A large number of young people around the world dream of studying at prestigious universities in America. For a young Bosnian woman, Sara Vanovac, that dream came true. Today, as a doctoral student in theoretical physics at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Sara is focused on quantum and condensed matter research, bridging her knowledge of physics, mathematics, and computer science.
Before starting her doctoral work, she gained practical experience working as the Director of Institutional Research at Furman University. In addition to her academic career, Sara is recognized as an active advocate for gender equality in science, especially in STEM fields.
Mother and father – Sara’s role models
Born in Belgrade, but raised in Istocno Sarajevo, Sara completed elementary and high school in that city. “Istocno Sarajevo is the place where I gained the foundations of my education,” she saidat the beginning of the conversation.
Sara looked up to both parents, resulting in her unique blend of their traits. “What I appreciated about my family was that they allowed me to be a multifaceted personality and never held me back by putting me in a certain category,” noted Sara. While her parents didn’t fully understand her many interests growing up, as long as she got good grades and was involved in sports, she had the freedom to explore whatever interested her. “I was truly blessed in that way and it allowed me to excel in academics, sports and numerous extracurricular activities,” Sara points out. For her, being a versatile person is extremely important and she considers it her virtue.
Physicist since childhood
“Already as a little girl, I knew I would study physics,” she explained. “It’s a cliché among physicists, but it’s true.” Her father, who loved physics, taught her about atoms and their structure when she was just five years old. “He knew how to dream of the day when I would invent a nuclear power plant based on nuclear fusion and change the world,” recalls Sara. In college, she initially focused on nuclear physics, and her first research project was to build low-cost instrumentation for nuclear physics research.
As for returning to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Sara says: “I would return if I could ensure that I can continue my scientific work at the highest level and that my stay here can make a significant positive change.” She adds that she feels at home in the United States (U.S.) and that returning to Bosnia would be difficult. “Nevertheless, I plan to come more often and get involved as much as possible in communities like the BH Futures Foundation”, concludes Sara. “The work of people like dr. Edhem Custovic is the path to a real positive change and I want to be a part of it.”
Academic path
Being part of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), one of the most prestigious universities in the world, was an almost surreal moment for Sara Vanovac. When asked how she felt when she received the news that she had been accepted, she said that “I almost didn’t even apply to Caltech.”
”My old research advisor had to talk me into applying. I think he saw more potential in me than I saw in myself at the time.” Sara emphasizes the importance of mentors on her journey. ”Although it may sound funny now considering how ambitious I have to appear, I never set out to be at the best university or to be the best in general. At 17, all I wanted was a chance to do what I love without being a burden to my parents.”
In the world of research, as Sara points out, it’s important to be able to generate new ideas and solve problems that textbooks don’t talk about. ”It requires curiosity, independence, persistence and the ability to face mistakes often,” she explains. ”You also have to be extremely self-motivated, because unlike school, there are no deadlines, grades or guidelines.” Sara emphasizes that this is exactly what she likes about research work. ”It’s like Columbus on his way to explore the world. Most of the time you only discover a small island off the coast, but imagine the day you discover America.”
For Sara, choosing to study quantum physics came from a deep curiosity. “I’ve always been interested in why the sum is greater than its parts,” says Sara. “When I look at the complexity and connectivity in the world around us, I wonder how it all arises from basic building blocks that behave in the simple ways that physics describes. When you add interactions, you get behaviors that none of those building blocks have on their own. I find that fascinating.”, N1 writes.
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