Q: What are some obstacles you’ve encountered on the road to a career in STEM and how did you overcome them?
A: I come from a family that encouraged me to be whoever I wanted to be, and my parents taught me that being female should not affect my goals. Despite the support from my family, I have at times felt uncomfortable. Not because I was the only female in the room, but rather because someone tried to imply that I was there just because they needed a female as a "token.” It did not happen often, fortunately. And when it did, I tried to transform this uncomfortable feeling into positive energy and show I was in the room because I was more than qualified to be there.
Q: What role have mentors played in your career?
A: Different mentors have played different roles in my career. One mentor I want to mention in particular is a professor I met later in my career, when I was already an assistant professor. She is a force of nature: smart, strong, direct, patient when needed but also impatient when necessary, and much more. Through her example, she taught me how to be better, how one can always improve, how one should not just sit on their achievements but rather keep pushing and how one should learn from their failures. She made me realize that I also want to be an example for other women and junior researchers in general, and that my work and my dedication to my goals can also help others to achieve their own goals.
Q: In what ways are barriers for women coming down?
A: I believe there is a growing understanding that we can all contribute in our own way to the success of our field, but that we are also all different, with different needs. In computing, there is a great deal of effort invested into building environments that are inclusive and support all of our differences. We are still far from an ideal situation, with some initiatives working well and others not so much. However, the important point is that the conversation is ongoing, and we keep trying.