Samoan Biomedical Engineer in Silicon Valley, Saeni Lele'a | “You know you’re in the right field when you can’t see yourself doing anything else”
Saeni Lele’a, a UC Davis graduate, shares her story as a Samoan biomedical engineer working at Fresenius Medical Care.
Samoan Biomedical Engineer in Silicon Valley, Saeni Lele'a | “You know you’re in the right field when you can’t see yourself doing anything else”
Tell us about your background and where you grew up.
Both of my parents emigrated from Samoa, and I have 9 sisters and 3 brothers. Even though I was born in Bakersfield, I consider Hayward to be my home, since I spent my most formative years - Elementary and Middle School - there. Ever since I was young, school was always a top priority - this was always stressed in my household, and I was definitely a nerd in high school.
How was the transition to college?
The transition was rough. The school I went to didn’t have as many resources as other higher income areas may have had. I didn’t feel prepared for my first year of college. Certain aspects of college were definitely fun, but academically, I was overwhelmed. I remember failing my first class and feeling very humbled by that experience.
When I first applied to college, I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but then I started reading about biomedical engineering. Those are the more behind the scenes people who develop the tools that doctors use, like MRIs. Biomedical engineers use math and science to solve medical problems.
My first few years of classes were difficult, but by year 3, I started getting the hang of it and even enjoying my classes. That’s when college clicked for me and felt really worth it. It didn’t get easier, but it got more interesting.
Samoan Biomedical Engineer in Silicon Valley, Saeni Lele'a | “You know you’re in the right field when you can’t see yourself doing anything else”
You recently graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. How does it feel to be employed right out of college and navigating an industry as one of the very few Pacific people?
I’m so grateful to have a job right out of college. In my current job, I review the verification tests we perform on the medical devices we produce before they get sent out to customers. I go over the work instructions written by manufacturing engineers and ensure everything is clear for the operators who actually perform these tests. Right now, I’m happy to have this break from school, but eventually I plan on pursuing grad school -- possibly focusing on imaging modalities to help detect diseases as early as possible.
To my knowledge, I’m the only Pacific person who has an engineering role in my company. Representation is important. We need to see ourselves in these spaces. I tried searching for other Pacific Islanders living in the Bay Area in this field, but it is nearly impossible to build that professional community. It makes me wonder if I’m one of the first Pacific Islander biomedical engineers in the Bay Area.
What advice do you have for PIs pursuing a career in STEM, or particularly in your field?
Don’t give up if you enter this field. Try not to go in it just for the money. Hopefully, you join this field because you are passionate about what you’re studying. Personally, I’ve always been interested in the medical field and helping people who need medical care. Do it for the right reasons, and most importantly, don’t feel pressured to enter a career path if it’s not what you want. You know you’re in the right field when you can’t see yourself doing anything else.
Samoan Biomedical Engineer in Silicon Valley, Saeni Lele'a | “You know you’re in the right field when you can’t see yourself doing anything else”
Any kudos to share?
I want to thank everybody who helped me along the way. I didn’t get here by myself. My family and friends inspire me to become a better person everyday.