During my high school years, I went to Liceo Classico, a high school mainly focused on humanities. I choose to start my path in the field of engineering casually, driven by people, as professors and family, that believed I could do everything given my good results in all the subjects.
Your organization field and mission
Department of Engineering and Architecture of the University of Parma.
Please tell us briefly about your role in the company / at your organization:
I am an associate professor. I carry out studies specifically in the wireless communication sector and I teach telecommunication subjects.
Your interest in STEM
I was inspired by the Professor I chose to conduct my PhD research thesis with. Moreover, I had the chance to work in Sweden for four years, and the capacity of Professors to work efficiently and professionally has fascinated me. Most of the professors I met were men, since unfortunately this is mostly a men-led sector.
Your studies
Moving from my high school to a place in which the 90% are men, was weird and difficult to manage, also in terms of proving that I was capable as much as all the others. Another difficulty I had was that my competences in math were not as good as the ones of other students coming from more scientific studies. As I said before, by pursuing a high school mostly focused on humanities, at the beginning was a bit difficult to me, but I could manage it and now I do what I always desired.
It can be done, without listening to the stereotypes that surround us. Moreover, as I said above, I didn’t have strong basics in math, but I was able to follow my passion, overcome the obstacles and reach my objective.
You at work
Two Professors from the Parma University, Federica Poli and Chiara Lasagni, organized an event called “Girls in STEM”, aimed at showcasing ten different success stories on women in STEM to high school students. During this event, I spoke about how to foster the interest of young women for the STEM field.
Generally, I found my job very exciting and each time that one of my work is published, I feel very satisfied and proud of my work.
Even if the topics seem not to be very interesting and not tangible, everything that has to do with telecommunications is surrounding us, and it’s very fascinating and actual (for example, now we are working on the famous 5G or 6G). You do not have to be discouraged; with passion everything is possible.
Your point of view
Technology can surely support women in limiting the gender gap, so it’s very important for women to know about it.
To finish with
Passion for what you do, honesty and respect for the working environment.
I would like to set-up my own research group composed by young professionals to share my passion and what I learned in all these years.
Doing research with my own research group of young professionals, both women and men.