There is no chromosome that makes it difficult for women to study technology, says young scientist Veronika Junasová

“When I was applying to high school, I definitely didn't want to take my final exams in math and physics,” recalls PhD student Veronika Junasová from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication at BUT. At first, her family tried to talk her out of studying microelectronics. Today, as a researcher, she encourages not only women but anyone who doubts themselves to pursue semiconductor technology. She is also helping to organize the first edition of the togetHER in Tech event, which will take place on April 29.

Did you have many female classmates during your studies?

Not many women study microelectronics. Of course, it depends on the field—biomedical engineering, for example, is more popular among girls. It seems that if a field includes keywords like "medicine" or "chemistry," it attracts more women. Probably because these subjects are common in high schools, so they feel more familiar. Purely technical fields, however, are not usually taught there, so students don’t really know what to expect. The fear of the unknown plays a big role. I recently discussed this with a colleague—there’s no chromosome that determines whether a woman has the aptitude for technical studies or not.

Did your family support you in studying engineering?

They supported me once I started, but when I was choosing a university, they didn’t really understand my decision. When I entered high school, I had no intention of taking my final exams in math and physics. But my teachers encouraged me, so I decided to go for a technical field. My family's reaction was: Why don’t you choose something normal? Why not study medicine? That kind of response wouldn’t have happened if I had been a boy.

What sparked your interest in electrical engineering?

There are tinkerers in my family. My uncle, for example, knows how to fix broken things, and I always found it fascinating. But when I asked how he did it, he would say: You wouldn’t understand anyway. For some reason, society has this ingrained idea that women don’t understand technology. And honestly, when he tried to explain it to me, I didn’t understand much at first. But at university, I was able to learn it. When your environment isn’t supportive, you have to find your own way. I relied on sheer stubbornness—despite hearing that engineering was "for men", I applied anyway. My family wanted to protect me from disappointment, but I knew that if I wanted it badly enough, I could do it.

Did you ever doubt your choice during your studies?

Yes. But not because I was a woman. Coming from high school, I barely understood the technical terms in my first lecture. I spent a lot of time Googling, but over time, things started to make sense. It wasn’t about engineering itself—I had a general education, and the same struggle would have happened if I had jumped into any other specialized field. I made friends with students from technical high schools—they helped me with engineering, and I helped them with math. By the time we reached our bachelor’s degrees, our knowledge levels were even.

You organize many outreach events. Are you specifically trying to encourage women to study engineering?

Right now, we’re working on the Chips for Europe project, which aims to attract more students to a new program, Chip Design and Modern Semiconductor Technologies. It’s part of a bigger picture—Europe is striving for independence in semiconductor production, and the Czech Republic is involved in that effort. But we lack specialists. That’s why, in collaboration with CEITEC and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, we’ve prepared outreach events targeted at women.

What kind of job opportunities will graduates of the new Chip Design and Modern Semiconductor Technologies program have?

Most people don’t realize this, but there are several companies in the Czech Republic that manufacture semiconductor chips and are constantly looking for specialists. There’s a talent shortage, and salaries reflect that—these are well-paid, stable jobs. Major investments are flowing into Europe, including Dresden and Rožnov pod Radhoštěm. Experts in semiconductor technologies will be in high demand, whether in startups or large multinational companies.

You’re currently a PhD student. Are you happy you stood your ground and pursued Microelectronics and Technologies?

Yes. Even though I don’t directly design chips myself, my dissertation focuses on inertial sensors that track movement in space. I work with finished chips and integrate them into circuits. It involves designing circuits, creating circuit boards, bringing them to life, and programming them. My specialty is developing new methods for sensor measurement and signal processing. Some people think microelectronics is only about chips and semiconductors, but it actually offers many different career paths. And that’s great.

Do you plan to stay in academia and continue promoting engineering studies? Or are you interested in working in industry as well?

Both. I want to stay at the university, but I also want to gain more practical experience. In my opinion, the best lecturers are those with industry experience because they don’t just teach theory. I want to give students the best possible knowledge, and to make that knowledge more relevant, I need to test it in practice. My goal is to bridge the gap between academia and industry and pass on that expertise.

Author: Hana Marko