Breaking the Code with Roselin Rosario

Cindy: Breaking the Code with Gabriella tells the story of a young girl who overcomes gender stereotypes in robotics, cementing herself as a role model for young women. The book includes science and engineering information, such as the design process and Java tutorials. As part of our initiative to empower young girls to pursue their interests in STEM, we are running the Breaking the Code with Gabriella: Trailblazers in STEM Speaker Series, which explores the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, and math. The series aims to dispel gender stereotypes and aid young students in getting advice on how to pursue their own passions. 

 

Cindy: Today, I am here with Roselin Rosario-Meléndez, a leader in innovation with a PhD in organic/polymer chemistry from Rutgers University. Her doctoral work focused on making and formulating polymeric drugs in order to minimize the harmful side effects and prolong the usage period for analgesic drugs. Following, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, holding 37 patents and contributing to the invention of extreme wear lipsticks. Roselin currently works in the medical device industry. As an #ifthenshecan ambassador, Dr. Rosario is celebrated as a trailblazing innovator in STEM. She champions a diverse and inclusive workspace, empowering middle-school girls to become the next generation of inventors. On social media, she highlights both her own endeavors and the work of prominent women in STEM with the goal of inspiring young girls to pursue careers in science. 

 

Cindy: Now, I'll let you tell us a little bit more about yourself anything about your journey in STEM, your current interests, or future goals that you you think are notable. 

 

Roselin: Sure, thank you so much for the introduction. My name is Roselin, and I am a chemist by training, more specifically in polymer chemistry. That's what I did in my graduate work. I'm very passionate about chemistry; however, I have been through a journey of trying different STEM fields to find what I am passionate about. In undergrad, I majored in chemistry, but all of the research that I did was on the biology side. Then, in graduate school, I found that making polymers for drug delivery applications was very interesting, and It gave me a strong foundation in research.

 

Roselin: Ever since then, I've using the knowledge and expertise I developed in polymers, but for different applications. I’ve worked on developing ingredients for different types of products, spent time in the cosmetic industry, and now I'm working on medical devices. I've branched out into different areas, but I always rely on the fundamental knowledge I gained and the expertise I acquired in each of these fields to innovate. Innovation is a major part of my career—I work on creating new products, mainly formulation-based, which involves mixing different ingredients. That's what I'm passionate about, and what drives me as a scientist is the ability to innovate and find answers to questions that no one has been able to answer before.

 

Cindy: For sure. I know you hold many patents and have been an inventor your whole life. You currently hold a doctoral degree in organic and materials chemistry, but I read online that when you entered college, you originally wanted to pursue dentistry. Could you elaborate on how you became interested in chemistry and why you decided to pursue it further instead of another field?

 

Roselin: Absolutely. When I was in high school and took chemistry and biology, I really enjoyed chemistry. The teacher was great, and I had so many questions. I loved the periodic table and everything about it. But back then, I didn't know that being a chemist, a scientist, or doing research could actually be a career. It was more like, "Oh, you're good at math and science; you should be a doctor." But I had an issue with blood and stuff like that, so I thought I could settle for being a dentist. I went to the dentist and didn't see blood everywhere, so I figured that might be the one kind of medical field I could pursue.

 

Roselin: I decided to get a degree in science to go to dental school, so I majored in chemistry because it was the subject I liked the most. Then, in college, I heard about this thing called research. You could go into an exchange program, spend a summer at another university or in a private company doing research. I thought, "Okay, I'll sign up for it. Let me try it out." Ever since that first experience doing research—almost 20 years ago now—I fell in love with being in the lab, having that curiosity, and finding answers to different questions. I truly loved it, and I learned that you can actually make a career out of it, dedicating your professional life to research.

 

Roselin: So, I realized I didn't need to pursue dentistry, which I wasn't even convinced about. I decided to continue with a career that focuses on chemistry. At the time, I didn't know how interdisciplinary science could be. You can be a chemist, but your research can lead you into so many other areas, especially if you're doing research that applies to real life and creating products. You need to dive into different fields, and that's how I transitioned my mindset from wanting to be one thing into something a little different.

 

Cindy: That journey definitely sounds very interesting. I know that going into science, especially with that curiosity, is amazing and very interesting to do. Not too long after that, you worked as a cosmetic chemist at a large cosmetics company. How did you get interested in cosmetic chemistry, and what does your daily work entail?

 

Roselin: That's very interesting. I've always liked cosmetics my entire life. I've always had my nails done, I love nail polish, and always wore mascara. When I was in graduate school, I was focused on my own research on analgesic drugs, specifically on pain medication and how to prolong their effects. However, my research advisor had a lot of collaborations with different industries, including a cosmetic company. I thought, "Oh, I didn't know that was a thing."

