First Deaf female forensic chemist

On February 3, 2022, a Deaf woman named Shiran Zhavian from New York City graduated from her intensive forensic chemist training program under the United States Drug Enforcement Adminstration (DEA). This makes Shiran the first Deaf female forensic chemist to work for the DEA. We reached out to Shiran for an interview.

Shiran: I moved here when I was seven years old from Israel. Both of my parents were deaf, so I know Israeli Sign Language. When I was seven, we moved to New York because of family, the deaf education there, and many reasons. I went to Lexington School for the Deaf in NYC and I graduated in 2005. It was a no brainer for me to pick Gallaudet University for college. That's where I met you, Renca!

Renca: Yes!

Shiran: Anyway, at Gallaudet I got my Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and I graduated in 2009. And then after some thought, I decided to go back to school to study Chemical Engineering at Manhattan College in 2013. Now, here I am!

Renca: I'm curious, as a deaf woman, did you ever experience barriers as a deaf person? Or as a woman?

Shiran: Yes. Some big stories come to mind, but I'll try to keep it concise. As a deaf person, yes, but as a woman, not really. As a deaf person, yes. So when I applied for the DEA, I got an interview and I had to go through some tests. You know, background checks and things like that. One of the requirements was a medical test. I thought, okay, obviously that would include testing my hearing, my heart, blood work, everything. I waited and waited for those results. What was going on, what were the results? I wanted to know. Finally I got answers. I was told my medical requirements were not met. What? They said I failed my hearing test. You think I would accept that? No way. I knew I deserved that job. So I argued my case and had my lawyer involved, a family friend who helped me write a letter detailing the issue. I sent it off, and then the DEA scrambled to connect me with the EEO’s office. So they chatted with me and they did apologize and said that they understood where I was coming from. So they made an offer to have me back and go through that process again. So to expand on that, I was a recent graduate, right? And that was my second time getting through. The first time, no one had ever met a deaf person before, ever. No one knew how to teach a deaf person in a class where everyone else was hearing. There were so many things to consider and it was in disarray. The interpreters weren’t a good fit for me. Things just were not working out so unfortunately I had to leave. That was in the DEA. So I came back to my lab here in New York to work something out. Then it was time to try again. So when I was ready to go, there was a team of staff administrators who were all ready and prepared. They were aware of what I needed after I explained my needs to them. I mean, they were beyond prepared and very supportive of my needs and accommodations. So when I arrived, it was a full 360 change. So much better. Everyone-- some of them even knew signs, but everyone understood my needs, everyone communicated with me. It started to feel like I was walking into a deaf school, you know? The visual aids were incredible, there were TV screens all set up in the lab.

Shiran: I could go on and on, but overall it was just, wow. It was a good experience and I kept going from there.

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Renca: And for my last question, what tips or words of encouragement do you have for deaf people who are watching this right now who have an interest in the STEM field? What would you like to say to them?

Shiran: For those interested in getting involved in STEM, the number one thing is that you have to be assertive. You can do it in a nice way, but assertive nonetheless. Network, go to science fairs, go to different scientific events and make friends, build your network. Apply for positions online. Grab every opportunity to talk with people for advice or a good chat over coffee. Make those connections. And apply for internships. A volunteer internship is how you can get your start. Volunteer as much as you can. Unpaid internships are a great way to go. And social media is cool too, but the best route is LinkedIn. There's a lot of information there, resources, and connections.

Renca: Thank you Shiran for your time. Shiran did mention that she would like to see more Deaf women in the STEM field as they are much needed. We want to say congratulations to Shiran for her big accomplishment and for making history.

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