Four MPIE-scientists chosen to participate in the career program “Sign-Up” by the Max Planck Society
Dr. Bárbara Bellón, Dr. Alba Garzón Manjón, Dr. Ankita Mahajan, and Dr. Chang Liu postdoctoral scientists at the Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung, were chosen by the Max Planck Society (MPG) to participate in the career development program “Sign Up!”.
The “Sign Up” program is conducted since 2010 in a cooperation of the MPG with the European Academy for Women in Politics and Economics Berlin (EAF). Its goal is to support career and leadership development of female scientists.
Bellón joined the MPIE in January 2021 and is working in the department “Structure and Nano/- Micromechanics of Materials”. She combines small scale extreme mechanical testing with machine learning and artificial intelligence methods in her data analysis and engages in science communication.
Garzón Manjón was awarded with the “Sign Up! For Leadership” program for more experienced postdoctoral researchers. She works at the MPIE since 2016 and she is head of the fuel cell project at the independent research group “Nanoanalytics and Interfaces”. She developed her career in the field of nanomaterials characterization with novel and powerful techniques such as atomic resolution aberration corrected (scanning) transmission electron microscopy (AC-STEM). Therefore, her strengths are the development as well as characterization of novel nanomaterials. Moreover, she was able to show her leadership potential in a project funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy.
Mahajan and Liu are working in the department “Microstructure Physics and Alloy Design”. Mahajan joined the MPIE as a postdoctoral researcher in November 2020. She is researching sustainable ways in which metallic materials, the building blocks of infrastructure, can be extracted and produced. Liu joined the MPIE in 2019. One of her publications opened a new era for the design of wear-resistant alloys, which form strong and deformable surfaces, turning harmful wear- exposure into an advantage. Moreover, Liu established her leadership in a project funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program. Both Mahajan and Liu inspire with their excellent performance as multidisciplinary researchers and impressive publications.
The “Sign Up” program is part of the MPG’s comprehensive effort in encouraging young female scientists to strive for leading positions. Candidates are awarded for their exceptional scientific skills and team spirit and serve as an inspiration for young, early-career scientists. The program consists of four seminar modules and discussions with top leading scientists. The career-building seminars offer information on professional communication, appearance and self-management. The leadership seminars help participants in developing leadership communication, strategies and performance skills. Due to the great success of the program, 40 nominees can participate in 2022 and all four nominated researchers by the MPIE were chosen to participate.