Her Story
About Sai
I have been in my current role at my company for one and a half years, but including my PhD, it's been over six and a half years, close to seven years. I work as a senior research specialist at the Dow Chemical Company with a background in aerospace engineering supporting R&D in mobility science, mainly automotive and EV batteries. I specialize in solid mechanics and computational modeling of materials at the molecular level.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sai
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say being uncomfortable. Doing the thing that makes me uncomfortable, and then being comfortable with it. Not being afraid of getting your hands dirty. Having great mentors along the way who are always supportive, a great PhD advisor who really motivated me, and even today in my company a great leader and good network.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If you can dream it, just go for it. I'm sure there'll be hurdles on the way, but have trust in yourself that you're gonna figure it out. If you can dream it, you can make it happen.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges include economic cycles causing job uncertainty and visa issues, lack of mentors especially women leaders in automotive. Opportunities include closer community via social media, learning from peers, upskilling on platforms like Coursera, new startups, and more connectivity in the technical network.
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