Expanding perspectives in sports science

11 February 2025
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2024–25 US Fulbright student Paige Liebel talks about her current research project and the importance of encouraging women and girls to pursue careers in STEM fields.

Paige Liebel, a 2024–25 recipient of the Fulbright-Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Award, is currently at the University of Innsbruck working on her Fulbright project, entitled "Optimization of Performance in Female Soccer Players."

Herself a woman in science, Paige wrote a short piece to commemorate the 2025 International Day of Women and Girls in Science in which she shares her thoughts on why addressing the STEM gap matters and why we as a society should encourage young girls to seek careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

By Paige Liebel

2024–25 US Fulbright student

As we celebrate women in STEM, we recognize those who came before us and continue working to create an environment where future generations can thrive.

Throughout my journey, I have often been the only girl in the room—competing on all-boy’s soccer teams and navigating male-dominated engineering classes. Now, as a Fulbrighter at the University of Innsbruck, I am again part of the minority of females in sports science. However, I am fortunate to work under an incredible mentor, a female scientist and physician whose leadership and expertise I deeply admire. Having a woman to look up to in my field is both inspiring and a reminder of the importance of representation. I hope to one day offer the same mentorship to young women pursuing STEM careers.

My research here bridges disciplines—mapping human experiential knowledge to build sports-injury risk models, accelerating recovery for cyclists, and designing individualized training programs for elite runners. My own project examines the role of touch in female soccer teams, particularly in penalty kicks. Women-focused studies, such as my own this year, are a rarity in the world of academia. Encouraging more women to pursue STEM will hopefully shift the focus to a more balanced approach.

Photo of Paige Liebel recording data while running on treadmill

My experiences thus far have shown me that innovation thrives when we embrace new perspectives, and interdisciplinary collaboration allows us to tackle complex challenges in unique ways. It is undeniable that women in STEM bring fresh approaches and untapped potential. By fostering an inclusive environment, we ensure that future discoveries benefit from the full range of talent and ideas. Women have long shaped the fields of science, technology, and innovation. Let’s push to do even more.

All photos courtesy of Paige Liebel