University of Silesia in Katowice

Prof. MONIKA MUSIAŁ

Professor, Institute of Chemistry

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Why did I choose the path of science?

My journey into a theoretical chemistry began during my highschool years. The chemistry taught at the highschool level for me was a fascinating subject: construction of the exotic organic formulas, establishing possible isomers or balancing the redox equation it was more a combinatorial analysis than a traditional chemistry. I was also a fan of mathematics but to me a chemistry was less abstract than a mathematics, and at the same time also a challenging field. So my field of choice when applying to University was just a chemistry and not a physics or mathematics.

However, I was deeply disappointed when I was confronted with the real chemistry during my study. I realized that I do not have any flair for practical chemistry performed in the labs, in other words, for so called wet chemistry. Everything was OK when I was solving chemistry problems with pencil and paper but in the lab — it was a disaster.

But I was a lucky person since very soon, it was at the second year of my study, it turned out that I can be still a fan of chemistry without going to the lab. This was when I learned a quantum chemistry. Although it required more math but it was not a problem. However, the fact that you can predict with your computer all chemical and physical properties of chemical compound was unbelievable. Of course, it was not so straightforward but I decided that the quantum chemistry will be my cherished field of my scientific activities.

My main interest is focused on the development of new computational methods. One of them I proposed in my Ph.D. thesis where I developed the most advanced variant of a very popular quantum chemical method known as a coupled cluster approach, however, computationally very costly. That was my entrance ticket to the group of the developers of new quantum chemical tools. Very soon I was invited to do my postdoctoral research in Quantum Theory Project (QTP) in Gainesville, University of Florida, at that time a leading world institution in quantum chemistry, where I was working in the group of prof. Rodney J. Bartlett. Prof. Bartlett is one of the cofounders of the most widespread quantum chemical method, already mentioned before, i.e. coupled cluster method. The collaboration with prof. Bartlett is active till now (over 20 years) and I was privileged to coauthor with him over 30 papers.

Generally, my research is appreciated among the quantum chemistry world. One of my papers which I coauthor with prof. Bartlett is very popular among quantum chemists. It reached nearly 4000 citations and still is well recognized in the literature.

When I look back I think I was lucky to be able to work both in Poland and in USA and to gain professional experience in one of the best places for quantum chemists, mentioned QTP. Learning about first principle methods, about foundations of physics and chemistry, gives me a lot of satisfaction as well as obtaining from my theoretical calculations the same results as from complicated experiments.

When I encounter scientific problems and solve them it is sort of a pleasure. It’s more like a challenge not only the job. ”Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life” – Confucius.

MESUDE ZELIHA ARKAN, PhD

Assistant Professor, Institute of Chemistry

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Why did I choose the path of science?

In my high school years, I thought that I was not crazy enough to study fundamental science. But, my last year chemistry teacher made me fall in love with chemistry. Then, whenever it is asked ”which program do you want to study in university”, I always replied chemistry. There is a saying in Turkey: if you say your dream forty times, it will come true, I have proven the truth of this saying 😀

Dealing with chemistry has shaped my character. My desire to discover new things has increased. Mysterious and difficult things have attracted my attention more. For this reason, I decided to continue my education in academia after my bachelor’s degree. I have met very successful scientists throughout my academic life. I have attended various conferences and presentations. I have worked with researchers with different expertise and made academic publications. I currently have friends in many parts of the world whom I can visit and even run projects with. Sometimes, if I have a question on my mind to sort out, I send an e-mail to one of my friends and exchange ideas with them. All these advantages are the beauties that science has brought to me.

Based on my laboratory studies and observations so far, I can say that the environments where female researchers work are more organized and cleaner than the working environments where only men are present. In addition, we can offer different solutions to the problems encountered. Therefore, female researchers should be included in every research team. All young women interested in science should experience this adventure

KATARZYNA SCHMIDT, PhD DSc, Associate Professor

Professor of the University, August Chełkowski Institute of Physics

Deputy Director of the August Chełkowski Institute of Physics for the term 2022-2026

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CERN | My story

Why did I choose the path of science?

Women in Exact Sciences: My Road to CERN

Science has been with me forever. The first year of my life, I spent in the dormitory in Katowice-Ligota, where my parents—still chemistry and physics students back then—juggled parenting and their studies.  One of my favourite childhood photos shows a several-month-old me with a physics handbook in one hand and a cable in the other. This photo was taken by my dad who still claims that he had always known who I would become. Although my parents have never put pressure on me and who I should become in the future, the fact that they are both scientists has most certainly influenced my approach to sciences. Maths, physics, and chemistry were something natural and casual to me; I didn’t perceive them as particularly complicated and demanding, or reserved only for the chosen few. For me these were simple and ordinary subjects, approachable to everyone who wanted to learn them. Such an approach has shaped my scientific path and only confirmed my belief that exact sciences have no gender – they are for everyone who has enough courage to explore them.

fot. Katarzyna Schidt’s Father

The Origins: From A School Desk to My First Dreams 

My true fascination with physics started in primary school, thanks to a wonderful teacher of mine; she inspired me to read the book The God Particle by Leon Lederman. Although I didn’t understand much back then, I remember that there are some particles called quarks and mesons, and places like CERN are the arena of the greatest scientific discoveries. It was then when I thought to myself ‘I want to be there.’

This dream began to come true during my doctoral studies at the University of Silesia. I visited CERN for the very first time in 2009 during an education programme. This experience reassured me that I really wanted to get back there. And I did! A few years later, I joined a research team, and every single visit there confirmed my feeling that science is not only work but also passion and inspiration.

