Transcending Boundaries: Women in Cutting-Edge Research

February 11 is dedicated to girls and women in research. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is good opportunity to raise awareness of the achievements of women in science as well as of the challenges they face. The researchers Cornelia von Baeckmann, Elisabeth Salomon, and Isabelle Zink stepped in front of the camera to provide us with fascinating insights into their careers. They talk about challenges and successes and how their experiences abroad have shaped their academic development.

All three are Erwin Schrödinger international fellows and, on the occasion of the program's 40th anniversary, they emphasize the important contribution their international research experience made to their research careers.

Three researchers, three paths to success

Cornelia von Baeckmann’s research at TU Wien focuses on porous organometallic materials for biomedical and environmental applications. She is driven by curiosity and the desire to find creative solutions to complex problems. She feels that international experience, like her stay at the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Barcelona (Spain), is key to developing new perspectives.

Elisabeth Salomon is investigating breast imaging technology using ionizing radiation. Her work aims to improve quality assurance and patient safety in the long term. Her research stay at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt in Braunschweig (Germany) with an Erwin Schrödinger fellowship was a particularly valuable experience, she says.

Isabelle Zink is a researcher at the University of Vienna. She studies the immune system of microorganisms, in particular the Argonaute system. Her stay at Wageningen University (Netherlands) marked a milestone in her career. The knowledge and experience she gained there were useful for her in her next steps on the way towards leading her own research group.

Find out more about Cornelia von Baeckmann, Elisabeth Salomon, and Isabelle Zink’s inspiring stories in our International Day of Women and Girls in Science campaign on all our social media channels: Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.