Aurea Edna Moreno-Mojica
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In this article I (Figure 1) interview four exceptional female engineering students in Mexico, one studying her MS in microwave engineering at The Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV) and three undergraduate students studying electronic engineering at ITESO - The Jesuit University of Guadalajara, all of whom want to pursue a career in microwave engineering.
As an organization dedicated to advancing technology and fostering diversity, we at the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society (MTT-S) Women in Microwaves (WIM) (https://mtt.org/wim/) are delighted to shine a spotlight on the experiences of these talented individuals who are shaping the future of the field.
Throughout this interview, I delve into the unique perspectives and challenges faced by female students in Mexico looking to further their careers in microwave engineering, highlighting their inspiring journeys.
By sharing their stories, we aim to encourage more young women to pursue careers in technology and empower them to overcome any barriers they may encounter.
My name is Ana Valeria Gonzalez Ortiz and I have lived in Guadalajara, Mexico all my life (Figure 2). Since I was a child, I have enjoyed participating in various free courses and competitions to learn about different subjects, ranging from artistic to technical endeavors. I have always had a passion for creating things, especially when they serve a specific purpose. This has often required me to delve into more complex areas and acquire proficiency in using a wide range of tools. This passion for practicality and problem solving led me to pursue a BS in mechatronics at Centro de Enseñanza Técnica Industrial (CETI) in Colomos. Mechatronics, being a multidisciplinary field, has provided me with the opportunity to expand my knowledge and skills in various areas. Moreover, it has allowed me to undertake internships to support my studies and pursue my hobbies. Currently, I am nearing the completion of my MS in electrical engineering (MSEE) at CINVESTAV, specializing in microwave engineering. I also work as an RF applications engineer at Intel, where I am part of a rotation program. In this role, I apply my specialized knowledge to diverse projects, including RF field-programmable gate arrays for radar systems, electromagnetic interference testing, and radiation effects studies for satellite applications.
Figure 1. Aurea Edna Moreno-Mojica.
Figure 2. Ana Valeria Gonzalez Ortiz.
During my undergraduate studies, I participated in various technology competitions that gradually led me to explore the field. My interest in space drew me to the first student competition, which involved building a space rover. In that project, my main responsibility within the team was designing the telecommunications system. It was in this context that I learned about unfamiliar phenomena in RF electronics and discovered a whole new field for me. Driven by my growing interest, I chose to pursue another project in the same field for my bachelor’s thesis, this time collaborating in a more professional capacity with Intel Labs (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Intel Guadalajara.
The project centered around a swarm of robots and one of the key challenges I encountered was wireless synchronization, which emerged as a fundamental aspect to address. Lastly, I took part in a competition organized by the MTT-S, which centered around RF filters. I was fortunate enough to win a student membership through this competition and met my current master’s advisor, Dr. José Raúl Loo Yau, with whom I am pursuing my specialization in microwave engineering.
Throughout most of my studies, I was the only woman in my classroom and had only a few female teachers. This context of closer camaraderie among groups of men, with their sexist jokes or disagreements related to romantic matters among my classmates, made my experience a bit lonelier and more socially problematic than I expected. I also faced questions regarding my personal future and the desire to have a family, which were taken into consideration when evaluating projects and opportunities. However, I managed to forge some good friendships with both my female and male peers. I sought support in particular situations from the university and ventured beyond my school, where I found groups of women who became a source of inspiration and support for my personal development.
I received help from a female administrator at my university to file an anonymous report and address the issue of inappropriate comments from some teachers. Through a group of women at Intel, I learned a lot about areas that were lacking in my professional development and how to handle various situations. I formed a circle of girlfriends with common interests, and through this group, I became a workshop instructor in robotics, helping more girls participate and sharing my enthusiasm for creating without stigma or disregarding their unique artistic expression. This experience also contributed to my own enjoyment of the field and sparked my interest in reaching out to more women.
By winning the MTT-S student contest and receiving a membership, I became more involved in the various conferences and connected with prominent individuals within the group.
As an active volunteer of IEEE, I have learned about the international scientific community and its formal processes. I understand the importance of being part of a professional network with individuals who share similar interests, ensuring a future for myself as a scientist and professional.
