I am from Helmand, Afghanistan. During my Ph.D. research, I used quantum-mechanical simulations to explain mechanisms in a promising new type of solar cell based on 'plasmonic hot carriers'. These solar cells use nanoscale metallic structures to capture light and may be able to avoid the wastage of a large fraction of solar energy that occurs in standard solar cells based on semiconductors. However, the efficiency of these plasmonic solar cells is still quite low. My simulations shed light on how light excites electrons in these nanostructures, how these electrons move through the structure and are collected to obtain electrical energy in order to understand the reason for this efficiency limit and identify strategies to get past them. In April 2020, I was awarded the AAUW fellowship for the academic year 2020-2021.
What have been some of the benefits of your fellowship experience; what have you enjoyed the most?
The benefit of being an AAUW fellow is getting connected to a big network of amazing women working on inspiring projects from all over the world. During the fellowship year, I enjoyed the networking sessions with these women the most.
What has been the most challenging aspect of the fellowship experience?
Nothing big. A small challenge I faced was getting the fellowship committee to approve a modified budget mid fellowship year. I had to make some modifications in my proposed budget because of the pandemic. However, the staff and the reviewers were very responsive to my requests of change. So, it was not really that challenging.
What has surprised you about the fellowship experience?
I was surprised that the mid-term and the final reports do not need to have detailed explanations of the research done during the fellowship year.
What is your vision for your future: what do you expect to be doing after your fellowship?
I am a postdoctoral researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory now.
What advice do you give current students considering applying to programs?
The one piece of advice I would like to give to current applicants is that in your research statement for the application, write about the broader picture of your research. It certainly helps writing about the real-world applications of your research.
Do you have a website or link that you would like to share with students who would like further information about your work?
I actually do not have one yet. For now, if one wants to learn about this fellowship, she can contact me with any questions via LinkedIn. Also, Google Scholar is a good place for a comprehensive list of my publications.
The American Association of University Women International Doctoral Fellowship supports international women studying or conductiong research in the United States. Recipients are selected for academic achievement and a commitment to women and girls. They will return to their home countries to become leaders in business, government, academia, comunity activism, the arts or scientific fields.
