Every month we ask one individual in our network a few questions about their way into tech, their motivation and their lessons learned.
Let’s start from the beginning. Tell us about where you’re from!
I come from a working-class family in Cham, in central Switzerland, where I was the first in my family to attend university. Early on, I developed a passion for math and curiosity about how things work in nature and technology. One vivid memory from my childhood was watching the moon landing on a neighbor’s black-and-white TV, as we didn’t have one ourselves. The landing was narrated by a charismatic young physicist who became a local hero and left a lasting impression on me, sparking my early interest in science.
What valuable advice did you get from your parents?
My parents worked hard to give us a better life, and my father strongly valued education. Initially, he saw apprenticeships as the best path, but when I was advised to attend gymnasium due to my math skills, his surprise turned to pride. Though he initially thought math was more suitable for a girl, his perspective shifted after I explained a laser communication experiment during an open house event at ETH Zurich before I started my studies there. I later realized that his best childhood friend had studied at ETH, which he couldn’t pursue due to financial constraints. Ultimately, he struggled with letting me go and become independent.
How did you become interested in tech?
I’ve always been interested in a wide range of subjects, from math to science and even history. Physics felt like the closest field to math, which led me to pursue it. I struggled between theoretical and experimental physics but ultimately chose experimental after a professor mentioned the limited job prospects in theory. I wanted a career where I could both excel and earn a living. I often tell younger people that as long as you’re passionate, skilled, and can find work, the specific field matters less.
You are Founding President ETH Women Professors Forum – how many are there and why is that necessary?
The ETH Women Professors Forum was founded to address the significant gender inequality in academia, especially in leadership roles. With a small percentage of tenured female professors at ETH Zurich, the Forum focuses on building mentorship, support networks, and fostering systemic change. Inspired by the 1999 MIT report on gender biases, the Forum’s goal is to create a more inclusive environment where women can thrive without facing discrimination or hostility.
I took on a leadership role in 2010 as director of a national research center, which allowed me to build this network. My motivation stemmed from experiencing firsthand the systemic challenges faced by women in academic leadership. Early in my career, I believed that excelling in science would be enough to succeed. However, I soon realized that gender-based biases and institutional barriers remain prevalent. As a result, …
and Professor of Physics
Through the Forum, I call for greater efforts from academic leadership to create an environment where talented women are retained and empowered. By addressing these challenges at the institutional level, we can ensure a more diverse and dynamic academic community.
Check out the Gender Intelligence Report by Advance and University of St. Gallen and the comment by Dr. Ursula Keller
AI is changing the way we learn and how institutions test, how are you challenged as a professor and how do you use AI in your everyday life?
AI represents a transformative breakthrough that, if used responsibly, will significantly accelerate human progress. As a professor, I encourage my students to embrace AI and understand its capabilities. The challenge lies in ensuring it’s used as a tool to advance our knowledge rather than replace critical thinking. It’s important for educators and students alike to integrate AI into their work to stay at the forefront of innovation and progress.
Comparing physics students today to when you were still studying – do you see any differences in terms of diversity or the way professors and students interact?
When I was a student, the academic environment was far more hierarchical, and challenging a professor was nearly unheard of. When I became a professor at 33, my mother humorously mentioned that I didn’t act like one, reflecting how these dynamics were evolving. Today, leadership is more about visions, inspiring and aligning interests, not enforcing authority.
I encourage my PhD students to immerse themselves into a specific research project in my group. Research isn’t for everyone, as it requires resilience and patience to overcome setbacks, but it’s immensely rewarding as it expands the boundaries of knowledge. I’ve never encountered a perfect manager, and I certainly made my share of mistakes early on. Leadership isn’t something we’re always formally trained in, but it’s essential to cultivate collaboration, support, and adaptability.
My goal is to help students explore whether research is their path, while also recognizing that research isn’t the only exciting career option. The skills they develop in my group during their PhD will prepare them for a wide range of leadership roles beyond academia, giving them the flexibility to pursue various rewarding careers.
What exactly is it about physics that fascinates you so much that you went all the way to a professorship?
When I began my PhD, becoming a professor wasn’t part of my plan – I initially aimed for a career in industry. My strong academic performance at ETH led me to pursue a PhD at Stanford University in California, which seemed like a great opportunity to explore the world and improve my English. While at Stanford, I met my first female professor, who mentored me and helped me switch to a research group that was a better fit for my interest and background. I had a solid theoretical physics education but little lab experience and joining a young professor in applied physics provided an ideal environment to develop experimental skills. I quickly grew to love the hands-on work of setting up my own experiments on a laser table, where I could test my ideas.
After completing my PhD, I joined AT&T Bell Labs, where I had the opportunity to start my independent research project right away. I was given clear instructions: don’t continue with your PhD work, do something different – and make sure it’s good. That challenge pushed me to innovate, and it led to the invention of the SESAM, a technology that revolutionized ultrafast solid-state lasers. This journey from theoretical physics to hands-on experimentation, and ultimately to invention, is what cemented my love for the field and led me to pursue a professorship.
What aspects of your work are you proudest of?
I am most proud of revolutionizing ultrafast laser physics through my invention of SESAM, which has spurred breakthroughs in medicine, communication, and material processing. I also pioneered the generation of few-cycle laser pulses in the near-infrared range with full electric field control, advancing optical clocks, petahertz electronics, and the Attoclock for measuring quantum tunneling time. As a professor, I’ve mentored 101 PhD students, many now leaders in their fields, and completed an 800-page textbook on ultrafast solid-state lasers to guide the next generation of researchers.
What has been your toughest challenge you faced while working in tech?
One of the toughest challenges I faced at ETH Zurich was realizing that my resource allocation was significantly lower than my peers’, not due to poor negotiation but because of a lack of transparency. It took over a decade to secure lab space comparable to male colleagues hired after me. Additionally, my promotion was delayed when I announced my pregnancy, and balancing career with motherhood was difficult, especially also with limited access to daycare during the baby phase. Although I advocated for systemic change, resistance to change and “selective privileging” within male-dominated institutions remains a significant barrier.
As I neared the end of my time at ETH, I faced yet another disappointment. Despite my successful track record, my request for an extension past the age of 65 was denied due to a negative vote from my colleagues in the Institute of Quantum Electronics. Although I eventually gained support from ETH leadership, this situation exemplifies the persistent informal networks of male privilege that continue to shape decisions in academia, often without transparency or justification. It underscores the deeper systemic challenges faced by women in leadership positions in male-dominated environments, where even success often comes with steep personal and professional costs.
What advice would you give other women in tech?
My advice to women in tech is to join forces and work collectively to drive cultural change. While more women are entering these fields, positions of power remain largely male-dominated, and informal networks continue to perpetuate male privilege. It’s essential to bring these issues to light, promote accountability, transparency, and advocate for structural reform.
and Professor of Physics
And what advice would you give women not yet working in tech that want to enter the field?
For women looking to enter tech, my advice is to dive in with confidence and a sense of purpose. Technology and science are about shaping the future – solving global challenges and unlocking new possibilities. Whether you’re passionate about engineering, data science, or even roles that combine tech with strategy, leadership, or innovation, your skills can make a significant impact.
and Professor of Physics
I had a great time with ultrafast laser physics and will miss it when I will retire next year. Having been an independent tenured professor was a dream job for me.
