We Continue Celebrating the Women of MELISSA on International Women’s Day
March 8 – On International Women’s Day we continue to celebrate the amazing women in our project and women all around the world. We asked our female scientists about their journey in science and advice for aspiring female researchers. Read what they have to say below.
Lubnaa - Universitaet Bern
What is your research about? My research focuses on using AI and computer vision for automatic dietary assessment. Basically, turning multimedia meal data like images and videos, into the nutritional contents of the meal.
Have you faced any challenges as a woman in science, and how did you overcome them? Although I initially felt a bit intimidated by the lack of women in classes at university, I never saw it as a significant challenge. I feel fortunate to be born in an era where the world is evolving, creating more opportunities for women to thrive in science and technology.
Do you have any (female) role-models in science? Ada Lovelace. Considered as the first woman coder, she wrote what is now recognized as the first algorithm—Note G—intended for a machine. Her visionary thinking stands out, as she observed a fundamental principle of computing. Her story is a powerful reminder that women have always had a place in tech, even during times when their contributions were often overlooked.
What advice would you give to any aspiring female researchers in your field? Don’t be intimidated—believe in your abilities and push past any doubts. Surround yourself with supportive mentors and colleagues, and continuously seek to expand your knowledge and skills.
What is your role in the MELISSA project? What makes you excited about it? I work on enhancing the goFOOD™ AI-based dietary assessment system and scaling it for use in different countries to support the multicentre MELISSA study. What I really enjoy is that it allows me to leverage AI to explore a real-world application. It’s fascinating to explore diverse eating habits worldwide while staying at the forefront of the evolving AI-in-nutrition field.
Lisa - Universiteit Maastricht
What advice would you give to any aspiring female researchers in your field? Take on a representative role to drive meaningful change, not just for women, but for all underrepresented groups in the research field.
What is your research about? My research within the MELISSA project focusses on the skills that people with diabetes need for their daily self-care as this can be quite challenging.
Nefeli - Universiteit Maastricht
What advice would you give to any aspiring female researchers in your field? Stay strong and passionate regardless the obstacles.
What is your role in the MELISSA project? I am a PhD candidate in the MELISSA project at Maastricht University. What excites me about this project is the opportunity to connect with both acknowledged scientists and people living with diabetes. It highlights the importance of combining expert knowledge with the real-world experiences of those living with diabetes.
