My great mentor was my doctoral-thesis supervisor. She inspired me with her passion for optics and her communication skills, and she instilled in me confidence and motivation to achieve my goals.

As a teacher, I particularly enjoy the constant interaction with students. As a researcher, I currently work on applications related to diffractive optics, to measure light polarization and to manipulate it, while also exploring new applications in plasma diagnostics.

I am particularly proud of the leadership skills I’ve developed: At the beginning of my PhD, I co-founded the non-profit association “Physics League,” dedicated to the dissemination of physics to everyone from primary-school children to the general public. For this work, I was awarded two “Ciencia en Acción” [Science in Action] prizes as part of an Iberoamerican contest.

I've been involved in the Women in Optics and Photonics Committee of the Spanish Optical Society since its 2018 formation, and I am its current president. This committee showcases work carried out by women researchers in optics and photonics in Spain, creating a network of contacts and mutual support.

One of my greatest challenges was having to emigrate to another country to continue my scientific career, without knowing if there would be a possibility of returning. Experiences such as this one led me to become the proactive and fighting person I consider myself to be today.

To a young woman starting her career, I would tell her to be ambitious, both in her work and in her motivations. You need to pursue what you are passionate about, but don’t let it control you. And above all, enjoy what you do. The moment it doesn’t make you happy, it’s time to change.

The best advice I’ve received is to believe in yourself, in your abilities and in your achievements. Others will want you to believe that it is a matter of luck, and it is not like that. Your success is the result of your work, and the first person who has to value it is yourself.

I think that one of the strongest parts of my career has been mentoring younger people; I would like my legacy to include my actions for a more inclusive and egalitarian scientific world.

We need to show women scientists that they are right where they belong, developing their work and inspiring the world.

Verónica González-Fernández
Assistant Professor, Department of Optics, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Born in Spain / Resides in Spain
Educational Background: BS in Physics, Universidad de Valladolid, Spain; MS in Optical and Imaging Technologies at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain; PhD in Physics, Universidad de Valladolid, Spain