What is your background?

My background is a mix of engineering and social science. My undergraduate degree is in Mechanical Engineering while my postgraduate degrees are in social science, mainly related to human factors and ergonomics. 

Tell us about your job?

I am mainly involved in human factors research related to the use of novel and advanced technologies in manufacturing sectors. In the last five years, I have been involved intensively in the development of cloud computing and digital Twins which are two essential technologies to support the implementation of Industry 4.0. My main role is to ensure that these technologies could be used effectively by human operators. 

What kind of support have you found helpful in advancing your career?

I find the support provided through the Researcher Academy to be really useful as they provide various programs to support researchers such as training or networking opportunities. I also found that the research group I belong to - Human Factors research group - has been really helpful in my career. Informal exchanges with more senior researchers have helped me tremendously in providing some valuable insights and navigating the jobs as a researcher. 

What advice would you give to aspiring women in engineering?

When I did my undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering in Indonesia, female students in engineering were really underrepresented as there was a misconception that engineering is very challenging and more demanding than other subjects. However I find this not to be the case. So my advice to aspiring women in engineering is to just go for it and be confident that they can do it.