#NCCRWomen: Jelena Trisovic

Why did you choose a scientific career?

I have always been curious and on the lookout for a new challenge. A scientific career brings both together, as it requires me to constantly learn about new concepts and ways in which they could help tackle the problems that I am trying to solve. 

If you weren't a scientist, what would you be?

I would be a translator or a linguist, as I like learning new languages and analyzing their structure and logic. This is something I already enjoy doing, although not as a professional. In addition to Serbian, which is my native language, I also speak English, Russian and German.  

In simple language, explain what you do for your NCCR.

I am looking into ways in which control and perception modules of autonomous systems could interact and collaborate. For example, I am exploring how the path and actions of a car could be chosen to ensure learning as much as possible about the environment (the road and other cars), while still performing a given task (e.g. getting to a specific point as fast as possible).  

What does your typical day at work look like?

I usually try to use mornings for reading, studying, and writing, and afternoons for working on my project, which entails mostly coding and running tests at this stage. I also often interact with other members of my group during meetings, reading groups or spontaneous discussions, which sometimes leads to exciting new ideas and potential collaborations.  

What do you like to do outside the lab? 

I like board games, watching movies and photography. Since I came to Switzerland, I have also become more active and started to enjoy skiing and hiking on a regular basis. 

What is the worst thing about your chosen career path?

Uncertainty about results and the development of ideas - It is both the worst and the best part of research at the same time. 

What would you like to say to your younger self about a scientific career?

It is a lot about knowledge and creativity, but even more about persistence and hard work. 

We are sharing profiles of women researchers within NCCR Automation as part of the #NCCRWomen campaign. You can find out more about the campaign on YouTube, Twitter or Instagram.