Student Spotlight: Women in Engineering

This International Women in Engineering Day, two Reuben Engineers share their experiences, passions and advice

23 June 2025

Beginning in the UK in 2014 as a national campaign by the Women's Engineering Society, International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) has gone from strength to strength over the past 11 years, receiving global support and UNESCO recognition.

Yet, despite progress since the founding of the Women's Engineering Society in 1919, the lack of representation for women in the field remains staggering. In the UK, where over half of the national workforce (56.2%) is female, women represent just 16.9% of those working in Engineering and Technology.

With the theme of this year's INWED being Together We Engineer, we've asked two of our female Engineers at Reuben to share what they love about the field, what still needs to change, and their advice for the next generation of women who are considering studying Engineering.

A Q&A with our Women in Engineering

Latifah Almulla, DPhil in Engineering Science 

My degree focuses on bioelectronic medicine, where my research is centred on developing drug delivery technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders.

What do you enjoy most about studying Engineering?

I love how Engineering empowers me to solve real-world problems and turn creative ideas into practical tools that can improve people’s lives, especially in healthcare.

What helps you feel a sense of belonging in Engineering? What still needs to change?

Seeing more women and people from different backgrounds in Engineering makes me feel hopeful. It’s a reminder that I’m not the only one, and that this field is becoming more open to everyone. When we come from different places and experiences, we bring new ideas, and I think that’s how real innovation happens!

I’d love to see more global platforms where people can share ideas and work together, no matter where they are or how much funding they have. Curiosity and passion shouldn't have borders. When we support one another and stay open to different ways of thinking, we can make engineering more creative, more powerful, and more impactful on our world.

Any advice for younger women who are curious about Engineering but unsure if it’s for them?
Don’t let uncertainty stop you, Engineering isn’t about having all the answers at the start. If you enjoy solving problems and are curious about how things work, you already have what it takes to begin.

Ambre Bertrand, DPhil in Computer Science (Health Data Science CDT)

I study the effects of metabolic disease (such as type 2 diabetes) on the human heart, using computational methods including statistics, machine learning and mathematical modelling & simulation.

What do you enjoy most about studying Engineering?

The best part of studying Engineering is developing your ability to think about and approach problems with a logical, rigorous, and consistent mindset. I’ve learnt to think on my feet and adapt quickly to new scenarios, which makes me feel well equipped to tackle new problems. I love the versatility and applicability of Engineering as a discipline – once you develop a fundamental understanding of key Engineering principles and mathematics, you can apply these to study and solve a huge range of real-world problems. 

What helps you feel a sense of belonging in Engineering? What still needs to change?

Trained as a general (i.e. multidisciplinary) engineer, I feel most “at home” in diverse teams with people from lots of different professional backgrounds. To build effective and comprehensive solutions to complex problems, you often need a range of inputs and perspectives.

Although Science and Engineering are becoming increasingly interdisciplinary, I think breaking down silos between disciplines is crucial to accelerate and maximise scientific advancements.

Any advice for younger women who are curious about Engineering but unsure if it’s for them?

Always follow your heart and keep doing what you love! It may sound cliché but it’s true: if you find something that triggers your curiosity and interest, do that, and you will do it well because it will be fun. If you are curious, enjoy maths and science, and would like to learn how to apply these skills to solve exciting real-world problems, then Engineering would be perfect for you. It’s a hugely applicable degree and will open so many doors for your future.

Surround yourself by people who encourage you, don’t be afraid and believe in yourself!