In Mexico, the number of women in engineering is low, as well as the availability of microwave-related study programs in Latin America, despite it being a potential area for current growth. This is due to a lack of awareness about the field and cultural stigmas surrounding its perceived difficulty. The MTT-S WIM has the opportunity to address both of these deficits simultaneously and enrich the conversation with social and humanitarian support that addresses the real-life situations contributing to this general bias.
From a young age, even though I was an early seeker of opportunities, it would have been easier for me if I could have found resources that were closer and more directly involved in my context. Mentorship programs and practical, basic, and less formal courses would have facilitated access, not only for me but also for many of my peers who still doubt their preparation or abilities.
As I mentioned before, the number of female engineers is low, especially in the RF field. However, those who are present are highly capable women with a strong sense of determination toward their interests. With mutual support, we can work together to share this passion and humanitarian interest from a different perspective, aiming to encourage more women to pursue these opportunities, gain knowledge, and gain valuable experiences.
In my opinion, the crucial skill is to maintain enthusiasm for your aspirations while also understanding all of interconnected threads and relationships, as this is not an isolated field. Additionally, having a support network and being surrounded by people with similar interests is invaluable. Technical skills develop over time with practice and are not innate. Being on the path toward what one desires is already a success in itself.
I’m Itzel Uribe (Figure 4) and I’m studying to be an electronic engineer. I am currently in my fifth semester and I find the challenges stimulating. One of my favorite hobbies is Irish dance.
Figure 4. Itzel Uribe.
I have always enjoyed math and was always involved in the Math Olympics. I found this a safe place where I could be focused and centered. When I was deciding what I was going to study in college, some people suggested I follow psychology or human resources because of my skills with people. It was hard for me to pick my vocational path, but I came to realize that it was already in front of me. I knew from an early age that I wanted to help people in the field of medicine with technology that would change their lives, while having fun with the logic of math and interacting with people.
I think that some of the problems that I have faced are that I have been questioned about my skills by my peers. For example, during a team project my teammate left me all the responsibility at the last minute for completing the calculations, as he was busy, and we would not meet the deadline. The professor approved the theoretical aspect of the project based on my calculations. However, my teammate insisted it would not work with the components I had selected, without providing a solid reason or mathematical explanation, other than the fact that he did not trust my work. This has been one of several instances of male classmates doubting my skills and knowledge.
I can remember one time, some family members insisted I should compete in the Queen of the Carnival beauty pageant in my hometown of Mazatlán. When my mother heard this, she scolded them for the suggestion and insisted she would rather have me compete for a scholarship to study something in mathematics, as it has always been my passion. From that moment I knew I had the support of my nuclear family to choose this area of study, and I see the potential of this career from my passionate teachers.
I enrolled in IEEE at the beginning of 2023. I got involved through the invitation from a friend who is also being interviewed for this article, Ana, and by my electronics professor, Edna, who is conducting this interview.
I haven’t been involved for a long time, but I have attended some videoconferences and the Guadalajara region IEEE president renewal ceremony, and I found the local chapters entertaining. I’m part of the student council for electronic engineering students at ITESO, and I think we will start encouraging our peers to become members of IEEE as there are a lot of benefits to this.
I think that a workshop where students can bond with their shared interests and come up with an innovative project together in teams would be a great idea.
Personally, I haven’t been enrolled for so long in IEEE, so I don’t think that I have lots to say. I could imagine that we could have more meetings with female engineers.
My sister was the first woman to get a degree in engineering in my family. Since then, I’ve seen gradually more women going into engineering, though some people still think it’s an area of study only for men. Generally, I think lots of talent is wasted in Mexico, with many experienced engineers moving abroad. I think people like my sister, who have the courage to follow their dreams, can change our country for the better, inspiring the next generation. She has inspired me to take my dreams seriously, like being the next Katya Echazarreta (first Mexican-born woman to travel into outer space) or Guillermo González Camarena (inventor of color television system).
