Meet Eman Hammad
Eman Hammad graduated with a Ph.D. in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Toronto in 2018. She currently works as an Industrial & IoT Security & Resilience Manager at PwC. In her free time, Eman enjoys art, mainly photography, painting, traditional crafts & writing, volunteer work for both professional and humanitarian causes, and cooking.
When did your love of STEM begin?
Since early elementary school I was fascinated by Science, Math and Physics. Figuring out the why and how gave me a thrill that I have not felt doing anything else! I remember my first experiment when I was about 7 years old, which did not end well nonetheless was followed by many more experiments. I can never be thankful enough for having parents and teachers who acknowledged my interests and supported me within available resources. My physics teacher trusted me with the keys to the school lab on the condition that I do not break anything. I vividly remember the sparks I felt when I had the opportunity to work on a computer for the first time (I think I was around 12 years old). For me STEM was the real and transformative equivalent of superpowers: everything and anything seemed possible!
What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?
The journey of continuous learning, exploration and growing as a professional, flexing my superpowers while working on real problems. I am an interdisciplinary engineer, which means that I invested in gaining enough depth in multiple fields such as technology, math & engineering (control, communication, energy systems) to enable me to work on complex challenges. I care about what I do, because of its impact on our day-to-day life. I work in industrial & internet of things cybersecurity, where we are literally fighting digital crime (hackers) to make sure our electricity, transportation, manufacturing, health services, cities & homes remain safe and operational when we need them. My second best part is that I get to do what I love while spending quality time with my family, friends and dedicate energy for my hobbies.
What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?
Unlock your superpowers, follow your instincts and always look ahead. Select role models and reach-out to mentors in your community or through the internet: ask questions, challenge and explore. And finally, remember that you are a unique individual who has many choices that will enable you to make a difference: I know a smart lady who is combining her musical talent and neural science to improve life for people with cognitive diseases such as Alzheimers.