Could you briefly tell us about your background and how you came to work at TU Delft?
I am currently an Assistant Professor of Shape Morphing Design at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering at TU Delft. My background is in materials science and engineering, and over the years my work has increasingly moved towards the intersection of materials, design and emerging technologies.
I completed my MSc at the University of Tehran in Iran, and later pursued my PhD and postdoctoral research at TU Delft and Ghent University in Belgium. Working across different countries, disciplines, and academic environments has greatly influenced my professional development and made me realise the importance of inclusive and supportive academic communities.
What challenges do you think women in academia still face today, particularly at technical universities like TU Delft?
Although a great deal of progress has been made, women in academia still face challenges related to representation, visibility, career progression and access to leadership positions. These issues are particularly evident in traditionally male-dominated technical fields.
As an international woman in academia, I have also sometimes experienced an additional layer of challenge related to navigating different academic cultures, communication styles, expectations and professional networks. I hear similar stories from other international female colleagues.
This has made me especially aware of the importance of inclusive leadership, transparent processes, mentoring and strong professional communities. Career transitions—from PhD to postdoc and from postdoc to a permanent academic position—are particularly important moments when strong mentoring and supportive networks can make a significant difference.
What does DEWIS mean to you personally, and what do you hope it will represent to others?
For me, DEWIS is both a community and a platform for creating meaningful change. It provides academic women with opportunities to connect, share experiences, support one another, increase their visibility and contribute to discussions and policies that shape the university.
I hope DEWIS represents a community where women feel heard, supported and empowered, while also contributing to broader cultural and institutional change at TU Delft.
What would you like to contribute as a board member of DEWIS and the wider TU Delft community?
I would particularly like to contribute in three areas. Firstly, drawing on my experience of working across engineering and design, I hope to strengthen collaboration across faculties.
Secondly, I would like to support early-career female academics during important career transitions. Thirdly, I would like to increase DEWIS's visibility and communication, and raise awareness of its impact across TU Delft.
I also hope to bring a proactive, collaborative and transparent approach to the board.
What positive changes would you like to see at TU Delft in terms of gender equity, diversity, and inclusion?
I would like to see diversity and inclusion become embedded in how we recruit, develop, evaluate and promote people, and not just as targets, but as part of the academic culture.
I would also like to see stronger representation of women at senior academic and leadership levels, alongside transparent career pathways and equal access to opportunities.
To me, diversity is not only a social value, but also improves the quality of our research and education. Complex technological and societal challenges benefit enormously from a variety of perspectives, backgrounds and ways of thinking.
What is one thing leaders and colleagues can do today to foster a more inclusive working environment?
One practical suggestion is to actively create space for different voices to be heard. Inclusion is not just about who is present in the room, but also about who is invited to contribute, whose ideas are recognised, and who is offered opportunities for growth.
Leaders in particular can have an enormous impact by being transparent about opportunities, expectations and career development. Small, consistent actions in everyday academic life can gradually create a much more inclusive culture.
What is your ambition, within or beyond DEWIS?
I want to help create an academic environment where people can grow and succeed, regardless of their gender or background. Within DEWIS, I hope we can continue to build a strong, and supportive community, while also helping to bring about real cultural and structural change at TU Delft.
Ultimately, I would love to see a future where diversity is simply a natural part of academic life and leadership — something that is understood to make academia stronger and better, and no longer needs constant explanation or defence.
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