We are excited to announce the speakers for the March 7th, Blossoming STEM of Women event, a free online event for educational institutions.
Coordinator: Francesca Battista
Francesca Battista obtained her Ph.D. in Quantum Physics at the University of Lund, Sweden in 2013. She worked as a researcher in Germany and Argentina where she also served as a Physics instructor at the University of Buenos Aires and in international schools. In 2018 she completed the Masters in Public Communication of Science and Technology at the University of Buenos Aires. In 2019, she moved to the United States to continue her studies in Science Technology, and Society. She obtained her Master’s in Science and Technology Studies at Virginia Tech University in 2021. She moved back to Buenos Aires in 2022.
Speaker: Elena Ferramola
Elena Ferramola has a master’s degree in Physics, from University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy, specializing in condensed matter. Her job experience in the industry sector began in 2009 as a R&D project coordinator within a collaboration agreement between her university and a local specialized industrial manufacturer.
She continued working for several companies, growing her skills in product development and project management. She obtained the Project Manger Professional PMP certification, adopting both the traditional Plan-driven and Agile approaches. As a Project manager, she has a consolidated experience in managing and leading multifunctional and international project teams.
Speaker: Bellinda King-Kallimanis
Dr. Bellinda King-Kallimanis is Senior Director of Patient-Focused Research at LUNGevity Foundation. In her work at LUNGevity she aims to ensure that patient and caregiver voices are incorporated in decision making across a wide variety of stakeholders. Prior to joining LUNGevity, she worked at the US Food and Drug Administration Oncology Center of Excellence on the Patient Focused Drug Development team. Bellinda also has experience in industry and academia and has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers. She received her Bachelor of Social Science and Master of Science in applied statistics from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, and her PhD in psychometrics from the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Speaker: Rachael Lau
Rachael Lau received her Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke University. In her work as a Disaster Engineer, she is driven by a fundamental question: how do we secure people, data, and infrastructure in an unpredictable world? Her work sits at the intersection of disaster resilience, climate risk, and science and technology policy, where she applies technical expertise in geohazards, remote sensing, and risk modeling to protect communities and critical systems from cascading threats. She has dedicated her career to making complex technical issues accessible to decision-makers and broader audiences. She worked across research institutions, government agencies, and international organizations to bridge the gap between science, policy, and action.
