Silvia Carrasco - 2018 SPIE Women in Optics Planner
Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT) Director
ICFO - The Institute of Photonic Sciences, Spain
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Country of Birth: Spain
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I had an amazing physics teacher in high school who planted the idea of a career in science in my head for the first time. Then the idea evolved into determination nurtured by my natural pragmatism: Science is difficult, therefore, perhaps, it will be easier for me to get a job if I succeed!
I am the Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT) Director at ICFO. The KTT Team acts a bridge between ICFO and companies, biomedical centers, and hospitals worldwide. The KTT team manages ICFO's intellectual property portfolio, and helps ICFOnians translate breakthrough technologies from the lab to the marketplace.
At some point, when you advance in your career, you must shift from being told what to do, to leading a team. By helping someone else realize their vision, you can further create your own vision and pursue it with the help of your team. It is an amazing challenge and at the same time it is an incredible journey.
I have to say that during my entire career I have had amazing male and female mentors that together with my family have always been able to get the best out of me, building my self-esteem along the way. I couldn't have asked for better advice.
I would say that there are four important lessons I have learned so far: 1) If you are able to learn something from any situation you will grow immensely; 2) Trying different things enriches you; 3) Determination will take you everywhere you want; and 4) It is wise to listen to what colleagues say, but at the end of the day, you have to follow your own gut.