Women in science

What inspired you to pursue a career in research?

Daniela: “I like the intellectual challenge and the variety that research offers. In physics in particular, I like the “crazy” natural phenomena that are not intuitive at first, for example quantum physics. My physics teacher in the sixth form also inspired me a lot here; he occasionally held special physics lessons in which he told us about such topics. That was a good change from the sometimes somewhat dry school physics (actio versus reactio etc.) and motivated me to find out more. ”
 

What challenges have you faced in your scientific career and how did you overcome them?

Daniela: “I found the end of the doctorate challenging. I had to write the thesis, which takes a lot of stamina, and at the same time there was a big question mark over what comes after the doctorate. How did I manage it? There was simply no alternative to finishing the doctorate. And in the end, I learned a lot during my doctorate that I can now put to good use.”

Can you tell us about a particularly memorable experience or success in your research?

Daniela: “As an experimental physicist, I always find it impressive to see complicated experimental setups.At first I also found it a bit intimidating to operate these complex devices myself, but you learn quickly and it's a lot of fun.I was particularly impressed by the visit to the synchrotrons - so much science in one place!”
 

What do you think are the biggest obstacles for women in science today?

Daniela: “Unlike in the past, the obstacles are no longer to be found in laws, but in my opinion they are still to be found in social conventions. Unconscious prejudices are a central problem. It is often not expected of women to have technical understanding. I have experienced this myself, for example when I was given unsolicited tips on how to repair bicycles or when men are automatically entrusted with technical tasks. There is also an unequal division of care work.In my environment, I only see a few examples of equal sharing of childcare and household work. Especially in top academic research, where you typically have to move several times and invest a lot of time in your career, one partner often gets the short end of the professional stick. Differences in communication behavior between men and women are also an obstacle.In a male-dominated working environment, this can lead to difficulties for women, for example in negotiations or presentations.”
 

What measures do you think are necessary to get more women interested in science?

Daniela: “I think it's very important to get young girls and women interested in science and to show them that it can also be a career path for them. If too few women study STEM subjects, the promotion of women at a later stage can only succeed to a limited extent. I am also in favor of involving everyone (not just women) and working together to break down (unconscious) prejudices and raise awareness of communication differences.I also think it's important to promote compatibility (e.g. through flexible working hours, childcare options).Both men and women can benefit from this.”

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What do you find particularly interesting about your job?

Maryam: “As a development engineer, I find it particularly interesting to face new technical and interdisciplinary challenges on a daily basis. Particularly within the SusFE project, I find it especially rewarding to explore innovative ways to minimize the environmental impact of micro-production processes while ensuring high performance standards for human health applications. Contributing to sustainable solutions in healthcare technology is both meaningful and motivating for me.”

What inspired you to pursue a career in research?

Maryam: “My career path in academia was not straightforward, neither in terms of field nor geography. I was shaped by a variety of experiences in two countries, seven universities and numerous collaborations with inspiring professors and researchers. It was more a combination of circumstances, opportunities and sometimes even lucky coincidences of being “in the right place at the right time” that led me down this path. Looking back, it has been a journey of constant learning and adaptation. Every step, even if it was unforeseen, has enriched my scientific and professional development.”
 

Can you tell us about a particular or memorable experience in your research that has particularly influenced your career?

Maryam: “A formative event in my research was during my PhD when I successfully contributed to the development of a new interdisciplinary field called ‘membranotronics’. Membranotronics combines the principles of microelectronics and membrane science to create ultra-thin, flexible systems that can mimic the electrochemical behavior of human neurons. It focuses on integrating electronic functions directly on or within free-standing membranes. This work was particularly meaningful to me as it pushed the boundaries of conventional microfabrication techniques and neuromimetic systems and required both creativity and perseverance to develop viable processes on such delicate substrates. Seeing the concept evolve from an idea to a viable platform that could inspire new research approaches was incredibly rewarding."

In your opinion, what are the biggest obstacles for women in science today?

Maryam: “In my experience, structural biases and the difficulties of balancing work and personal life are the biggest obstacles for women in science. Especially in fields such as micro-production and nanotechnology, where male-dominated teams remain the norm, it can be difficult to be heard or to have role models to pave the way. Furthermore, in established technical fields, sustainability research is sometimes seen as a secondary concern, making it even more challenging for female scientists to advocate for environmentally friendly innovations.”

What measures do you think are necessary to attract more women into science?

