Judi Parvizinejad

From a young age, I was drawn to discovering how the world works. I excelled in math and physics, and they became the perfect tools for exploration. My inspiration came from Marie Curie. Later, a remarkable professor during my studies helped solidify my passion for physics. When I chose to specialize in solid-state physics, I knew I had made the right decision.

What challenges have you faced as a Persian woman in experimental physics?

I had to earn a second master' degree in Belgium in material science engineering. The program was challenging as someone with a background in physics but no prior experience in material engineering, however I won a scholarship for that which was essential for me. During my master study, I got to know about the fascinating field of quantum computing. Despite my passion, I had to compete with students much younger than me, who had just graduated with a master's degree in physics and had already specialized in quantum computing or quantum information. This was tough but I didn't give up.

Later I moved to TU Delft to specialize in superconducting circuits. During this time, I gained valuable skills in the design, simulation and fabrication of quantum devices. It was an amazing experience, and I wanted nothing else but to continue making efforts to build a quantum computer. That difficult situation eventually led me to a position in Hannover, working on implementing quantum error correction algorithms on trapped-ion quantum devices with the application for quantum computing and quantum metrology. Though it was a new field for me, I was able to contribute meaningfully and grow within the role.