Place of residence: Vienna, Austria

Position: Scientific Outreach (at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Vienna) and Senior Research Associate (at the Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy)

Please describe a day in your life

After having a strong cup of coffee, I try to navigate the fascinating world of quantum physics and bring it closer to the people – by organizing various events and talks (e.g. open house day), diffusing the latest publications and achievements of our scientists on our social media channels, homepage etc. After work, I enjoy an evening walk, a glass of wine with my friends or some Netflix. 

How many projects are you currently working on? Please describe them

This is a particularly interesting period: Preparing for the Long Night of Research 2024, where our institute will participate by presenting to the general public some of our (interactive) experiments and upcoming projects/ Putting together the detailed program for a “Children’s University” workshop, where some of our scientists will be showing kids (age 8-12) what we do and what quantum physics is all about. And last but not least, organizing a public lecture at the Vienna City Hall with a world-renowned physicist. 

In your opinion, who is the most influential person/company in the world of technology these days? 

Apple – their groundbreaking work fascinates me, always striving to improve and be better, and also, I am amazed by how much anticipation and excitement there is among people for any new product.

If you could pick one app/product/project existing now that you wish you were involved in, what would it be? 

Duolingo is a fun and easy way to start learning a new language.

What is the most challenging thing you had to deal with during your career? 

I am not taken seriously as a professional, mostly by men. Being a woman and looking younger than I actually am often leads to people treating me with less respect or just ignoring my efforts and accomplishments.

What is your greatest achievement up until today? 

I am having a good Work-Life Balance. The pace of work and the pressure to excel in every aspect of life have reached a point where they are unhealthy. No matter how busy I am with various projects, I always try to find a way to relax and decompress, spend time with my loved ones, and take care of my physical and mental health.

What is your next goal? 

I need to brush up on my language skills (Turkish, Romanian, and French) because I am quite rusty. I should maybe spend some time on-site in order to master them as well as possible.

What tips do you have for people wanting to start in the tech world? 

Be bold and crazy; technology can be limitless, so dive into it.

If you could say something to your younger self, what would it be? 

Enjoy life to the maximum, and always trust your instincts!

Which famous person would you like to have dinner with and why? 

From the world of science, I would say Marie Curie and Stephen Hawking because I am fascinated by their lives and their work; if the person has to be alive, Phil Rosenthal—he seems to be the kindest person on the planet, and I really love his show Somebody Feed Phil.  

Where would you like to travel next? 

There are so many places I want to see, the whole world if possible! Currently, Vietnam and Iceland are at the top of my list.

Do you have a person who influences or motivates you? 

Author and motivational speaker Leonardo Buscaglia. I discovered him by chance at a fairly young age, and his advice proved to be very helpful in mastering my life—focusing on the good in myself and others and leaving negativity behind.

What did you dream of creating/inventing/doing as a child? 

I was in love with my ballet classes, so I drew evening dresses with matching shoes, appropriately modified to be suitable for ballet performances. Unfortunately, at some point, I lost my drawing pad, and it remains lost to this day.

If you were asked to stay on a deserted island for six months, what three things would you take with you? 

As many books as I could, my music and my husband!  

What is the invention of the century in your eyes? 

How can one decide? We live in a time where so many things that were once thought impossible are now becoming reality: artificial intelligence, smartphones, and autonomous vehicles, to name just a few that immediately came to mind.

What can’t you do without? (app/product…) 

Google Maps, because I get lost so easily(and Spotify, to keep me company while I try to find the way!)