Embrace the Journey and Harness the Power of Your Network: A Woman’s Perspective
Authors: Deligianni Hariklia (Lili) 
Published: February 2020

Electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering have evolved into important disciplines enabling unprecedented progress in micro and nanoelectronics. Because of the complexity of electronic devices, the path to innovation is very complex. It requires a thorough understanding of materials and device characteristics, integration of materials and processes and process scale up, control based on sound electrochemical engineering practices and a multidisciplinary, diverse team.

The electrochemical fabrication of flip-chip solder technology is an extremely selective and efficient process which is extendible to larger wafer sizes, to finer dimensions and to higher C4 density. Focus was on the development of a technology was based on additive and subtractive thin film processing. Modeling, experimental matrices, process control and equipment were developed to enable great manufacturability and scalability of the flip-chip process.

CIGS is one the most promising thin film solar materials and more mature for scale-up. For the electrodeposition of CIGS we adopted a thin film deposition approach of Cu/In/Ga thin films. Key challenges are the deposition of uniform nanometer scale thin films on meter large resistive substrates, controlling nucleation and growth and tailoring the microstructure of the thin film in order to control the composition and microstructure of the final CIGS chalcopyrite layer. Scaling-up of the technology re-used concepts from the paddle cell developed for the magnetic recording and C4 processes.

In Healthcare, medical devices will provide value by offering cognitive real-time analytics of biological data at the point of care and of sensing. Real-time analytics will require continuous streaming of large data sets. Neuromorphic chips will play a key role in connecting bio-sensors directly with deep-learning technology creating a closed-loop interface back to the user. By linking chip technology to advances in electrochemical bio-sensing and deep-learning, we aim to create advances in the fields of mental health, neurology and neuroimmunology.

Successfully executing on all this research required multi-disciplinary diversified teams that work very closely for years in order to innovate. In the end, people who have worked together on a multi-year project become collaborators for life. My key strength is perseverance and flexibility and I am on a mission to create technologies that will impact society. This is the driving force for waking up every morning and doing work. How do I leverage my strength to have an impact and to innovate over the years? I use my networks.

Using my networks to build a team of "trusted" advisors, mentees, mentors and colleagues who can complement my strengths and who support me in any new research direction or implementation of a new idea. I surround myself with colleagues that I trust and who trust me. Trust is something that one earns as one selflessly gives back to the network. In time, colleagues from the network give back, compliment my strengths, cover my weaknesses and help me accomplish my goals and passions. Furthermore, I work to develop other leaders who could succeed me in my current role. Developing others and having mentees is one of the most rewarding experiences.

In the end, we all benefit from gender equality in the workplace. Companies and institutions that leverage the full talents of their workforce are more innovative and as a result have a competitive advantage and win in the marketplace. Gender equality requires societal change and it will happen if we work together supporting diversity and harnessing the power of our networks.