International Experiences

After I got my PhD, I decided to do a postdoctoral internship in the USA. Oh boy, was that a challenge. On the one hand, my dream of many years has come true and I have managed to go across the pond, which had been one of my professional and life goals. On the other, I found myself in a completely new reality, where I had a bunch of logistics to deal with, e.g. finding an apartment or handling all the paperwork for things like water, electricity, and waste disposal. Another difficulty was my English proficiency level. While I was fine with everyday communication, I initially had a hard time with the specialised language related to heavy-ion physics. For the first few months, I took notes during meetings and discussions, and then I reviewed them in my free time to understand and complete the tasks assigned to me. Although the beginning was tough, I became a part of a fabulous team, where I happened to meet two fellow female postdocs. That’s rather uncommon in the world of science, but it shows that women are making their way into this field with more confidence. Not only did we work together on complex projects, but we also travelled around America, forming friendships that have lasted to this day.

After a bit more than two years I was back in Poland and joined a team that worked on the NA61/SHINE experiment in CERN [3]. My work focuses on using machine learning methods to filter noise recorded by the detector. This helps us save storage space and focus on the data that actually matters for the experiments. It’s amazing how much technology can support science and open up new possibilities.

Stats and Challenges: Women in STEM

Although the number of women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) is slowly increasing, they are still a minority. According to data from UNESCO, women occupy only about 30% of research positions worldwide [1], and this percentage is even lower in fields like physics and engineering. And even though the community at CERN is international and very open, women make up less than 20% of staff members [2].

The challenges that women in STEM have to face are more complex than they may seem. Apart from breaking the glass ceiling—which remains a challenge in terms of promotions itself—women receive lower research grants than men. Moreover, there seems to be a lack of female mentors who could inspire and support younger generations. I am lucky to have come across amazing mentors—both men and women—who helped me grow scientifically and professionally.

Inspiring Figures: Women Who Changed Physics

Obviously, Marie Skłodowska-Curie is a scientific icon, but it’s important to remember that she was not the only woman to make a significant contribution to the development of physics. There are several other women who paved the way for future generations of women in science, e.g., Lise Meitner, who was part of the team that discovered and explained nuclear fission, or Chien-Shiung Wu, whose experiments contradicted the law of conservation of parity. We must also remember Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who discovered the first radio pulsars, although the Nobel Prize for that went to her male supervisor.

These stories remind us to appreciate and recognise women’s contribution to science and show how much more we can achieve when everyone has equal opportunities.

Work-Life Balance: How to Combine Passion with Everyday Living

Balancing scientific work and private life is a challenge many women in STEM face. In my case, the support of my loved ones and the flexibility offered by working in an international scientific environment have been crucial. They allow me to pursue my research passions while also finding time for family life.

Unfortunately, I still encounter stereotypes about women in science. People often ask me whether physics is not too difficult a field for a woman or how I plan to balance my career with motherhood. It highlights how important it is to keep promoting equity and changing social beliefs.

Mentorship and Support: Inspiration for Next Generations

I get anxious when parents say things like ‘I hated maths,’ ‘Physics is not my cup of tea,’ or ‘Chemistry was a nightmare’ in front of their children. I feel they are unaware of the influence such words may have on the youngest minds. Since children instinctively mirror their parents’ attitudes and beliefs, they may develop a bias against subjects like physics or chemistry before they’ve even had their first class. It’s important for us as adults to encourage curiosity and openness towards science, rather than unknowingly discouraging young children from exploring these fascinating fields.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have met amazing mentors along my very own journey, who have all helped me believe in myself and grow academically. The female mentors have been particularly important to me, as they have shown me that a woman can succeed in the sciences without sacrificing who she is.

Today, I do my best to support younger female colleagues by participating in mentoring programmes and sharing my experience. I believe that every woman in science can inspire others, and such support among women is crucial for building confidence and breaking barriers down.

 One of the biggest challenges is encouraging young girls to pursue exact sciences. Many young women give up on careers in STEM because of a lack of role models or the misconception that these are male domains. That’s why initiatives promoting science among girls are so important.

I regularly participate in workshops and lectures for young people where I talk about my work and show that physics can be fascinating and accessible to everyone. I do believe that every girl and woman who dreams of a scientific career should have a chance to see that dream come true, despite any stereotypes and barriers.

Science: A Passion that Connects

My road to CERN is not only a brief story about physics but also about breaking down barriers, mentor’s support and believing in oneself. I am proud to be part of this extraordinary community and I hope that more and more women will have the chance to pursue exact sciences in a similar way.

Science is not only about numbers and equations. It’s about people, dreams and that drive to discover the unknown above everything else. And although the road to success seems a little bit bumpy, it’s worth following one’s passion because that makes our work exceptional.

[1] Baskaran, Angathevar. ‘UNESCO science report: Towards 2030.’ Institutions and Economies (2016): 125-127.

[2] Gender diversity on the right track at CERN, CERN, https://home.cern/news/news/cern/gender-diversity-right-track-cern, (access: 03 Feb2025)

[3] Heavy-ion collisions at intermediate and high energies, https://us.edu.pl/instytut/ifiz/nauka/zespoly-badawcze/fizyka-jadrowa-w-badaniach-oddzialywan-i-jej-zastosowania/badanie-zderzen-ciezkich-jonow-przy-posrednich-i-wysokich-energiach/, (access: 03 Feb 2025)