Prof. Dr. Yana Vaynzof
Prof. Dr. Yana Vaynzof holds the Chair for Emerging Electronic Technologies at Dresden University of Technology and serves as the Director of the Institute for Emerging Electronic Technologies at the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (IFW). Her research focuses on novel semiconductor materials and their unique properties, which make them of great interest for application and optoelectronic devices. As the first female spokesperson for a Cluster of Excellence at TU Dresden, she continues to play a pivotal role in advancing cutting-edge research in sustainable energy and electronic technologies.
Her scientific career began with a keen sense of curiosity: even as a child, Yana Vaynzof wanted to understand how the things around her worked—a curiosity that motivated her to pursue a career in science. Her background in physics and engineering enables her to experimentally investigate how materials interact with light and how these insights can be applied to technologies like solar cells. What she values most about her work is that it "enables me to do curiosity-driven research and learn something new every day, which is both motivating and rewarding“.
Her academic path has been shaped by a wealth of international experience, ranging from a master’s degree at Princeton University in the U.S. and a PhD in physics at the University of Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory, to a research stay at the National University of Singapore. Beyond gaining new scientific perspectives, these experiences allowed her to establish international collaborations that continue to enrich her research today.
However, Prof. Yana Vaynzof has also encountered challenges throughout her career. During her pregnancies and subsequent maternity leaves, she was unable to attend scientific conferences, which meant she was less visible within the international scientific community for an extended period.
"When I first returned to a large international conference, several colleagues were surprised to see me as they assumed I had quit academia. It took time and effort to re-establish myself as present and active in the scientific community."
She found support through a network of female scientists in her field, who served as mentors and continue to stand by her to this day.
„Knowing I can reach out to them with my questions or issues and get good advice and a different perspective is wonderful.“
Prof. Vaynzof is convinced that role models play a vital role for young women in science. They demonstrate what is possible, provide inspiration, and offer encouragement to forge one’s own path. In her view, scientists should strive to be role models themselves. Furthermore, young women should be encouraged and supported by both male and female role models.
Yana Vaynzof also looks to a role model of her own:
"The main role model in my career is someone who has been my mentor for many years, and I genuinely believe they do not know that this is how I view them. This person taught me how to best approach science with humour and humility, handle success and disappointment, and, most importantly, support my group members on their academic journey as they have supported me."
Looking to the future, Prof. Vaynzof hopes that more women will pursue careers in science. Female scientists, in particular, possess the capacity to transcend boundaries and develop solutions for the future—precisely because the modern challenges of our time demand such new perspectives.
For this reason, Yana Vaynzof offers this advice to early-career female scientists:
„Believe in yourself and don’t give up. Find a supportive network of colleagues and friends and lean on them when needed. Remember that you chose the academic path because science is fun, and it is essential to enjoy it!“