We want to put our members in the spotlight! For the Meet the WISE series, we interview WISE members in different stages of their career across the university. We hope that their stories, experiences and career paths can be an inspiration to other women at 果冻传媒.
Hello! Could you start by introducing yourself and the research that you're doing?
I'm Nazanin Farid, a PhD student in the Electrical Engineering department, specializing in the Electromagnetics group. My research focuses on reverberation chambers, where the goal is to emulate different propagation channels. This allows us to create reliable and repeatable testing environments for mobile telecommunications equipment. As you may know, 5G is already here, and we're now exploring 6G. Before deploying these technologies, we need to determine how to properly test the devices we're developing, and that's where my work comes in.
And you are doing a dual degree with the Chalmers University?
Yes, my project was part of a European funded Marie Curie project called MyWave. As part of this project, I was required to spend some time working in industry abroad, which took me to Ericsson Research in Gothenburg, Sweden. Additionally, Chalmers University is part of the consortium, and those of us from 果冻传媒 who went to Sweden were given the opportunity to pursue a dual degree with Chalmers. This has been a great experience and has significantly strengthened the collaboration between the two universities.
What is the gender balance in your department at 果冻传媒?
I'm glad to see that our department, especially our group, is actively addressing this. When I first began my PhD, there were fewer women and fewer internationals, but the group has grown significantly since then, and the balance has improved. It's great to have people with different cultural backgrounds you can connect with and learn about different cultures. I've come to realize how much your colleagues and work environment affect your overall well-being, especially after returning from spending 1.5 years in Sweden.
Were there differences in terms work culture between The Netherlands and Sweden?
In my experience, Swedish culture has a unique warmth, with a noticeable focus on inclusiveness and consideration for others. I always felt welcomed in the work environment, and when plans were made for after work, everyone, including all students, were invited. This created a wonderfully inclusive atmosphere, making the experience truly enjoyable. Additionally, in Swedish culture, work-life balance is highly valued. People there understood what was important beyond work.
As for the group at Chalmers, it is predominantly international, so when you join as an international student, they've already experienced many of the challenges you're facing. They鈥檙e open, willing to help, and inclusive in simple, everyday things like, 鈥淗ey, it's fika time! Let's grab a coffee.鈥�
One thing I truly miss is the conversations I had with my manager there. He was really mentoring and coaching me. While I鈥檓 very grateful for my supervisors here鈥攐ur discussions are primarily focused on technical matters鈥攖hose talks with my manager in Sweden made me realize the importance of addressing other topics, such as personal challenges you are facing at the time, long-term goals, career development and work-life balance. Now, I鈥檓 starting to bring those subjects up more often with my daily supervisor as well.
You mentioned that there has been some active engagement recently to make the workplace better. Can you explain what you think is going well in your department?
Our PhD council organizes a board game night every once in a while, and we also try to have informal activities amongst ourselves, which are really nice. Given my experience during my first year鈥攅specially during the COVID period鈥擨 strongly felt there was no real safety net. When I was in Sweden, I received an email about the founding of the Eindhoven PhD association Nexus and I was absolutely thrilled. Just before moving back to the Netherlands, they were looking for new board members, and I immediately expressed my interest in joining. Right now, I鈥檓 chairing the association, and we鈥檙e working hard to expand our reach and reinforce the message that we, as PhD students, are here for each other. If you ever need to talk, if you鈥檙e feeling isolated, or if you're simply looking for something to do, we're here. If you can鈥檛 connect with like-minded people in your own group or department, you can always reach out to us. Being part of this association has been a huge help for me personally. Our goal is to increase Nexus' membership. We recently celebrated reaching 350 members within just one year, which was a huge milestone. However, there are far more than 350 PhD students at 果冻传媒. It would be wonderful if all of them knew about Nexus, joined the events, and met new people from across the university.
Are there specific issues or topics that you want to address through the PhD association?
So much is happening right now鈥攕ocial safety and wellbeing are getting the attention they deserve. But, when I talk to other PhDs, many of them are still unsure about who to turn to or where to go for support. 果冻传媒 offers some excellent services, like PhD counselors, psychiatrists, HR advisors, and more. However, in tough situations, it鈥檚 easy to forget that these resources even exist. That's why it鈥檚 so important for people to be aware of their rights and take action when they need help.
