A molecular virologist by training, Silva landed her first biotech/pharma job supporting the viral safety of plasma-derived biologic medicines after completing her postdoctoral training. This means that she made sure that medicines that are derived from human plasma or cells are not contaminated with viruses during the manufacturing process.

“In this role I served as a virology technical subject matter expert (SME) while gaining experience in how to collaborate across functions to ensure that medicines are safe and adhere to all government health authority requirements, like the FDA here in the U.S.,” she shares. “With my knowledge and experience, I successfully applied for a scientist position at Genentech to support the viral safety of the medicines we manufacture.”

Her career journey continued as she saw her mentor and fellow Latina role model get promoted to a Vice President position in the Research and Development organization, it was there that she realized the importance of representation and wanted to see more Latinas in STEM leadership positions. She successfully applied for a senior manager - Microbiology, position by demonstrating her cross-functional leadership capabilities. She was promoted into her current position as Director-Microbiology, by showing that she cannot just perform great science, but also provide strategic direction and deliver solutions to complex analytical challenges.

“When you are the first and/or the only, it is not always clear how to achieve your career aspirations,” she shares. “I have always had a love of science, but growing up there were no scientists in my family and my parents did not always know how to best support my dreams. I was fortunate to be involved in programs that provide a foundation for underrepresented students to pursue STEM fields, such as the UC Irvine California Alliance for Minority Participation in Science (CAMP) and Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS). By the time I was finishing my postdoctoral training and realized I no longer wanted to pursue an academic career, it was not clear what steps I needed to take during the job search process. It was a challenge to get my foot into the biotech door because at the time I did not have relevant biotech experience, nor did I understand how to articulate my transferable skills. Through trial and error, I sought out support from my brother and school resources, such as the USC postdoc association. And who would have expected that speaking Spanish would be an asset that helped me land my first biotech/pharma job at a Spanish-owned company?”

Silva’s key responsibilities are owning, managing, and implementing microbiology methods to establish and maintain an up-to-date, compliant and efficient system. The team provides enhanced microbiology scientific expertise for launch and in-market products. Silva and her team accomplish operational network excellence by constantly looking for new and innovative methods for doing this.

For example, they are in the process of implementing a sustainable new method for the detection of a fever-inducing pyrogen from bacterial cells that does not rely on the use of horseshoe crab blood. This is important because relying on the horseshoe crab population for a test method that is required for patient safety is not sustainable from an animal welfare and supply chain perspective.

Passionate about diversity and inclusion to drive innovation. she co-leads diversity in STEM initiatives as an advisor of the SACNAS professional chapter at Genentech and current board member of Genentech Women in Science and Engineering (gWISE). Her advice to Latinas entering the STEM world is to embrace ‘your authentic self as a superpower and source of strength.’

Silva draws strength from her Latino roots by connecting with and being part of a broader community as a member of the Genentech’s employee resource group VIDA (Vision, Integrity, Development, Action) and LatinXchange (Hispanic/Latinx Director’s Exchange). VIDA aims to highlight and embrace the richness of the diverse Latinx cultures and experiences of colleagues to unleash their full potential in service of patients and the greater community.

Today, the values instilled in her by her upbringing as the daughter of a Mexican-American father and Bolivian immigrant mother are the importance of a strong work ethic and community. Whether in her academic studies or in her professional career, she makes it a point to reliably deliver on time.

“I am able to achieve this by making sure that my career path is in alignment with my values- The Science and The People,” she shares. “Every day I use my science training to make sure that lifesaving medicines are safe for patients. I am able to do this by working with colleagues who are aligned in this mission. My father’s generation was taught that to achieve the American Dream required assimilation in the corporate workplace. I am a better leader by creating an inclusive environment where people feel heard and empowered. By role modeling courageous authenticity, my hope is that fellow Latinas see themselves represented in STEM and embrace their authentic selves in the workplace. Importantly, we all have a responsibility to lead with inclusion and create a work environment where everyone can be true to themselves and contribute their own unique insights.”