I didn’t start out in physics. My first major at university was philosophy and literature, driven by a desire to explore big questions — where we come from, what we’re made of, how life emerged. Switching to physics felt like discovering a “philosophy of nature.” Books like The Seven Daughters of Eve by Bryan Sykes and Poussières d’étoiles by Hubert Reeves sparked my curiosity further, from genetics to astrophysics. Mentors also shaped my path, including Assistant Professor Phil Chan in Singapore and Dr. Alex Weber-Bargioni during my postdoc at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Today, I work as an R&D engineer at PsiQuantum, a quantum computing company. We are building a computer that runs on light. More specifically, we use individual particles of light — photons — to create quantum bits, or qubits. These qubits allow us to process information in a completely new way. I work on the Circuits Team, designing and testing the photonic circuits that form the building blocks of our quantum computer.

One of my proudest accomplishments, besides building a cello, has been building a career that bridges disciplines, technologies, and cultures. I’ve worked across academia, consulting, and industry, living in five countries on three continents. This diverse path has shaped how I see science — not just as equations and systems, but as a human endeavour that crosses borders. I’m also part of the executive committee of the Far West Section of the American Physical Society (APS) and proud to help foster that community.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced has been learning to exist — and thrive — as a woman in the quantum industry. When I joined PsiQuantum, fewer than 10% of the technical staff were women. Today, we are still a minority. Navigating that environment was a steep learning curve; finding allies, both male and female, was key.

My advice to young women in STEM is to know that you deserve to be here as much as anyone else. Be aware of biases from others, as well as the ones you may have internalised. Seek out mentors and peer networks. Don’t wait for confidence to start pursuing your goals — professional and personal alike.

Looking forward, I hope to help shape a more inclusive global physics community. Through my work with the APS, I’m bringing voices from underrepresented regions — and maybe soon, developing countries — into local conferences. Professionally, I’m proud to be contributing to the development of quantum technologies — tools that may transform how we tackle complex problems such as drug discovery and climate change. Personally, I love to engage with local musicians, acrobats, and art galleries — channel their humanity into my soul.

Camille Stavrakas
R&D Engineer, Photonic Circuits, PsiQuantum Corp.
Born in France / Resides in United States
Educational Background: BSc in Physics (Cosmology), Paris Sorbonne (UPMC), France / National University of Singapore; MSc and MRes in Condensed-Matter Physics and Nanoscience, Paris Sorbonne (UPMC), France / Uppsala Universitet, Sweden / University of Cambridge, United Kingdom; PhD in Physics, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom