As a kid, I was always binge-watching science documentaries. (Shout-out to my favorite Italian one: SuperQuark!). In high school, I liked math and physics because formulas gave me a clear, logical way to understand the world and figure out what might happen next. On the other hand, biology gave me my first headache: endless chains of biochemical reactions, immense diversity, and the enigma of memory, emotions, and consciousness. I wanted to use physics and math to untangle and control this complexity. That’s how I found my way into biophysics and optical engineering.
As a researcher at MIT, I design and build optical tools to study cells, tissues, and humans, and I just wrapped up my first clinical trial. My work spans fundamental research in areas like cancer and embryonic biology, to tech-transfer projects developing endoscopy probes for diagnosing ear infections. I’m supported by Apollon, a startup revolutionizing non-invasive diabetes management through spectroscopy, so bringing lab discoveries into real-world applications is a central part of what I do. You might find me hands-on in the lab, brainstorming in meetings across time zones, or deep in data, searching for patterns behind a biological process. I feel truly privileged: I get to learn something new every day and never get bored.
My career at MIT is my greatest accomplishment so far: for someone passionate about biomedical optics, MIT feels like a sacred place, with a rich legacy of optics-driven discoveries. Arriving here was both exciting and intimidating. What makes me proud is not just having adapted personally and professionally, but having transitioned while staying productive, social, and genuinely enjoying the journey.
Just because something seems unlikely or hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean it’s unfeasible. You must take something that excites your imagination and break it down into baby steps. You don’t need to follow a straight or traditional path. Your original way of thinking, your different background, and even your own doubts are your assets. On the scientific side, I want to show that connecting ideas that often seem to be worlds apart can actually drive discovery.
More broadly, I hope to convey that STEM is creative, fun, and social, and that it’s a space where women belong. It is nothing like the old stigma of being alone with your formulas in a man’s world. Also, it can be paired with a great work-life balance!
Arianna Bresci
Postdoctoral Associate, Laser Biomedical Research Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Born in Italy / Resides in United States
Educational Background: BS in Biomedical Engineering; MS in Bioengineering, Biomechanics, and Biomaterials; PhD in Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
