Women in AI Germany, Austria & Switzerland’s Post

📅 Mark your calendar! It's time for the WAI Munich Meet-up! This time, WAI Munich is partnering with appliedAI Initiative GmbH, who are kindly sponsoring the location. 👋 Join us for the Women in AI Munich Monthly Meet-Up! 📆 Date: 19th of April 2024 ⏰ Time: 18:00 📍 Location: House of Communication August-Everding-Straße 25 81671 München Entrance across Friedenstraße 22b There will be drinks and snacks but dinner is not included! Register here: https://lnkd.in/dJKVpJJM 🚀 This event is about fostering connections and building a solid community in artificial intelligence. It's the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded individuals, exchange ideas, and discuss exciting advancements in AI. Whether you're a seasoned expert or just starting your AI journey, this meet-up is for you! 🌐 We believe in diversity and inclusivity, so this event is open to everyone, regardless of gender, origin, affiliation or other diversity points. We embrace different perspectives and encourage collaboration among professionals from various backgrounds. For any questions, reach out to Auxane Boch or Caitlin Corrigan Coraly Signoret Sariga Premanand Viktoria Hook

We had a great evening last night at Merantix AI Campus! Our evening was filled with pizza and wine, unique insights from our Women in AI team, and more inspiring women! 💫 Sonam Pankaj spoke about Starlight, which links text to images. 🌉 Shannon Kehoe spoke about her projects at Cleverbridge and how they use AI to create a more efficient marketing campaign and create targeted emails. 📣 Gráinne McKnight presented her work at Spoke.ai and how #LLMs are used to enable fast and intelligent search in documentation. 🏠 Billie Postlmayr ended the discussion by explaining how she built #AI #MVP within only 2 weeks at Genova.ai. We were all definitely inspired, and we can't wait for more of these events! Thanks, Anthony Kelly and DeepRec.ai, for organizing! #womeninai #aiinmarketing #texttoimage #aiinsights #aimeetup

Meet Sylwia Olbrych, who is originally from Poland and currently pursuing her doctoral studies in Germany! With a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Materials Engineering and a specialization in micro- and nanotechnology, Sylwia embarked on her professional journey as a Process Engineer right after her Master's degree in Aachen, Germany. Sylwia is a highly motivated and fun-loving person. Having spent most of her initial years in Poland, with a brief halt in Switzerland for her Master's project and then finally moving to Germany for her job, she understands the cultural and social transition people go through in foreign countries. After working as a Process Engineer for four years, Sylwia was motivated to change her profession and move to the domain of data analytics. She then dived into data science as a doctoral candidate at RWTH Aachen. She has worked as a research associate for two years at RWTH Aachen in the domain of AI applications in manufacturing processes. Her primary research focuses on integrating collective learning methodologies into decision-support systems for manufacturing processes. You may wonder why Women in AI: Sylwia, from an engineering background, has always worked and continues working in a male-dominated environment. Being one of those few women, she was interested in meeting like-minded women from similar backgrounds. This curiosity drove her to become part of the Women in AI community. She was also highly motivated in her personal life when a little girl was given Sylwia's example: 'If Sylwia can study math, then why not you!'. This motivated her and kept her pursuing a career in technology and AI. If you want to join Women in AI as a volunteer, message Sylwia Olbrych or Auxane Boch #womeinai #internationalwomensday #airesearch  #ai #womeninstem #womenintech #inspiringwomen #womensday2024

Dr. Maria Börner does what works for her—a Ph.D. Physicist and AI expert, she considers herself first and foremost a scientist. During her PhD program, Maria not only worked at CERN with some of the world’s brightest minds, but she also had her first child. In our conversation, it was evident that Maria did not consider it an either/or scenario. Maria was both a PhD student and a mother. She never compromised on her studies or her family - she balanced them. She is most proud of her ability to find and maintain this balance between her doctorate and motherhood. Since completing her PhD, Maria has held a wide range of roles across both engineering and business. She worked as a Product Development Tester at MELAG Medizintechnik oHG, using Python to design an automated testing framework for evaluating new software. After this, she worked as an AI Engineer and Project Manager at XAIN AG, developing tensorflow-based AI for accounting processes. While at XAIN AG, she earned a promotion to Team Lead / Product Manager, organizing the delivery plan for her product and coordinating tech, business, and stakeholders to improve the AI and software iteratively. Today, she works as the Head of the AI Competence Center at Westernacher Solutions, where she is responsible for sharing AI knowledge through the business to increase automation and drive business value. For those who are more intimidated or afraid of math than Maria, she has some advice she would like to pass on: “Everyone has their capability. I was never good at languages, so I learned English the hard way. Trust the experts. They have these degrees and certifications for a reason. You are good at other things, so that’s perfect. You must also trust the people constructing a building. We are a diverse society and must work together to survive.” Maria, thank you for all that you do! If you want to join Women in AI as a volunteer, message Dr. Maria Börner or Auxane Boch #womeinai #internationalwomensday #airesearch  #ai #womeninstem #womenintech #inspiringwomen #womensday2024