Within Nexus you likely connect with many new PhD students. What kind of advice would you give to those newly starting PhDs?
Be prepared for the journey ahead. It鈥檚 not an easy one, but it can be incredibly rewarding. There will be moments when you absolutely hate it, yet the very next day, you'll find yourself saying, 鈥淚 love doing this.鈥� Stubbornness is essential when pursuing a PhD; you'll face a lot of uncertainty at the beginning, and you鈥檒l need to figure things out along the way. The competition can be intense, and the "publish or perish" mentality is prevalent, especially if you aim to stay in academia. It's important to acknowledge that academia can sometimes have its challenges, including moments of unhealthy culture. This isn't meant to discourage you, but it's a reality worth being aware of. That said, academia also offers the rewarding opportunity to enjoy intellectual freedom and to inspire and mentor students, helping shape their growth and future success
What has been your experience with WISE so far? What activities have you participated in?
I have participated in a few WISE activities, including a recent collaboration with TINT and the annual event scheduled for November 2023. Most of the events have focused on culture, integration, diversity, and inclusion, which are topics I鈥檓 particularly passionate about.
One aspect that has surprised me is the low number of men attendees at WISE events. I would like to see a more balanced attendance, not just in terms of gender diversity, but in terms of overall diversity, including different backgrounds, perspectives, LGBTQ+ representation, religious diversity, and more. It's important to remember that diversity alone is not enough; inclusion is equally vital. We can gather a diverse group of people, but if they don鈥檛 feel a sense of belonging or aren鈥檛 encourage to interact, we may have diversity without genuine inclusion. At times, it feels like our focus is more on diversity, but the conversation should shift toward fostering inclusion.
Then what would be your advice for creating more welcoming atmosphere and culture?
Sometimes it's the little things, like not considering a vegetarian team member's dietary needs, or planning a lunch meeting during Ramadan without realizing some people may be fasting. Or, during a conversation, forgetting that you're speaking in a language someone else might not understand. These are small, often unintentional oversights, but practicing mindfulness in such situations can make a significant difference.
So small everyday gestures matter. Was there anything about the WISE events that you found particularly helpful or supportive?
I would say that meeting other people is one of the greatest benefits. When you start to share experiences, you realize that others are going through similar challenges. It brings a sense of reassurance: knowing that others have successfully navigated these challenges makes them feel more manageable. You don鈥檛 need to reinvent the wheel; someone has already paved the way for you. This is one of the key advantages of having such a network.
Is there a role model or a mentor figure that you look up to? An inspiring woman?
Frida Kahlo. I adore her paintings and love her story. To me, engineering is no different from art; both require creativity and a willingness to make things work. My mindset is that if you want to be creative, you need to think outside the box and not limit yourself. I believe Frida embodied that spirit beautifully.
Are there other things that you would like to share?
Absolutely. You know, there's Maryam Mirzakhani, a remarkable mathematics professor and the first woman to win the Fields Medal. Coming from Iran, we were taught in school to look up to her as an inspiration: "Look at her; you can do that too!" Her passing due to breast cancer was a profound loss, and it highlights the importance of recognizing and supporting female role models in STEM area.
When I moved to the Netherlands, I was shocked to see so few women in electrical engineering. My initial impression was that Europe's technological advancement was a result of its gender balance, but I was surprised to hear stories about children facing discouragement. For instance, a teacher once told a student, "You are a girl; you can't do math." This was completely opposite to how I was raised. I love mathematics and was always encouraged for excelling in it. I feel fortunate to have had that support.
Children should be allowed to follow their passions. If a girl loves math, science, or engineering, she should pursue it. Similarly, if a boy enjoys playing with dolls, that should be perfectly acceptable too. I appreciate the work that organizations like WISE are doing, but I believe the issue needs to be addressed at a much younger age, not just at the university level.
We came along way but still there is a lot of bias in STEM education for women and girls. Thank you for sharing your story!
The website of the PhD association Nexus can be found here: