EDPY Alumni testimonials
My time in EDPY began with curiosity about turbulence physics and computational methods. After completing my PhD at the Swiss Plasma Center, I’m now working at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, contributing to simulations that help us better understand fusion plasmas.
During my doctoral studies, I focused on fusion plasma turbulence modeling, learning to develop numerical codes and working with high-performance computing. Thanks to the EDPY program, I attended solid doctoral courses in both theoretical physics and computational approaches, but I also benefited from irreplaceable administrative support, making the whole experience much smoother.
One of the most valuable aspects of my PhD was the collaborative environment – working with colleagues and researchers from all over the globe, participating in conferences, and growing as an integrated member of the scientific community. I also thoroughly enjoyed the teaching opportunities, leading exercise sessions and designing exam questions.
Looking back, my PhD thesis proved to be the perfect springboard for pursuing a research career abroad. When I first started EDPY, I honestly wouldn’t have imagined that I would end up at Princeton – I’m still a bit amazed at how the PhD made this path possible. The combination of rigorous coursework, research opportunities, and mentorship created a supportive environment for growth that opened doors I never expected.
PhD 2024
Since graduating in 2024, I’ve been working at Miraex – a quantum start-up developing photonic integrated circuits for quantum transducers, repeaters, and interconnects. The environment is remarkably open-minded and encourages fresh ideas in a field that constantly demands new approaches. Here is where I truly appreciate the time I spent in EDPY.
Although my PhD work was 95 % theoretical, today I’m involved in quality-control protocols, experiment design, database management, web development, and more. Recently I asked myself how this shift happened, and I realised that EDPY’s international, highly diverse community taught me fundamentals that reach far beyond my thesis.
The most fascinating part is that, in day-to-day conversations, I can’t always recall the exact lectures or discussions. Yet the moment I face a problem I’ve never seen before, I’m not lost. I know what to do: ask the right questions, map possible solutions, weigh risks, costs, and benefits, and recognise patterns that feel oddly familiar.
Sometimes I remember hearing about a similar challenge from a fellow PhD student or at an EDPY event; other times the source doesn’t matter. What matters is that during my time at EDPY I learned how to learn – quickly and effectively. That meta-skill is now my most valuable tool for driving research and innovation at Miraex.
PhD 2024
After completing the EDPY program in 2023, I have been fully committed to co-founding Protonica, a DeepTech startup developing a new generation of detectors for advanced cancer treatment (hadron therapy). Although this work extends beyond my thesis focus, it was during my PhD that I met my two co-founders, with whom I continue to share this journey.
The research skills I developed with the support of my mentors and colleagues at EPFL, along with the network I built through international collaborations and conferences, have enabled me to navigate and innovate at this exciting intersection of physics, medicine, and business.
I’m also grateful to the EDPY program for supporting my initiative to launch a remote doctoral class during the COVID-19 lockdown, which brought together students from around the world. That experience taught me resilience, flexibility, and the power of collaboration, qualities I lean on every day as an entrepreneur.
PhD 2023
After completing my PhD in Physics in 2020 — just before turning 30! — I transitioned from academic research to the world of innovation and entrepreneurship. During my postdoc at EPFL, I earned a Prince2® certification in project management, which proved invaluable in my first role as a project manager at a startup. In 2024, I co-founded Verretex SA, an EPFL spin-off from LPAC, where we develop high-quality regenerated glass fiber textiles for industrial applications. I’m now a happy, busy mum of three children (ages 6 years to 4 months), doing my best to find a good work–life balance. The EDPY program gave me not only a strong foundation in research and problem-solving but also helped me connect with people from diverse backgrounds and open my boundaries—both personally and professionally. It continues to shape how I grow as a scientist, entrepreneur, and parent.
PhD 2020
I first arrived at EPFL in 2014 for my master thesis and immediately fell in love with the university’s vibrant research environment. Coming from a background in materials engineering, I transitioned into experimental physics and joined the Laboratory of Physics of Complex Matter in 2016, that has been possible thanks to the rigorous training at EPFL. My PhD focused on the electronic properties of layered materials, with many collaborations within EPFL and across top international institutions like Max Planck Dresden and Brookhaven National Lab. After graduating in 2020 and a brief Postdoc, I joined Hitachi Energy’s corporate research center in 2021.
Today, as a Senior Scientist, I focus on reliability and physics-of-failure, supporting global R&D in enhancing power grid component resilience and the scouting of new technologies. The strong scientific foundation and hands-on experience I gained at EPFL—especially through its international collaborations and world-class labs—inspired me when building new research infrastructure in industry. EPFL was not just a place of learning, but a launchpad for my career.
My time at EDPY laid the foundation for a career that bridges fundamental physics and real-world innovation.
PhD 2020