Maryam: "In my experience, I have met many talented women in science who often jokingly say that they would have preferred to be bakers, gardeners or painters. This highlights the enormous pressure and imbalance they face in their scientific careers. Instead of pressuring or artificially encouraging women to enter science, we should focus on providing equal opportunities for all from an early age, regardless of gender. Everyone should have the freedom to explore different fields at school and university. It is not about fulfilling quotas, but about creating spaces where women can discover and pursue their true interests, including in science. True diversity happens when people can choose what they are passionate about, not when they are forced to just to achieve a 50:50 ratio. This is the only way to promote sustainable and meaningful inclusion.”

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What message do you think is important for young, aspiring female scientists and engineers? 

Sonja: “As a doctoral student at Fraunhofer EMFT, I think it's important to build up my own network and get in touch with other scientists who can support my research.”
 

You work in microelectronics, a field that is still dominated by men. What skills or characteristics do you think are crucial for women to be successful in applied research and at Fraunhofer?

Sonja: “Perseverance is essential in research, because challenges and setbacks are simply part of the job. Adaptability and determination are crucial to making progress. In addition, exchanging ideas with other researchers can provide valuable support and inspiration.”

What can be done specifically to strengthen the presence of women in leadership positions in scientific and technical fields?

Sonja: “At Fraunhofer EMFT, young female scientists are expressly encouraged to pursue a doctorate - with excellent framework conditions and individual support on their path to a doctorate. A doctorate offers a fantastic opportunity to develop personally and take on responsibility, for example by supervising students. In addition, the creation of further networking opportunities across the Fraunhofer Institutes would further strengthen young scientists and doctoral candidates.”

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What project are you currently working on?

Claudia: “In addition to a wide variety of analyses for industrial customers, I am currently working on technology analyses of highly complex circuits such as systems-on-a-chip. To do this, cross-sections of the chips are produced using a target polishing device and then examined using scanning electron microscopy and EDX material analysis.”

What do you find particularly interesting about your job?

Claudia: “The interaction between understanding and applying the knowledge gained in order to establish and optimize processes.”
 

What motivated you to pursue a career in science? Were there any particular experiences or people that inspired you?

Claudia: “Looking back, my time at a girls' school played an important role, as I developed an interest in science there without gender-specific expectations. My female physics teachers were also important role models for me.”

What do you think are the biggest obstacles for women in science today?

Claudia: “Unfortunately, women are still underestimated and their abilities often have to be proven first, whereas this is not questioned from the outset in the case of men. In addition, there are only a few female role models in leadership positions in science. Reconciling family and career is also more difficult for women than for men, especially in the early years of raising children.”
 

How do you see the progress made in gender equality within academia in recent years?

Claudia: “My mother is the first female academic in our family and I am proud to be able to continue on this path. In our conversations, I am pleased to report that although the proportion of women in the scientific fields in which I work is still a long way from equality, it is increasing noticeably.”

What measures do you think are necessary to inspire more women to pursue careers in science?

Claudia: “This year, I had the opportunity to take part in EMFT's Girls' Day. Events like these provide guidance for girls during their school years and highlight potential career paths in science. They are important for sparking interest and curiosity in specific subjects, especially during this critical phase in young women's lives.”

What advice would you give to young women interested in a scientific career?

Claudia: "If you're genuinely interested in the subjects and enjoy understanding how things work and solving problems, you're on the right track. That intrinsic motivation will take you wherever you want to go. My practical tip is to try things out — internships or events like Girls' Day are excellent ways to explore different work environments and areas of science."
 

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>> Since May 2023 I have been working as a research associate in the Circuit Design Team at Fraunhofer EMFT. With a Bachelor and Master in Electrical Engineering, specialized in digital electronic systems, I focus on the design of complex digital architectures both at the system level and at the level of integrated microsystems. My work covers the entire digital flow, from hardware description to physical design and realization of the design on silicon.<<
 

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>> I am Nivedha Surendran and I am working as a research engineer as well as a second year PhD student (since 2023) at Fraunhofer EMFT. My research focuses on developing techniques to monitor potential fault conditions by integrating sensor technology into piezoelectric driven micro diaphragm pumps developed by Fraunhofer EMFT.

My research vision is to show how flexible and adaptable our micropump technology is to meet the various requirements of drug dosing in medicine. I envision a future where different dosing options are available simultaneously so that treatments can be better tailored to the individual needs of patients-an area with a lot of potential for further research.<<
 

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