Alessandra Lanzara, Ph.D.

Alessandra Lanzara is a professor in the Physics Department at the University of California Berkeley and a Faculty Scientist in the Materials Sciences Division at Berkeley Lab.

She joined the Berkeley faculty in 2002 after conducting post-doctoral research at Stanford University and earning her PhD in Solid State Physics from the University of Rome.

Her research interests lie on the frontier aspects of condensed matter physics, motivated by the study of emergent properties in quantum materials.

She is also a pioneer in pushing the frontier of photoemission spectroscopy to the time and spin realm, with the development of a novel concept of electron analyzer for spin detection and high resolution time-resolved photoemission spectroscopy studies on correlated materials.

Dr. Lanzara has been honored as a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the Italian Physical Society. Among other awards, she has received the prestigious Maria Goeppert Mayer Award from the American Physical Society, the McMillan Award (highest recognition for an early-career condensed matter physicist); and the “Leading Scientist of the World” award by the International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, England.

1. What inspires you to work in STEM?

Passion for discovery of natural truths and the mystery of the unknown. The unique feeling that follows from the discovery of something, even if it is just a tiny piece of a huge and still unsolved puzzle, is what keeps me motivated and enthusiastic about science.

2. What excites you about your work at the Energy Department/Berkeley Lab?

Being in an environment of extremely talented people who are excited and passionate about their work. I feel like everyone shares a similar dream where scientific discovery can ultimately lead to a better world. This is really a unique and rare privilege.

3. How can our country engage more women, girls, and other underrepresented groups in STEM?

My early education was in Italy and I never viewed this as a problem. I had many role models of women being successful in science while still having beautiful families and raising children. I never imagined that the two could not go together.

It was surprising, instead, to find this to be a very common misconception here. Over the years I’ve seen so many girls turning away from science because of this damaging message. In Italy, as well as other European countries, where there is a significant number of women scientists, research is considered one of the most family-friendly jobs available. You do new, exciting things that are important for humanity, but still own your own time and priorities, which is a very important privilege when you have kids.

I also believe the way society is structured does not provide the right support and encouragement for both girls and boys to pursue a scientific career. Society paints the wrong portrait of what a scientist is, leading to prejudices that end up affecting more women. Support, encouragement and enthusiasm for discovery of the unknown (this is what science is) should start from home. If I’m here today it is also thanks to my family, which has encouraged me without creating artificial barriers about what is possible.

4. Do you have tips you would recommend for someone looking to enter your field of work?

Be driven by your passion and curiosity to discover the world around us. Everything is good as long as it is fed by the pursuit of a dream.

5. When you have free time, what are your hobbies?

What gives me the most joy when I have free time is to spend time with my kids and my husband. Playing soccer and tennis with them, going to a concert, opera, traveling, anything is a joy.