🌟 Meet Anjali Dhabu (Ph.D.), an Engineering Seismologist, on her remarkable journey from India to Germany! 🎓 With a passion for solving the mysteries of the Earth, Anjali embarked on her educational journey in India, culminating in a PhD in Civil Engineering. Her curiosity led her to Germany two years ago, where she dove into the fascinating realm of geophysics for her postdoc. 💡 Armed with boundless motivation and a genuine desire to explore her ideas, Anjali is currently working on her project, delving into the fascinating topic of earthquake engineering. 👩🏫 But her aspirations don't end there! Her ultimate dream is to carve a path in academia, aspiring to become a professor and inspire future researchers. 🌍 Why Women in AI, you might ask? For Anjali, it's about building connections in a new country and joining this dynamic network. She focuses on mentoring and supporting fellow women navigating similar journeys, especially those who, like her, have relocated and are seeking a community to lean on. If you want to volunteer with Women in AI, please message Anjali Dhabu (Ph.D.) or Auxane Boch. #womeinai #internationalwomensday #airesearch  #ai #womeninstem #womenintech #inspiringwomen #womensday2024

Dr. Madhura Thosar, head of the Hamburg chapter of Women in AI, is a true visionary who overcame huge challenges to find her calling at the forefront of AI and data science. Originally from India, she came to Germany after struggling to find her path in the highly pressured academic system back home. She felt constrained by the cultural expectation to pursue a traditional career or become a homemaker. Her curiosity led her to discover her passion for embedded systems, but coincidence landed her in the world of robotics and artificial intelligence. Even though she had never travelled, she decided to move away to pursue her interests and settle in Germany. Through determination, she earned her Master's degree in Germany, which prepared her for a PhD in robotics. Completing her PhD in a theoretical science group without funding, she took the initiative to secure her financing. Her groundbreaking work at the intersection of various fields exemplifies her perseverance in pushing boundaries in her career. Her drive to help international students led her to secure independent funding. She counselled over 200 students through her initiative, and her mentoring continues today. She was the first head of AI for the startup bits&birds GmbH and has now risen to senior data scientist at Jungheinrich Digital Solutions AG & Co. Beyond her technical chops, colleagues appreciate her straightforward approach and initiative in getting things done and her talent for pushing others to achieve their full potential. While Madz never considered herself a feminist and cared more about issues than labels, she joined WAI to have a network to discuss relevant topics and stay up-to-date. Madz ensures AI stakeholders have access to truthful information, not just hype. She works to define what AI means for society through open discussions. Madz is proud of being "a hardcore Trekkie and a nerd too!". Reflecting on her journey with gratitude, she feels fortunate to have found a home and purpose in Germany, discovering her calling in AI at the right institution surrounded by supportive colleagues. Most of all, she takes pride in overcoming the struggles of her academic background to prove that her potential runs far beyond any grade. Through strength, courage, and help from caring allies, she persevered in realizing her talents despite facing doubts. This experience drives her passion today - she dedicates herself to assisting others to break barriers as she has done. She proves that with dedication and community, one's beginnings do not determine one's destiny. Madz advises seeking out credible facts over speculation. With access to accurate information from reliable sources rather than just media hype, individuals can make well-informed judgements about new technologies. If you want to volunteer with Women in AI, please message Dr. Madhura Thosar or Auxane Boch. #womeinai #internationalwomensday #airesearch  #ai #womeninstem #womenintech #inspiringwomen #womensday2024

TUM Think Tank and the University of Exeter invite you to an Ethical Data Initiative event! Our Munich city lead, Auxane Boch, will be present to discuss the importance of ethics and diversity in a data-driven future! Join her and many other relevant stakeholders for this promising workshop! 📆Date: 9 April 2024 ⏰Time: 12 pm - 7 pm 📍Location: TUM Think Tank 📝To register, remember to share brief information about why you are interested, your background, and link to the organisation to tumthinktank@hfp.tum.de We look forward to seeing you there!

