Fahima Ouchen - 2016-17 SPIE Women in Optics Planner
Senior Research Engineer, University of Dayton Research Institute, USA
 |
Country of Birth: Algeria
|
Growing up, I would spend hours watching my uncle taking TV and radio sets apart to try to figure out how they work or how to repair the non-working ones. All of this caught my attention and awakened my curiosity to know more and more. My parents saw the passion for science and engineering growing in me day after day and strongly encouraged me to pursue a professional career in the field.
I currently work as a senior research engineer at the University of Dayton Research Institute. My research work is aimed towards exploring and investigating a new class of materials with unique properties to be used in combination or as alternatives to the well-known material in electronics, silicon. My work consists of designing, developing and researching techniques and processes to tailor the properties of these bio-based materials to the appropriate intended applications. I also design and prototype electrical and optical test structure to assess the performance of the bio-materials in close to real world applications.
Being a woman pursuing a professional career mostly dominated by men was a challenge rather than an obstacle. We equally are gifted with the ability to think, learn, and communicate, and it is up to each of us to design our own road map to the future.
Believe in yourself and your capabilities. If you choose STEM because you want a career in STEM, do not let anyone else negatively influence your choice. Be prepared to work hard to achieve your goals.