uk resource centre for women in science, engineering and technology

Personal Stories

These profiles seek to provide a snapshot of the diverse areas and range of levels at which women currently operate across SET, and will hopefully serve to inspire and encourage women considering a SET career, and motivate those women seeking to maximise their potential and progress up the career ladder.
 
Aisha Jilani
Role: Tutor / Programmer/ Teaching Assistant
Organisation: Huddersfield University
Brief career history: I have done my Masters in Computer Sciences and currently on a specialization course in Internet and Enterprise Systems. My future aim is to have a PHD and contribute my share in this science. On completion of my degree I will most likely turn to Teaching profession again or will serve for IT management. Along side I have plans to remain in programming for my personal interest.
What or who influenced your choice of career?: My step in to the computer sciences was a planned decision. The wide scope and open horizons against the computer industry were the motivating factors for me. Secondly, I had set a few role models for my future career, I felt them not only teaching but preaching computer science.
What do you enjoy most about your work?: Can you tell me any area where computers have no application directly or indirectly? It would take at least a few minutes to come up with the justified answer, because almost everything can benefit from computers. So I feel this course tells you what others just dream of, I know how the idol and dumb looking box is internally, I can imagine how are the miracles coming out of it. I can present strange looking facts like. There is no minus in computer machine, it does it by taking a complimentary addition, which sounds interesting for those who do not have a vision into the computer internal architecture and working logic. I can imagine of how to put bits and bytes together to reach a particular point, or how did computer reach what it is today. All these thoughts keep me flying high with the thought that I can put a hand in further development of Computer Sciences.
What has been the highpoint of your career?: My Final Project of MSc is my highpoint. It was a Flight Simulation project based on the satellite provided data i.e. Flythrough over Digital Terrain Elevation Data. I was awarded 2nd position in my University and the project has been presented it on National level to present the University products against the higher authorities. I was promoted to be the President of the university Software Society. I felt very pleased when I had been invited in different seminars as a speaker on the subject. I felt my efforts got the worth I made them for, not only this but this is what provoked me to carry on my studies abroad as all my teachers agree that I can prove a success in the computer sciences.
Best advice you have ever received?: Actually one advice but has two aspects: No one knows what one can do until one tries. First Deserve then Desire. I can now sense the depth of the two advices I was given, I feel these led me to what I am today and will lead me to what I will be in future.