 

Roselin: I also remember reading in a chemistry magazine about a company that developed a nail polish that would last a long time. They figured out the exact chemistry to create a polymeric reaction on the nail, which is known as UV-cured nail polish. This concept had been in the works for many years, but this one company perfected it. I loved that because I love nail polish, but it never lasted long, so I was always repainting my nails. I thought, "I'm going to try these products," and that's when I realized that chemists are needed to create these products. 

 

Roselin: As a chemist, especially with my polymer chemistry background, I understood that most ingredients in cosmetic products are polymers. It became clear to me how valuable that knowledge is. That's how I got a job, and ironically, my assignment was to create long-wear lipstick products. Lipstick was the one product I never really liked because I didn't like the shape of my lips and didn't want to enhance them. But then I started working on how to make lipsticks that last a long time while still feeling comfortable. There were many products on the market, but they often felt super dry or tacky and were uncomfortable to wear. So, I worked a lot on that.

 

At the time, I was really focused on lab work—going into the lab, thinking about the objectives, selecting raw materials, trying them, creating prototypes, and then testing them. The first test I would do was on myself, once I had safety approval. I'd put it on in the morning, and think, “Did it last all day? How did it feel?” From there, I would go into further developing the product.

 

Cindy: Sounds like a rigorous process. I know invention, especially for cosmetics, relies on many different aspects of science. During your time there, you received 37 patents and currently have 43 patents globally. You contributed to the invention of prominent products like Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink and other lipsticks, which you just mentioned. Could you talk a bit more about your start-to-finish process for these inventions? Did you work with anyone throughout the process, and how much collaboration was there when making these?

 

Roselin: Of course. I actually started in the invention and patent world when I was in graduate school. That's when I initially learned through my research advisor that if you make something brand new that has never been invented before, you can submit a patent application to the government. Each country in the world has their own patent office, and you're telling them, "I invented this." Then legally, if the government agrees with you, they give you a period of about 20 years where you're the only person who can make and sell that product. This is beneficial for businesses because if you invest money in paying scientists to create new products, you want to ensure you can get a return on that investment and make money from the invention.

 

Roselin: I learned this from my advisor back then. I made polymers, and the new things I was doing for my dissertation led to us filing a bunch of patent applications. That was my first exposure. I didn’t know anything about patents at all, so I did a lot of self-teaching to understand what patents are and what I needed to do. I had to work very closely with patent attorneys to get these patents finalized. I've never written a patent myself completely, but I work very closely with the attorneys who do.

 

Roselin: For cosmetics, I already had the mindset that if you're doing something new and different, the ultimate goal is to file a patent to get that exclusivity if you have a product in the market. When I started working in cosmetics, the specific team I joined hadn't filed any patent applications for at least five years before I joined. They were doing some innovation work, but nobody was taking the time to say, "Hey, we should definitely make sure that we protect these inventions." 

 

Roselin: One of the first projects I had was inventing the formulation that ultimately launched as Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink. I could tell that this was different from everything else in the market and had potential. So, I worked with the legal team to make sure we could file a patent application. For the most part, patents don’t typically have just one inventor. Different people collaborate in various aspects. For example, someone might suggest adding a material that improves the formulation, making them an inventor as well because they contributed intellectually to what you're trying to patent. I continued from there, encouraging others to make sure we file patent applications for new projects. It's very collaborative work. I'm not the sole inventor on any patent; I always have at least one co-inventor or more. 

 

Roselin: To me, it’s a very interesting process, seeing something that doesn’t exist suddenly come to life and ensuring that the company or lab you work for can protect those inventions. It adds a lot of value.

 

Cindy: I think being able to have exclusive rights to something you created is very important. How long would you say each patent took to finish, from the conceptualization of the first idea to when the patent was finally approved? Or just, how long on average have you worked on each of these projects?

 

Roselin: It varies a lot. I've had patents where, typically, you file in the United States, and it takes about a year and a half for it to become public and go through the review process. Some patents, after becoming public, were immediately granted by the patent office. However, there are others where we had to go back and forth with the reviewer. The reviewer might say, "I don't think this is new; it seems the same as something else I've seen before." This opens up a conversation where you have to explain why it's different, and that back-and-forth process can take many years until they decide to either grant or reject your application.

 

Roselin: In my experience, even if there was a lengthy back-and-forth, the patents ultimately get granted. In all the opportunities that I’ve had to move forward with a patent application, it is a huge investment too. Patent application are something that has to be paid for. So every time we have moved forward with the patent application, we were very confident that it was something we could substantiate was actually new. That's why we eventually get these applications granted.

 

Roselin: There's also a business aspect to consider. Whether or not the invention becomes a commercial product doesn't always correlate directly. Sometimes you have a patent, but there's no product in the market covered by that patent. In such cases, a company might decide not to continue paying for a patent that isn't generating a return. So, it varies a lot. Project-wise, my typical range is about a year and a half to two years to develop the prototypes, identify the invention, and then, after filing the patents—sometimes it's a surprise depending on the person that is reviewing the application

 

Cindy: It definitely sounds like a rigorous process that can take quite a while—or not too long if they see that it's completely novel or there's absolutely no overlap. What is something about the patent process that you might not have expected when you first got into it?

