THE BEAUTY OF SCIENCE
From a childhood in rural France to running the Estée Lauder research laboratories in New York: Dr Nadine Pernodet shares her story, and advice for women in science. By Victoria Baker.
VOGUE to Dr Nadine Pernodet, vice president of Skin Biology and BioActives, Global Research and Development at The Estée Lauder Companies, based at the laboratories in Melville, New York.
AUSTRALIA SPOKE VA: Tell us about your upbringing; how did it shape your career? NP:
“I grew up in France. I have always been extremely curious about everything and my parents always encouraged that. I remember going with my dad at 5am to forage for mushrooms in the forest, and being in our vegetable and flower garden with my parents.”
VA: What were your early career aspirations and can you tell us about your first professional steps?
NP:
“As far back as I remember, I have always loved science. After school, I studied chemistry. I liked the process of understanding how nature works, or how we can make different molecules and how they are going to react together to do amazing things. My first long-term job after I received my PhD was in the Chemistry department at Stony Brook University [in New York].”
VA: How did you come to work at Estée Lauder?
“I was working at Stony Brook University with my own research lab in Materials Science and Engineering when I met Dr Daniel Maes, then senior vice president of R&D for The Estée Lauder Companies. We talked about my research on skin, and