I think that the best advice I could give is: The only thing that matters is that you are willing to challenge yourself and to have the courage to make as many mistakes as possible in order to learn. I know that I have failed, but that is not of relevance because the grades in one exam don’t reflect all my knowledge, it’s more about the effort that I put into knowing more.
My name is Paulina, I am a student at ITESO, and my major is electronic engineering (Figure 5). I am 20 years old, I’m the oldest sibling in my family, I enjoy reading, going to concerts, and spending time with my family, friends, and dogs. I like to paint and play sports too. My favorite music artists are Niall Horan and Ruel. I cheer for the San Francisco 49ers football team and my favorite type of food is Mexican and Italian.
Figure 5. Paulina Lira Moreno.
When I was in high school, I had a class where I learned about open source Arduino hardware and software, and I loved it. I was so intrigued and impressed with all the possibilities for which you can use Arduino, like creating a kid’s game or using sensors to make your own automatic light or turning on the fan when the weather gets warmer. Since then, I started walking down the electronic road, and with every new thing I learned, the field got more interesting. However, this meant that the level of difficulty was increasing by the day. I know it is not an easy major but it is a very interesting one. I like to think that anything is possible in technology, once you understand all the functions of the tools you have.
There are some people who would never picture me as an engineering student, that I do not look the part. However, in the field, this prejudice is even more serious. I am lucky that my fellow students are nice and we help each other. Nevertheless, there are people from the outside world who underestimate my abilities, may not trust me with some types of projects, or even give the better opportunities to men. The way I approach these types of situations is by showing that we are all capable of the same things, or asking for extra work to practice more so that when another opportunity presents itself, I can grab it or show my ability to achieve the task.
My family and friends always cheer for me, so they are like my fuel to keep going on the same path. My teachers also help by treating all the students the exact same way and demanding the same ability and effort on the subject. Furthermore, ITESO encourages networking among all female students who are in the same field as me, by doing different types of events, like gatherings with fellow female students and teachers, or conferences.
The first time I heard of IEEE was at a conference at Intel. This program caught my eye instantly and I started to notice that some of my teachers and friends were involved with IEEE. Only after becoming aware of that fact did I start to investigate more about IEEE and all the benefits that come along with being a member.
I have learned more about the outside field, how it works, and the different types of applications of the topics I study at ITESO. This has made me realize that there is so much more out there, tons of possibilities.
I would like to see more conferences, since these are a great type of event to learn about the topics and make friends in the field. Also, some visits to different labs, in order to see and analyze the behavior of the waves.
I am very interested in the automotive field, so I think it would be a good idea to have something that relates to that, the way all the electronic systems work or how autonomous cars work and be able to learn about the electric makeup of these cars.
I believe these women help the female population to realize that we girls can do it too. They inspire more women to pursue this field, in addition to breaking the stereotype that men run this field of work.
I would tell them to do it and risk it, to not let the fear of failure stop them. I also would tell them that asking for help is OK, and that if an electronic circuit doesn’t work or burns out, that’s fine too. You learn from mistakes and if you look carefully and calmly, you will notice the error faster than the speed of light. The most important skills are to be creative, responsible, be able to work as a team member, and to learn what personally works the best in order to understand the basics and learn about the innovations that happen every day.
My name is Ana, I’m 21 years old. I am a student at ITESO, and my major is electronic engineering (Figure 6). I’m starting my fifth semester, but I have been studying electronics since I was in high school because I consider it a very interesting subject. I like to be involved in activities that require or show a lot of imagination and creativity; for example, I love to read, draw, listen to a lot of music, and see movies. In my free time, when I’m not doing any of the things that I just mentioned, I like to hang out with friends or stay home with my family.
Figure 6. Ana Isabel Guillén González.
I have always been very curious about the way things work. When I was in middle school, I decided that I wanted to study something in the field of engineering because it would allow me to use my creativity and improve my innovation and research skills to solve problems that people can find in their lives. At the beginning I thought of studying a chemistry-related degree, given that I was about to enter a technical high school and I had to choose an area to study. However, I had a brief introduction to the courses the school had, and that made me change my mind completely. The subject of electronics suddenly became my favorite because of all the things you can do with that knowledge, so I have been studying electronics since then.
