Meet Vandana Arora

Vandana Arora graduated with her MS in Telecommunications Engineering Technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University. In the past, she worked as an Optical Development Engineer at Subsea Solutions, Infinera Corporation. In her spare time, Vandana likes to program and drink tea.

When did your love of STEM begin?

My love for STEM dates back to my school days. Physics and Geography were two of my favorite subjects in school. While Physics helped me understand the concept behind every occurrence in nature, Geography intrigued me and helped expand my knowledge about our planet and the entire solar system. By the time I completed high school, I was sure that I wanted to choose a career path in the field of science and technology. Besides, my father also encouraged me to take up science and make a career in the field of engineering.

What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?

The best part about working in the field of STEM is that we get to work on challenging problems everyday and brainstorm ideas to come up with apt solutions. We get to innovate and build systems that make our lives easier.

What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?

You have the ability to make a positive impact on the world and education in STEM can provide you the right tools to do so.