“After all, we're here because someone else made room for us, and it's our duty to do the same for others”
DigitizationDr. Shruti Patel is team leader at TOPAS Industriemathematik Innovation gGmbH
Theoretical physicist, industrial mathematician, manager – as a member of the start-up company TOPAS, Dr. Shruti Patel creates change in Bremen. However, being a role model has not always been easy for her.
Working on cutting-edge robotic technologies at TOPAS Industriemathematik Innovation gGmbH, Dr. Shruti Patel has experienced firsthand the advancements in AI technologies and the growth of the sector. In our interview, she talks about how her day-to-day-job as well as overcoming challenging mindsets.
Dr. Patel, you’re a physicist, working in AI, a team leader and an expert in particle physics. How did it all start? What sparked your interest in the STEM field?
Growing up in Mumbai, India, I was surrounded by science from an early age. My father is a physicist who worked at a national laboratory, and his friends were physicists and engineers. My mother, who studied and worked in finance, also had a strong interest in math. This environment, where receiving telescopes and microscopes as birthday gifts and attending science camps was the norm, shaped my childhood.
So for you, it was a no-brainer to go to college/university?
For me, the choice was physics. In 2012, the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva had just discovered the Higgs boson, which was a significant event in the world of physics. This discovery inspired me to specialize in particle physics for my master's degree. The excitement around this breakthrough led me to pursue theoretical physics and eventually brought me to Germany for my Ph.D.
How did you end up in Bremen?
My goal was to pursue a Ph.D. in Europe, as it was the epicenter of particle physics. I was fortunate to join the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) in Hamburg, funded by a European Marie Curie network. I spent three years there, working on supersymmetric theories. At the age of 25, I moved to Karlsruhe for a postdoc. However, I realized the challenges of an academic career in fundamental sciences, particularly the lack of work-life balance. I met my partner in Hamburg, and after three years of long-distance relationship, we decided to prioritize our personal lives. He secured a job in Bremen in mass spectrometry, and I followed, finding a home in Bremen as well.
Your way in Bremen led you to join the Zentrum für Industriemathematik and finally to its spin-off TOPAS. What is your position now?
I am the head of the autonomous systems department at TOPAS. My role is quite diverse, as is typical in a young company. On a day-to-day basis, I'm responsible for acquiring and designing new projects, applying for funding, and securing customers. I also envision the research and development direction for these projects. Additionally, I manage a team of 14 people, help writing papers, and provide direction for individual research topics. It's a bit of everything, and my tasks can change from day to day.
How difficult was the transition from university research to the more or less controlled chaos of a startup?
The biggest change has been the inevitable shift in roles as one advances in one´s career. I now spend more time providing direction and less time on implementation. I might be discussing underwater exploration in the morning, and autonomous driving in the afternoon, and budgeting for a project in the evening. It's challenging, and I'm still learning, but it never gets boring. I thrive on stimulation, and this role certainly provides that. It's been fun so far, and having great colleagues makes all the difference.
What topics are you most interested in right now, when you have the time to research or delve into different topics?
Right now, the topic that's really catching my attention is mapping and sensor fusion for robots in unstructured environments. This is particularly relevant to one of our projects, where we are developing an autonomy framework for a firefighting robot. Without this framework, the robot can't really do anything.
Did you learn how to manage people, or does it come naturally to you?
I wouldn't say that it comes naturally. I have great role models in the founders of the company. Prof Christof Büskens, Dr. Matthias Knauer and Dr. Mitja Echim have been in leadership positions for a while. I try to model myself on their management style. They trust their team and never micromanage, giving them a lot of freedom in deciding how they prefer to work. I really appreciate that.
When you look back over the past few years, what would you say have been your biggest challenges or successes?
One of my biggest challenges has been overcoming the self-doubt and imposter syndrome, which is common among people in academia, especially those from underrepresented groups. I spent a lot of time being convinced that I wasn't good enough or that everyone else was better than me. This self-doubt drove me to work harder, but looking back, I wonder what I could have achieved if I had more confidence in my abilities.
