Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day
In honor of International Women in Engineering Day, we are proud to highlight some of the talented engineers at CE-CERT. These women share their inspirations, passions, and advice for other aspiring women in engineering.
Dr. Sarah Suda Petters, an Assistant Research Engineer at CE-CERT, was inspired by her relatives in science and engineering who had exciting careers. "My relatives in science or engineering had exciting things to do at work, and I wanted that too, from an early age," she shares. Her passion lies in conducting experiments and observing how results align with theory. "It’s almost addictive when you can repeat your experiment and get progressively more precise, or narrow your uncertainty, as you get cleaner with the technique," she says. Dr. Petters also enjoys the design process for plots and graphics, especially the "table-of-contents" images required by journals, which visually summarize her work. Additionally, she finds the history of science fascinating and appreciates understanding the historical context behind the equations and theories she uses. Her advice to aspiring women researchers is to pursue a graduate degree and focus on developing technical, ethical, teamwork, and communication skills. She emphasizes the importance of recommendation letters from professors and encourages gaining research experience early. "If you want a research career, you need to travel at some point. Moving is easier when you’re younger, so set your sights high and go for an adventure somewhere new."
Afsara Tasnia, a fourth-year Ph.D. student in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, was inspired by her engineer father and a deep-rooted curiosity about how things work, which led her to pursue a career in engineering. She found that engineering offered the perfect blend of creativity and analytical thinking to tackle environmental challenges. When asked what she is most passionate about in her research, Afsara mentioned her focus on understanding the trends and chemistry of source-specific Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) across diverse environments, aiming to provide insights that can improve air quality and environmental policies. She advises other women to "have confidence in your abilities and your potential to make meaningful contributions. Your unique perspectives are valuable." She emphasizes the importance of finding mentors and building a support network to guide and support professional growth. "Research can be challenging, and setbacks are a natural part of the process. Learn from failures and stay persistent." Lastly, she encourages openness to new ideas and approaches: "The best discoveries often come from looking at problems from different angles and being willing to explore uncharted territory."
Ying Zhou, a third-year Ph.D. student in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, explained that she was inspired to pursue a career in engineering because she values the flexibility and variety it offers. "I prefer to work in a field that’s always changing, where I can solve new problems instead of repeating the same thing every day," she explains. Ying's research involves using a custom-built oxidation flow reactor to study secondary aerosol formation and conduct field research, providing insights for communities impacted by air pollution, especially low-income areas. When asked what advice she would give to other women aspiring to pursue careers in research, she said, "Believe in yourself and know that we can do more than you expect. Be positive and persistent to overcome challenges. Most of the time in research, you may not get the results that you expect. But keep trying and learn from failures; success will be waiting for you in the future. Stay curious and keep learning to find creative ideas in the field."
Haishan Liu, a third-year Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, was inspired to pursue a career in engineering due to her fascination with the abstraction of complex problems and the clear implementation of codes to solve real-world issues. "Engineering serves as a bridge between theoretical research and experimental application, enabling me to make a tangible impact," she explains. Haishan is passionate about leveraging deep learning algorithms to explore complex, high-dimensional data, to extract key information to make informed decisions in areas such as shared mobility, eco-driving, and trajectory prediction. Her advice to young women aspiring to pursue careers in research is to "listen and follow your instincts to find what truly interests you. Trust your passion and let it guide you in your career."
Kyah Gracia, a second-year Ph.D. student in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, has always been drawn to the sciences and loved tinkering with random things she found in her dad’s construction materials. When asked what inspired her to pursue a career in engineering, she said, "Seeing what we could do for society with sciences almost felt like magic. It was mind-boggling to think of all the cool things we could do." Kyah is most passionate about addressing air quality challenges in her research, driven by the potential to improve community health in areas heavily impacted by air pollution. Her advice to other women aspiring to pursue careers in research is to "never be afraid to speak up or seek out opportunities. Even if opportunities don't perfectly align with your field of research, it's always good to network and see how broad and intersectional science can be. Express your ideas and see where they can go."
Ruili Yao, a first-year Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, was inspired to pursue a career in engineering because she believes "engineering work can make people’s lives better." Ruili's research is focused on exploring and demonstrating mis-synthesized interactions and potential synergies among mobility, charging infrastructure, connected and autonomous vehicles, and emerging sustainable transportation. Her advice to other women aspiring to pursue careers in research is simple and direct: "Go for what you want."
Elizabeth DeFrance, a first-year Ph.D. student in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, was inspired to pursue a career in engineering because she wanted to be a part of finding solutions to the issues in our world. She is passionate about her research's potential to influence air pollution regulations and address emerging air quality concerns in non-exhaust emissions. Elizabeth advises other women pursuing careers in research to "just go for it. You are the only one holding yourself back."
Joule Parker, a fourth-year undergraduate student in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, found her inspiration to pursue a career in environmental engineering through climate change activism. "As I was nearing the end of my high school career, I took notice of climate change activism. Inspired by young and diverse activists across the globe, I became extremely passionate about the environment," she explains. Joule saw a career in environmental engineering as an opportunity to develop problem-solving skills and engage in hands-on work to make tangible differences for the environment. She is particularly passionate about the human and environmental health effects of air pollutants and is eager to continue her research journey. Her advice is to "find a supportive and inclusive network that encourages you to be curious and passionate. Building a community like that allows you to thrive and achieve amazing things!"
These inspiring stories underscore the passion, resilience, and innovative spirit that drive women in engineering at CE-CERT. Their dedication to addressing environmental challenges and advancing scientific knowledge is paving the way for future generations of women in STEM. On this International Women in Engineering Day, we celebrate their achievements and encourage more women to pursue their dreams in engineering and research.
At CE-CERT, we believe that diversity in engineering leads to richer ideas, stronger teams, and more impactful solutions. We are committed to supporting and empowering women in STEM through mentorship, inclusive networks, and opportunities for professional growth. We invite everyone to join us in fostering an environment where women engineers can thrive and contribute to a sustainable future.
Let’s continue to support and celebrate the incredible contributions of women engineers, today and every day. If you’re inspired by these stories, consider getting involved by mentoring a young woman in STEM, advocating for diversity in your workplace, or simply sharing these stories to encourage the next generation of women engineers.
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