Author: Laura Trotta
‘Bring technology to the healthcare industry and impact people’s lives.’
In a new series of blogs to mark International Women’s Day, VPs from across CluePoints share their experiences, challenges, and advice for anyone wanting to pursue success. Laura Trotta, VP of Research, talks about why you should continuously pursue what interests you most.
I have a background in biomedical engineering and a Ph.D. in applied mathematics. Before joining CluePoints, I worked as a project manager for a company developing 3D software solutions for medical devices.
My background is rooted in the technical and scientific, but I have evolved through project management and people management.
I joined CluePoints because of the research and the mindset – I felt I could contribute to innovative solutions while working with a diverse team of people.
It was the best of both worlds.
When I joined CluePoints more than seven years ago, I was the only research scientist.
My role focused on building algorithms to ensure the statistical engine continued to develop and we could use it to scale up the platform.
As the size and scope of the research team grew, I moved from research positions to managerial, eventually becoming VP of Research.
From Engineering to Healthcare
My bachelor’s degree was in engineering, and when it came time to choose a specific direction, my university started offering biomedical engineering for the first time.
I was attracted to it because I wanted to contribute to the medical field and bring all my technical and mathematical skills.
In that first class, there were ten students, eight of whom were women sharing the same wish to bring technology to the healthcare industry and impact people’s lives.
My career has always been driven by what interests me, which continues to this day.
I give guest lectures to master’s students, and when they ask me for advice, I always say, ‘choose what you like doing best.’
Inspiring mentors
I feel lucky that I met people who introduced me to new areas of interest and pushed me to develop, regardless of gender.
I have had several such people in my life.
Firstly, my Ph.D. advisor. He organized research trips abroad and encouraged us. That is very important if you want to succeed in your career. It is not just about academic skills; it is about having various experiences and developing new interests.
At CluePoints, Marc has inspired me from the scientific side and Francois from the management side. They offered me a fantastic and unique work environment.
These people have taught me a lot but also trusted me to take on more responsibilities and ownership of my work.
