Women in STEM: Meet Sarah Ahmed

Sarah Ahmed’s passion for engineering started early. At the age of five, she was already dreaming about her future in science, laying out ambitious plans to collect degrees and push the boundaries of human knowledge. This early curiosity became the foundation for her journey into electronics engineering. Like many engineers, Sarah’s childhood was filled with experimentation. One formative moment was when she took apart a Furby toy from a McDonald’s Happy Meal, captivated by the intricate circuit inside. This experience planted the seed that would eventually lead her to bioelectronics engineering.

For Sarah, the desire to understand how things work has always been an innate part of her personality. Sarah was open in discussing her upbringing and how this impacted her career path decision making, her parents dreamt of her being a doctor so she started looking towards biomedical engineering before discovering electrical and electronics engineering. Her impressive attitude to self-development has led her to obtaining both a Masters in Electrical & Computing Engineering at Cornell and now her PhD from MIT (Massachusetts Institude of Technology).

One of the biggest hurdles Sarah encountered in her journey was the stark gender imbalance in her classes. Like many women in STEM, Sarah found herself surrounded by male peers, particularly in her electrical and computer engineering courses. Despite this, she remained steadfast in her pursuit of knowledge. Sarah notes that while more women tend to enroll in biomedical engineering courses, possibly because of its connection to medicine. Fields like electrical engineering still see fewer female students.

This gender imbalance can be daunting, often leading to feelings of isolation. Sarah recalls times when she struggled to find community, feeling out of place in a predominantly male environment. Yet she never allowed these feelings to deter her. Instead, she sought out like-minded women, connecting with female classmates and building a support network that kept her motivated.

Sarah emphasizes that building a sense of community is crucial for women in STEM. Whether through formal mentorship or simply finding study partners, having a support system can make all the difference. As she puts it: “You cannot do life on your own. You have to have a group of people that you trust and get excited about.”

At the heart of Sarah’s journey is an insatiable curiosity and a refusal to give up, even when faced with doubts and obstacles. Engineering, especially fields like quantum computing and photonics, can be overwhelming. Complex concepts, heavy workloads, and moments of self-doubt are part of the process. Sarah herself experienced these challenges, recalling days where it seemed like everyone else was excelling while she struggled.

However, it was her drive to seek answers and apply her knowledge to real-world problems that kept her going. Sarah points out that curiosity is the key to success in STEM: “I always wanted to know more. I always applied what I learned with real-life examples.”

This passion for learning and innovation is evident in her work on photonic quantum computing. Sarah describes photonic computing as a field that uses light, specifically photons, to process data faster and more efficiently than traditional methods. This technology promises to revolutionize data centers by reducing energy consumption and increasing processing speeds—an essential development as artificial intelligence and machine learning demand more from our computing systems.

One of the challenges in attracting more women to STEM fields is not just encouraging them to start but ensuring they continue on the path. Sarah strongly believes that mentorship plays a vital role in both recruitment and retention of women in these fields. Her own experience highlights the impact of having female mentors who understand the unique challenges women face in these fields.

During her academic career, Sarah encountered many moments where she felt unsupported. One particularly disheartening experience came when she sought help for a scholarship issue, only to be told by a dean that nothing could be done to help her. However, this setback became a turning point when Sarah reached out to other women in STEM, who rallied around her, offering emotional and practical support. This experience taught her the value of mentorship and how crucial it is to have people who believe in your potential.

For Sarah, mentorship is about more than just giving advice; it’s about creating a community where women support one another, share resources and open doors for future opportunities. She stresses that women in leadership positions have a responsibility to help the next generation of female engineers. “If we don’t wholeheartedly support other women, many girls will fall behind,” Sarah notes.

To get more women into STEM, Sarah suggests focusing on two main areas: exposure and retention. Firstly, young girls need to be introduced to STEM in a way that makes it exciting and accessible. This means showcasing the fun, creative aspects of problem-solving and demonstrating that engineering can be a rewarding career choice.

Secondly, it’s crucial to provide ongoing support for women once they enter the field. Many women start in STEM programs but drop out due to the challenges that come with being one of the few women in the room. For example, Sarah recalls a class on programming where collaboration was discouraged, which made the learning environment more challenging. In contrast, another professor, who happened to be a woman, encouraged teamwork, and everyone in the class thrived. This highlights the importance of creating learning environments that foster cooperation and support.

As Sarah looks to the future, her goals are ambitious but grounded in a desire to make a lasting impact on the world. She dreams of advancing photonic quantum computing, contributing to clean energy solutions, and fostering a more inclusive environment in STEM. Part of her vision includes starting her own business and mentoring other young women who are just beginning their STEM journey.

Ultimately, Sarah Ahmed’s story serves as an inspiration for women who are considering a career in STEM. Her journey shows that with passion, perseverance, and a strong support system, women can not only succeed but thrive in fields that have historically been male-dominated. As she puts it, “I want to leave this earth knowing that I made a positive impact, leaving a legacy that extends beyond my own generation.”

By sharing her story and building a community of supportive women, Sarah is helping to pave the way for future generations of women in STEM, ensuring that they, too, can make their mark on the world.