I don’t feel like I have faced a lot of difficult challenges throughout the time that I’ve been studying electronics, given that my parents have always fully supported my decision and they have continuously encouraged me to keep chasing my dreams. Nonetheless, I have faced people who questioned my decision, telling me that it’s not the best thing for me to study engineering, and they don’t believe that I can succeed in my career. The way that I overcome these comments is reminding myself that I can do it and that I don’t have to listen to other people’s prejudice.
Like I mentioned before, I am very blessed to have very supportive parents who have always encouraged me to follow my dream of studying electronics engineering, and with this support they help me by paying for my education and the things that I require for school, so I never miss anything important. Also, I have found support in other places; for example, I was able to win a scholarship that helps me pay a percentage of my tuition. Also, at ITESO there’s a lot of information about groups and services that can help. I consider that everything that I have mentioned has helped me in more ways that I can say, because thanks to that I’ve been able to keep studying at a constant pace and I have become more involved with my career.
When I was in my first semester at ITESO studying electronics. At the beginning I didn’t know what it was, but then I met some students from other semesters who explained to me what IEEE means and the things that it does, like promote the development of different projects, drive research around various technological topics, and support students, among other things. I became very interested in that and I started reading a little more about it, and I decided to become a member after seeing all of the opportunities IEEE gives.
I believe that I’ve grown a lot since I enrolled in IEEE, because it has opened my eyes to a wide range of applications for electronics and its branches. I’ve been able to read very interesting papers about research and development, which has given me a broader point of view in technology. Being an IEEE member has helped me in the process of making friends with similar interests, and with them I can discuss several engineering subjects that I find interesting. Also, I’ve been able to participate and attend some IEEE events, and these events made me realize the importance of my career, so it is encouraging.
I would like to see more promotion about what the MTT-S is and its importance in the engineering field. It would be really good to have some conferences for women to hear the experience of other women working in the field of microwaves. From my point of view, the field of microwaves has a lot of applications that can create a lot of amazing innovations, it just needs more promotion so that more people know its importance and become interested in this subject.
I would really like some medical collaborations, because I think that electronics can help the medical community in a lot of ways, and it is really helpful for a lot of people. The devices that doctors use in a hospital have an electronic side, so it’s crucial for the electronic engineering community to keep innovating in the medical field.
I think that there’s not enough representation of women in engineering in Mexico. I don’t think that I saw a lot of women engineers before I started studying electronics. I always saw how when people talked about an engineer it was always a male. Also, I often heard the way people described the field of engineering as full of men and with very few women, which was something weird to me. It wasn’t until I started studying electronics that I began to comprehend the importance of women in engineering and that we need more representation so other females can be interested in this field as well. I hope to contribute in a way that more women can see that everyone, with the right amount of motivation, can be an engineer and use their creativity to build new inventions with the potential of changing the world.
I would advise any young woman that if she likes engineering, she should pursue her dream, because a career in engineering is amazing and worth it. Of course, I would ask her if she really wants it, because it isn’t easy. I can’t lie about it. But if she is motivated, is dedicated to her studies, and doesn’t give up easily, then I would recommend her to study engineering.
In this article, the voices of four remarkable female engineering students in Mexico shed light on their individual journeys, challenges, and aspirations within the realm of microwave engineering. Ana Valeria Gonzalez Ortiz’s journey from mechatronics to specialized work at Intel exemplifies her passion for problem-solving and practicality, while her encounters with gender bias and social isolation underscore the need for a supportive community. Itzel Uribe’s drive to merge technology and medicine highlights the potential for innovation, as she navigates doubts and prejudice to assert her abilities. Paulina Lira Moreno’s journey from Arduino enthusiasm to pursuing a deeper understanding of electronics showcases the importance of family support and academic networks, while Ana Isabel Guillén González reflects on her curious nature and hopes for more women’s representation and collaborations in the field. These narratives collectively highlight the vital role mentorship, support networks, and challenging stereotypes play in fostering diversity and empowering women to pursue successful careers in technology.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MMM.2023.3314352