 

Roselin: Something I hadn't expected about the patent process is that, because I love patents and it is very fascinating. One thing is that in theory, you don't really have to make anything in order to file a patent application. As long as you know it's new and different, and nobody has ever patented it, there is no need to have a physical prototype. I have never experienced that, because all the patents I have worked on are through a company, so no one is going to file an application without something tangible. 

 

Roselin: Another unexpected aspect is the legal language used in patent applications. If you’re going to work in the patent industry and invention work, you have to learn pretty much a new language. The legal language used is very interesting; there are certain keywords that mean very specific things, and depending on how it is used within the patent, it may change how your patent is ultimately covered by that patent. I had to dedicate a lot of time - English is my second language - when I started working on patents in graduate school, to get the fluency I have with the English language. It’s rough, having to add this completely new language, but definitely doable. A lot of times, you work with a patent attorney, and they’re always willing to work with you and help you. Now, I feel very comfortable using this language. When I do drafts for patent applications, I can draft it in a way that, many times, the patent attorney can just copy and paste it into the final application, doing most of the leg work for them. I enjoyed it, but that was something that I wasn’t expecting to have to learn.

 

Cindy: It could definitely get very specialized, similar to law. I also didn't realize you could file a patent with just a concept, but I imagine that it is possible. During your time in college or while working, what were some challenges you faced as a woman in a male-dominated field, and how have you overcome them?

 

Roselin: I think sometimes a challenge is loneliness. You look around and there are very few people who look like you. Sometimes, because of being in rooms mainly filled with males, they don’t take the time to acknowledge or give time to women. I think things are changing. I’ve been fortunate to be in spaces where in the STEM field, I work with a lot of other. This is great; we support each other. Seeing all of this representation is great. But when there are, like, three women and twenty men in a room, that’s when it feels a little more lonely and intimidating, especially earlier in my career.

 

Roselin: It becomes more difficult when people are not openly allowing you to bring your ideas and discussions. I’ve had instances where male colleagues purposely tried to prevent me from sharing my points or joining the conversation. When things like that happen, I just try not to take it personally. I also recognize that when people act like that, it says more about them than about me. They need to find a way to work on their own issues with women, minorities, or anyone in the room. I keep focus on what I bring to the table, and what I can do. With time, I’ve built the confidence and courage to speak up. In the early years of my career, I would have walked away. I would have been like, “No, I’m not going to say anything.” Right now, that is not going to fly. I respectfully and professionally confront the person. No matter where you are in your career, everyone deserves respect, especially in a professional setting. No one should feel uncomfortable or unable to speak up. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, you should address it. Tell them how you feel and ask for changes. I encourage young women in STEM to be comfortable having these discussions and standing up for themselves. It will make your career easier and better.

 

Cindy: That sounds like a good mindset for approaching these types of issues and making sure it also doesn't happen in the future. You also do a lot of work for diversity and inclusivity in STEM. Can you talk a little bit more about your responsibilities as an #IfThenSheCan Ambassador?

 

Roselin: Oh, absolutely. The ambassador program officially ended, but we keep those titles. It was actually one of the best things that has happened to me. I always wanted to spend time mentoring and coaching, and the ambassador program gave us a huge platform to bring mentoring on a larger scale and be able to reach even further. I was doing a lot of my mentoring in person, in my local community, where I am located in New York. But [with the program], I would be able to reach people everywhere. I could bring the message of “I am a woman in STEM, you look like me, you come from a similar background, it’s possible to achieve the things I have. Anyone can achieve them.” It’s been wonderful to be able to give that message and really show little girls, and even people my age, that you can achieve whatever you want. You have to work hard sometimes, but it’s part of the process. Everything is possible. And the representation we mentioned: sometimes, you don’t see people that look like you in a room, but at least if you see that one person, that is the motivation you need to keep going.

 

Cindy: It sounds like you're becoming an inspiration for a lot of young girls in STEM. If there was any piece of career-related advice you could give to your middle school self, what would it be?

 

Roselin: I would say to keep working hard because hard work pays off eventually. It might not be immediate, but keep working hard and build the courage to ask for help. That is something I didn’t do for a very long time. I was like “Is it okay to say that you don’t know something?” I used to think that I needed to know everything, so if I didn’t know something, I had to figure it out by myself. There are so many people willing to help you, you just have to ask for it. I would say to work hard, but also you don’t have to do everything on your own. Ask for help, and people are more than willing to help. You will find people who will guide you through your journey. You don’t have to do every single thing on your own.

 

Cindy: That's some great advice about being able to reach out to other people who are willing to lend their advice to guide you along your path. Thank you so much for speaking with me today. 

 

Roselin: All right, thank you so much for your time. I greatly appreciate the opportunity.