21st Century Women in Technology: Isabel Burdon Hita 

Often you don’t have to look to the big names in science and technology for someone to inspire in you a vocation, to want to aspire to excellence in a particular field. In fact, it’s usually the people closest to us who can be decisive when choosing one career path or another, who can serve as our inspiration and our role models. This was certainly the case for the guest in this latest instalment of our 21st Century Women in Technology series. Isabel Burdon Hita is a physicist from Pamplona who works in the Advanced Communications area at Gradiant. In her case, the teachers she met during her formative years were key to this Navarre native’s decision to go on to further study in physics, which ultimately led to her joining our quantum technologies team. 

 

What did you want to do when you were little?

I wanted to do everything, every year I wanted a different profession. When I was a child, I had so many different interests: I wanted to be a writer, actress, teacher, astronaut… I couldn’t decide until the last moment, and even now, I try to learn from everything I can.

 

Why did you choose technology?

There are many contributing factors to choosing a career, but perhaps the most important was the good fortune that, at key moments, I had very good teachers.

 

Where did you plan to study? Why?

Since I couldn’t study physics in my hometown, I decided to take the opportunity to move to Madrid. I chose to study at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid because of its strong research focus. Research in physics has always appealed to me because of the possibility of contributing to collective knowledge and building on our understanding of the laws that govern nature. I also like the mathematical reasoning of physics and the beauty that can be found hidden in the equations that describe how our world works.

Finally, the decision to study at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid was not only about acquiring theoretical knowledge, but also about being able to learn from people actively involved in the field of physics.

 

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working at Gradiant, in the field of quantum technologies integrated in the area of Advanced Communications. My work focuses specifically on simulations of physical systems involving quantum phenomena. These simulations aim to optimise the systems that will enable fully secure communications, protected by the laws of quantum physics. I am also collaborating on projects in the field of quantum computing, assessing how the optimisation capabilities of quantum computers could be used to improve today’s telecommunication networks.

 

What do you like most about your work?

To be able to keep abreast of and contribute to the latest developments in my field. I have the opportunity to work on pioneering quantum technologies and combine my passion for physics with other fields such as machine learning and programming mathematical models. One aspect I really value at Gradiant is the collaborative environment and knowledge transfer, as I can train in areas that interest me while being surrounded by people with similar interests and ambitions.

 

Who is your female role model or reference in the world of technology?

Without a doubt, my old manager from when I worked in the finance sector. She has dedicated much of her life to her work, standing out for her excellence in what is also a male-dominated sector. I think it was incredibly positive for me to have that example of a woman in senior management in a technical field. 

 

What is your reading of the situation regarding women in the technological field?

I believe that in science, the lack of job security is a major problem, especially for women looking to start a family without sacrificing a career in research. 

 

What would you say to the tech workers of the future?

Don’t let other people dictate your value and, if they underestimate you, use it as motivation to prove them wrong.