Supporting women scientists into leadership

Eleonora Isotta and Jing Rao selected for the Sign-Up programme of the Max Planck Society

At a glance:

• Programme: Career initiative “Sign Up!” by the Max Planck Society
• Participants: Dr. Eleonora Isotta and Dr. Jing Rao, two postdoctoral researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials
• Aim: Preparing early-career female scientists for future leadership positions in science

Dr. Eleonora Isotta and Dr. Jing Rao, two postdoctoral researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials, have been selected to take part in the “Sign Up!” career development programme of the Max Planck Society. The initiative supports outstanding female scientists in strengthening their leadership and professional skills as they prepare for senior roles in academia and research.

Within the programme, Isotta will join leadership-focused seminars, while Rao will participate in career development trainings. Both researchers will benefit from a structured environment designed to foster scientific leadership, communication skills, and personal development.

Eleonora Isotta – advancing thermoelectric materials

Isotta’s research focuses on thermoelectric materials, which can directly convert heat into electricity and vice versa. These materials are already used in niche applications, such as precision cooling systems, but broader use is still limited.

“The main challenge is efficiency and cost,” she explains. Today’s most commonly used thermoelectric materials rely on rare and expensive elements such as bismuth and tellurium. Her work aims to overcome these limitations by linking microscopic structure to material performance. Using advanced electron microscopy techniques, she studies how microstructural features influence thermal transport. This understanding could help design more efficient and sustainable thermoelectric materials for future technologies.

Participation in the “Sign Up!” programme supports her preparation for the next career step, including an upcoming position as an assistant professor at the University of Trento (Italy).

Jing Rao – uncovering hydrogen effects in advanced alloys

Rao’s research investigates hydrogen embrittlement in metallic alloys, a phenomenon where hydrogen weakens metals and can lead to sudden failure. She uses a novel experimental approach that combines in-situ backside hydrogen charging with frontside nanoindentation. This setup allows her to study how hydrogen interacts with dislocations in the metal and how it moves through the microstructure under realistic conditions. The work provides quantitative insights into hydrogen diffusion and mechanical degradation at the nanoscale to develop hydrogen-resistant steels for future energy and industrial applications.

Building leadership beyond the laboratory

The “Sign Up!” programme is a joint programme of the Max Planck Society and the European Academy for Women in Politics and Economics Berlin, aiming to support talented scientists in shaping their careers and stepping into leadership roles across research and innovation.