Meet Dr. Suvarna Tikle, who is dedicated to revolutionizing environmental science and air quality modelling! With over 12 years of experience and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Suvarna's journey is truly inspiring. She is a postdoctoral researcher at the prestigious Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg, Germany. Her work includes source attribution modelling for major cities in India, Indonesia, and Jakarta as part of the groundbreaking Clean Air Catalyst project. But Suvarna's contributions don't stop there. As a member of WAI, she is motivated to promote diversity and inclusion in her field. Through WAI, Suvarna seeks to support other female professionals, stay updated on AI advancements, and leverage diverse perspectives to tackle air quality challenges head-on. What makes Suvarna stand out? Her adaptability, commitment to collaboration, and leadership skills are second to none. Through her work ethic, she has made a significant impact. Of particular note is her contribution to advancing the incorporation of local emissions into the WRF-Chem model at high resolution. Suvarna advises those hesitant to embrace AI: 'Don't let fear hold you back. Instead, educate yourself, collaborate with experts, and participate in initiatives to responsibly harness AI's power.' If you would like to volunteer with Women in AI, please message Dr. Suvarna Tikle or Auxane Boch. #womeinai #internationalwomensday #airesearch  #ai #womeninstem #womenintech #inspiringwomen #womensday2024

Meet Ravi Smruhi!  At 27 and with a Master’s in Big Data and AI, Ravi’s journey from India to Berlin is truly inspiring. 🌍🇮🇳Now she is integrating her passion for AI into the digital fabric of Berlin! Deeply rooted in computer science since her bachelor's degree, Ravi sees AI and Data Science as rapidly evolving entities with unique knowledge sources. In her words " I aspire to witness their continual improvement and utilisation for the greater benefit of humanity. My goal is to contribute to the advancement of AI, ensuring its potential is harnessed responsibly for positive impact." ✨ But Ravi is not just about the algorithms, she has a mission. As a woman in the tech industry, she has faced prejudice and found her community at WAI.  Inspired by impactful women, Ravi’s goal is to dress data bias, particularly in the representation of women. She strives for fair representation for all, driven by a desire to create a more inclusive and unbiased data landscape.🤝 How does she combine her career with her mission? As a specialised programmer in AI and ML models, Ravi seamlessly combines her professional expertise with her personal passion.  “By ensuring that my work addresses contemporary issues, both within the code and in shaping our collective worldview." she says. Ravi is not only shaping the future with her codes; she is shaping it with a commitment to a fairer and more equitable world. Thank you so much, Ravi. We need more people like you in the AI community. P.s.: Ravi recommends: "INVISIBLE WOMEN: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men" by Caroline Criado-Perez. If you want to join this inspiring community, message Auxane Boch! #womeinai #internationalwomensday #airesearch   #ai #womeninstem #womenintech #inspiringwomen #womensday2024

We are excited and proud to introduce a powerhouse called, Auxane Boch. A PhD researcher at the Technische Universität München, the Munich city lead for Women in AI (WAI) - Germany, isn't just a brilliant mind delving into the fascinating world of AI, but also actively fostering a supportive community for women in this dynamic field. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology, discovering with enthusiasm Moral Psychology. She then went on to her master's studies in Ireland, delving into the fascinating world of cyberpsychology and exploring the potential of video games to create a more just society. She vividly recalls a pivotal moment in her bachelor's AI class, where an in-depth discussion on the ethical implications of AI ignited her passion for the field. This realisation led her away from a clinical psychology path, and towards the broader realm of scientific psychology and the potential of applied ethics to create a better world. As a PhD researcher, she is unravelling the intricate tapestry of ethics in interactive technologies such as social robots. Her focus isn't just on theoretical debates, but on the nitty-gritty of "applied ethics," exploring how these social companions will weave themselves into the fabric of our lives and delving into the potential impact of social robots on our social landscape. She's more than just a researcher – she's a bridge builder. She champions open discussions and collaboration, believing that diverse perspectives are crucial in navigating the ethical complexities of interactive technologies, from video games and immersive realities to social robotics. She encourages us to approach AI with curiosity and a thirst for knowledge, but also with caution and a critical eye. She urges businesses to prioritise ethical considerations and avoid hype-driven marketing. Ultimately, her message is a call for ethical responsibility and the potential of technology to create a better future for all. Auxane is a self-proclaimed "nerd" who thrives on learning and helping others. She sees applied ethics as a powerful tool for building a kinder and fairer society, particularly in education where she witnessed firsthand the lack of equal opportunities. Her strong belief in human rights and her dedication to ethics and psychology fuel her desire to make a positive impact.  She champions the power of the "WAI" community – Women in AI – and believes in building safe spaces for women in technology to thrive. Whether it's encouraging responsible use of AI or advocating for ethical business practices, Auxane is a force to be reckoned with. With her passion, resilience, and unwavering commitment to ethical AI, she's not just unboxing the robots of tomorrow, but also shaping the ethical framework that will guide our interactions with them. If you want to join this inspiring community, message Auxane Boch! #womeinai #internationalwomensday #airesearch   #ai #womeninstem #womenintech #inspiringwomen #womensday2024