Alessia Pasquazi
Professor in Loughborough University’s Department of Physics
Alessia is an expert in nonlinear optics, and is fascinated by how light interacts with light, mimicking often living systems. Her focus is on applying such a physics to practical ultrafast photonic technologies and she is a relevant expert in the field of microcombs.
Why is gender equality important in STEM?
STEM requires a broad range of skills. The more I do this job and interact with my colleagues, the more I realise that people’s brains are different, and each is suited to seeing a particular side of the problem. Sometimes I find myself blind to specific things, while I see another part of a problem very well. Let’s be clear: STEM subjects are difficult—likely among the most challenging fields of our time—and to get the full picture, you really need a lot of points of view. If you want diversity in thinking, you need diversity in people as well.
What interested you in quantum?
I am interested in quantum's transition to technology. There is a lot of fundamental science that can change people’s lives.
What are you working on at the moment and what are the applications of this?
I am working on a special laser called a microcomb, which will be used as the lancet of an atomic clock. The dream is to have this clock on a microchip that can fit into any electronics. With this accurate clock and the quantum sensors developed by my colleagues, we hope to have a navigation system that does not need satellite connections.
What are your hopes for the future, and is there a particular application of quantum technologies that you are excited to see develop in the years to come?
At this specific point in my life, I have been dedicating many years to bringing precision timing into a portable format, so I would really like to see this system begin to improve our communication networks and be used as navigators instead of GPS connections. This will provide important resilience to our society.
What transferable skills do you think are the most important skills for a career in quantum?
You need to be able to work across disciplines, with one eye on fundamental science and another on engineering. For this, you need to have a solid, general-purpose knowledge in these fields but also be open to trying new solutions. That’s why it is important to communicate well with colleagues who are experts in areas you do not know.
What advice would you give to young women who hope to pursue a career in STEM, particularly in quantum?
Young women can be very determined, so to the girls who want to pursue STEM, I would say: just go ahead—you will do well. To the many, many girls who are good at maths—(we need you)—but are often put off by the idea that Physics, in particular, is a boring, non-creative subject, I would say it is not. I have been there in high school, with obscure procedures to memorise that did not make sense to me. Physics really shows its full charm as a discipline when you have developed enough of a maths background, and that happens when you start university. Quantum, in particular, may seem so detached from reality but all the electronics, communication systems that you are using is based on its principles. So do not rule out a path in Physics: it is fun and important to people.