How did you overcome this mindset?
I'm still working on it. I've learned to be open about not knowing things and to ask for explanations when needed. I've also learned not to judge myself for what I don't know, but to be confident in what I do know and to actively contribute to discussions. This challenge may also be a part of growing up, as I started my Ph.D. at 22 and was often the youngest person in the room. The self-doubt that comes with being in your early to mid-20s tends to vanish as you step into yourself.
Would you say that this affects women more than men?
Interesting question. I can only speak from my experience as a woman. It's possible that anyone can experience imposter syndrome, but it tends to affect people who are underrepresented more. This includes not just women, but also people of color or those from working-class backgrounds. When you're the only one of your kind in the room, you might feel like you don't belong. There's also more pressure to prove yourself and represent your group, even if you don't want to be a role model. This added pressure can certainly feed into the feeling of imposter syndrome. So, while it's not exclusively a women's issue, it does tend to affect those who don't see themselves reflected in the people around them.
Was this something you struggled with when you came to Germany or to Bremen and started working in the IT industry?
At first, no, because I didn't really associate myself with being an immigrant woman or a young woman studying physics. I was just a person who enjoyed science. It's more the perception that other people have of you that you can't escape, there are roles that are made for you, whether you like it or not. For example, I’ve been asked to represent the university or a working group at events just because they want young women to be in the front. It's a good thing to increase the visibility of underrepresented people, but it's not just about visibility. It's also when people talk to you, they tend to ask questions that make you the representative of the group you belong to. Whether you like it or not, you're there in the limelight. I don't know if struggle is the right word for it, but you have to step up to do it.
Which you certainly managed to do. You participate in events promoting women in STEM fields. Do you feel more comfortable now being a role model?
Yes, I believe I do. I think it's important to follow the example set by those who came before me, especially for underrepresented groups in STEM and IT. If you're in the room, it's your responsibility to hold the door open for others. It may not always be easy, but it's the only way to move forward. After all, we're here because someone else made room for us, and it's our duty to do the same for others.
In Bremen, there are more and more events and initiatives focusing on promoting women in STEM fields. What’s your view on these efforts?
I think it's a good thing — a small but necessary step in the right direction. When we talk about women in STEM, it's not just about increasing the number of minorities; it's about creating an environment where everyone can reach their full potential. Women make up about 50% of the world's population, and we need to address the imbalance in STEM fields to reflect that. This requires a comprehensive approach, from challenging societal roles and stereotypes to redesigning parental care and work policies. It's a complex pipeline with many interconnected issues that need to be solved. I'm glad that these conversations are happening and that events like hackathons for girls are taking place.
When I moved from Karlsruhe to Bremen, everyone asked, 'Why would you go there? All the tech jobs are in the south of Germany.' But that's not true. There's so much happening in Bremen!
You've been living here in Bremen for a few years now. How did you feel welcomed here in Bremen, and what's your general feeling about the city?
I've lived in a lot of cities in my life, and Bremen is the place where I arrived and thought, 'This is it. I can see myself growing old here.' It's a big city, but it feels like a small town, very familiar and welcoming. It's easy to get in touch with the locals who have lived here their whole lives. Maybe it's the Hanseatic spirit of openness and exchange that makes it so inviting. It's hard to put into words, but Bremen has a unique charm that makes it feel like home.
Do you think the Bremen tech sector is undervalued in the public perception?
I definitely think so. People who live in Bremen, or at least those in the tech bubble, know about the opportunities here. However, the public perception in Germany could change. When I moved from Karlsruhe to Bremen, everyone asked, 'Why would you go there? All the tech jobs are in the south of Germany.' But that's not true. There's so much happening in Bremen, and people were surprised that I chose to move here instead of places like Berlin or Hamburg.
If you had a time machine and could meet your younger self, what would you say to her?
That's a very difficult question. I would tell her - and not just her, but any young person - to continue to nurture your intellectual curiosity, because that's what got you where you are. Don't let it go. And also, exercise more. Probably. Yeah, pick a sport.
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