Elena Pierpaoli
Interview Posted By: Ashley Smith
1. Can you tell us a little about your background? i.e. Where you grew up, what education do you have, a summary of your resume, did you always want to do what you are doing now, when did you start to become interested in STEM, what internships/ volunteering
I grew up in Milano, Italy. After a brief period in which I wanted to become a ballerina, I ended up going to a scientific high-school and then majoring in Physics at the local University (as all Italians do). I always had a fairly easy way with math and logical games. That lead to the high school choice and then to the career path.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
I am a Professor and my research focuses on Cosmology. The teaching part (preparation etc) I think it is easy to imagine. The research part typically involves reading different literature and connecting the various pieces, come up with better solutions for solving theoretical or data analysis problems. Very often, this involves the use of computers.
3. How does STEM relate to your job? How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
I started to cosmology during my masters years. Cosmology is rooted into physics; and data analysis requires quite a bit of statistics and math.
4. Have you faced any discrimination/ challenges being a woman in a stem field? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you have any advice for up and coming women in STEM?
Of course I did, although I was not at that moment aware of it.
My advice is to get informed about potential biases and discrimination's (there is plenty of material now), but at the same time be guided in the daily activities by the passion and willingness to undertake the research path. In the end, that is what pays off.
5. What is the best and worst part of your job? What do you look forward to in your job on a day to day basis? What do you wish you could change?
I like interacting with the students and thinking of problems to solve.
I would prefer a science environment that is less show-business.
This is, in my view, the main negative effect of the internet era, in which communication is extremely easy.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
Learn to be very structured. Set your priorities and make them clear to the people around you, so that they know what to expect from you. Stick to them.
7. What do you define success as?
Having understood what you want in life, and having set realistic targets for yourself. Making your actions follow what you set as goal, day after day. Being satisfied of what you could reach, given the circumstances you were faced with; with the certainty that you did your best.
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Resilience.
Imagination.
9. Who was a mentor to you throughout your career? (can be more than one!) What did they teach you? How did they impact your life?
I learned lessons from different people in different circumstances. Most of all, remember that it’s the mentor that chooses you, not the vice-versa. Make sure you don’t miss or ruin opportunities.
10. What do you think is the best advice you've ever received ? What advice would you give your younger self if you had the chance? What’s one piece of advice you can pass on to us?
My father once told to the young me: “Get a degree, because you’ll always be able to find a husband later on….”
I grew up in Milano, Italy. After a brief period in which I wanted to become a ballerina, I ended up going to a scientific high-school and then majoring in Physics at the local University (as all Italians do). I always had a fairly easy way with math and logical games. That lead to the high school choice and then to the career path.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
I am a Professor and my research focuses on Cosmology. The teaching part (preparation etc) I think it is easy to imagine. The research part typically involves reading different literature and connecting the various pieces, come up with better solutions for solving theoretical or data analysis problems. Very often, this involves the use of computers.
3. How does STEM relate to your job? How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
I started to cosmology during my masters years. Cosmology is rooted into physics; and data analysis requires quite a bit of statistics and math.
4. Have you faced any discrimination/ challenges being a woman in a stem field? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you have any advice for up and coming women in STEM?
Of course I did, although I was not at that moment aware of it.
My advice is to get informed about potential biases and discrimination's (there is plenty of material now), but at the same time be guided in the daily activities by the passion and willingness to undertake the research path. In the end, that is what pays off.
5. What is the best and worst part of your job? What do you look forward to in your job on a day to day basis? What do you wish you could change?
I like interacting with the students and thinking of problems to solve.
I would prefer a science environment that is less show-business.
This is, in my view, the main negative effect of the internet era, in which communication is extremely easy.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
Learn to be very structured. Set your priorities and make them clear to the people around you, so that they know what to expect from you. Stick to them.
7. What do you define success as?
Having understood what you want in life, and having set realistic targets for yourself. Making your actions follow what you set as goal, day after day. Being satisfied of what you could reach, given the circumstances you were faced with; with the certainty that you did your best.
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Resilience.
Imagination.
9. Who was a mentor to you throughout your career? (can be more than one!) What did they teach you? How did they impact your life?
I learned lessons from different people in different circumstances. Most of all, remember that it’s the mentor that chooses you, not the vice-versa. Make sure you don’t miss or ruin opportunities.
10. What do you think is the best advice you've ever received ? What advice would you give your younger self if you had the chance? What’s one piece of advice you can pass on to us?
My father once told to the young me: “Get a degree, because you’ll always be able to find a husband later on….”
