Spotlight series on Women in OPeraTIC
We are proud to highlight the exceptional women driving innovation within our project. Their groundbreaking work and leadership are shaping our future and serving as powerful role models for the next generation in technology and manufacturing.
This initiative will showcase their achievements and unique perspectives, particularly in photonics, to inspire more women to pursue careers in these fields and to promote an inclusive, diverse environment.
Stay tuned as we celebrate the remarkable women who are paving the way for future innovators.
Céline Petit
Process Engineer
What is your current role in the OPeraTIC project, and what are your primary responsibilities?
For the OPeraTIC project, I am responsible for providing simulated data to train machine learning models. In partnership with colleagues from the technology center AIMEN, I make the link between their need in terms of data and what we are able to simulate with our machining profile simulation software LS-PLUME®. Artificial intelligence algorithms are quite data intensive. Therefore, it was necessary to automate the simulation of profiles via our software. In this context, I developed a python script to automatically launch simulations in our software with each input machining set of parameters requested by AIMEN.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time outside of work?
During my free time outside of work, to relieve stress and recharge my batteries, I do a lot of sport: from crossfit to xcore. I like the team spirit that we can find in crossfit and the fact of constantly trying to push our limits. Sport also allows to clear mind before coming back home and promotes a good balance between professional and personal life. All of these elements are important and help to be efficient when working on a cutting-edge project like OPeraTIC. I have also had my horse for 18 years. Visiting her is always an opportunity to get some fresh air and spend time in nature. It is in these moments that good ideas are sometimes born.
What excites you most about the future of photonics and laser technology?
Before Lasea, I worked for 5 years in research with continous emission lasers, which is a different technology from what we are using here. So, I have been working for a short time in the context I currently know. However, I can already see that laser technoloy continues to evolve and with each new advancement in this world we push new limits and discover new processes and new machining methods that constantly improve perfomance. When we look to the future, we see that there are still a lot of research and discoveries that will need to be done, which is very exciting.
What advice would you give to young women considering a career in photonics or a related field?
From my point of view, the world of photonics is an area where all enthusiasts have their place, regardless of gender. Unlike other branches, I find that the man/woman ratio is quite balanced. In addition, mentalities have evolved and women are increasingly represented in many fields. Especially since COVID, with work being a place where you spend a lot of time, it’s important to choose something you like. Consequently, if you are a young woman passionate about this sector, don’t hesitate.
How does diversity within the OPeraTIC team contribute to the project’s success?
Diversity within a project is for me a key element of its success. All people working on a project form a large team with a common goal. Within a team, diversity is extremely important and helpful, it allows to have different points of view, different backgrounds, and different knowledge. All these characteristics lead to innovative ideas and good results.
Tamara Delgado García
Laser Researcher
What is your current role in the OPeraTIC project, and what are your primary responsibilities?
Within the OPeraTIC project, I’m mainly working on the laser surface texturing experiments, investigating the fabrication of functional surfaces for the use-cases applications; as well as fabricating laser textures for training AI models. Regarding this last point, I’m also collaborating with the definition of the parameters ranges to be investigated. In addition, as part of AIMEN team, I’m helping with coordination and management tasks; as well as participating in the experimental tests needed for the final integration of the OPeraTIC system.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time outside of work?
Outside of duty, I enjoy spending time with my family. I appreciate a good meal and spending time outdoors. I really value the time I spend with my daugther and my husband, and I try to spend as much time as I can with family and friends.
How do you see the innovations from OPeraTIC impacting the future of manufacturing and technology?
Laser surface texturing (LST) is a powerful tool to modify the functional surface properties of materials such as tribological or optical properties. However, the implementation of LST at industrial scale still presents some challenges. Thanks to the developments carried out within the OPeraTIC project in high-power ultra-short pulse lasers, optical fibers, dynamic beam shaping, robotics, process monitoring and AI-enhanced laser processes; we will be able to overcome the current limitations and boost the adoption of laser technologies for LST at industrial scale.
Can you tell us a little about your background and how you got into the field of photonics/laser technology?
I studied Physics at the University of Santiago de Compostela (Galicia, Spain). I was in the last year of my physics degree when I got a grant to work with the laser processing group at my university, then I discovered the amazing world of laser and photonics and I realized that I wanted to know more about such world…so I got a master’s degree in laser technologies. Finally, I achieved a PhD in Laser Materials Processing. Since 2017, I have continued increasing my knowledge and expertise in laser technologies as part of the laser microprocessing group of AIMEN.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced while working on the OPeraTIC project, and how did you overcome them?
OPeraTIC is a cutting-edge project where different challenges arise. The development of the novel OPeraTIC system requires the collaboration of experts from many different fields such as lasers, optics, robotics, AI or process monitoring. In this context, we are able to overcome every technical challenge thanks to the knowledge shared among the experienced partners of OPeraTIC.
Anne Henrottin
Innovation Project Manager
How do you balance your personal life with the
demands of working on a cutting-edge project
like OPeraTIC?
Since I become a Mum, I have learned the importance to have a well balance between my
personal life and my work in very cutting-edge R&D projects as OPeraTIC. To achieve this, I reduce my time at work to a 4/5 and take one day
with my child. In the end, I found that I was even more efficient on my 4 days
than when I had 5 and I continued to have an almost identical workload compared
to my situation without child and without abandoning my private life. I found a
well balance in my life thanks to this.
What excites you most about the future of
photonics and laser technology?
I’ve been working in photonics research for 11
years now and I’ve never had a dull moment. The field of photonics is progressing
very quickly, with lasers becoming more powerful, determining how to manage and
multiply beams and applying our knowledge of laser processes to new sectors
that benefit the environment is very rewarding for me.
How do you stay motivated and inspired in
your work?
The research domains never stop to innovate. I think that is the aspect of my work that help me to stay motivated.
We can explore, innovate, create new components, new processes and concepts
that maybe one day will help people. It is rewarding to work in this kind of
environment.
As a woman in the photonics/laser technology
field, what unique perspectives or strengths do you bring to the
table?
I think that as a woman, I catch rapidly the
situation, I can analyse it easily and adapt myself to the objective. The women are known to be able to perform many tasks at the same times, we have this
faculty to manage tasks rapidly, in a structured way and
efficiently. Thanks to our technical background we can provide quick inputs
once our background is recognised by our work environment.
What do you think are the biggest challenges
for women in tech today, and how can we address them?
In the tech domain, it’s not easy to make your mark as a young woman. Even after 11 years in this field, in some meetings, it is still necessary to prove my values and my competencies. For me, now I take this as a challenge : “how to convince quickly the person I’m talking to of my skills“. It always is more work for a woman to prove her worth than a man. The mentality is starting to change with the new generation but there is still some work to be done to convince the whole photonics sector of the value of women. I observed more and more initiatives to promote the woman internationally, such as Photonics 100. I was voted one of the 100 most innovative people this year and that gives me the chance to take part in various conferences and articles. It is also difficult for a woman to reach a position of responsibility in a company. Some companies are trying to achieve parity on the management committee but this is a minority in our field.
