships, and can instead focus fully on my research and career development.”

Both awardees say the meaning behind the awards—and the person the awards honor—resonates deeply for them. “This award is especially meaningful, as it honors the legacy of Dr. Shoshana Levy, a pioneering scientist who was deeply committed to supporting women in science,” Belgin says. “The visionary generosity behind the gift empowers early-career scientists like myself to carry forward the values of inclusion and leadership in pioneering research.”

“I am very grateful for Anne’s philanthropy and continuous advocacy for science and technology,” Xiaoyu adds. “As a junior researcher navigating many uncertainties, her efforts give me hope for the future.”

Championing a Cause Close to Her Heart

A fearless champion of women in science herself, Anne says she is honored to have endowed a gift in Shoshana’s name. “Shoshana embodied an ethos as a woman leader in her field,” she says. “I benefited immensely from watching her as both an acclaimed researcher and a devoted mother, and I hope that this gift will help other people establish and build their own careers in science.”

For his part, Ron says that Shoshana would have been proud—as he and their daughters are—that someone they are so close to has created such an important, enduring gift. “The cause is something that Shosh would have endorsed, and is something that she worked so hard for and really advocated for,” he says. “And the fact that Anne made this gift makes it even more special. We can’t thank Anne enough for honoring Shosh in such a profoundly meaningful way.”

If you would like to learn more about the Shoshana Levy Early Career Awards to Support Women in Science, please visit https://postdocs.stanford.edu/current/fellowship/shoshana-levy-early-career-awards-support-women-science.