Twenty-five brilliant female physics students, winners of the “More women in physics” competition of the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), were awarded today, November 27, during a ceremony held in the presence of the INFN Governing Council and Executive Committee.
Each of the students, coming from all over Italy, received a study grant worth 1500 euros as an incentive to undertake studies in subnuclear, astroparticle, nuclear, theoretical physics, or in the field of interdisciplinary technological research and accelerator physics.
The award, now in its third edition, is indeed intended for female students enrolled in the first year of the master’s degree course in experimental and theoretical physics of fundamental interactions and in applied physics. It was established in 2022 by INFN as part of the “More women in physics” project aimed at promoting and supporting girls in the study of physics, encouraging synergies between universities, the research community and industry, with the additional goal of increasing the presence of women in the research world.
The competition has also been launched again this year, for a fourth edition: the call for applications is now online and is aimed at female students enrolled in the master’s degree course in Physics or in Universe Sciences for the 2025/2026 academic year, who will have until 2 February 2026 to submit their application.
We asked each of the winners to tell us what motivated her to study physics and her expectations for the future. Below is a summary of their responses.
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The winners interested in subnuclear physics
Carmen Selicato – University of Pisa
“I find extremely fascinating and engaging the constant need for critical thinking that particle physics requires in order to solve ever new problems and challenges. Research in this field attracts me greatly and I therefore hope to continue my studies with a PhD”.
Francesca Contardi – University of Pavia
“My passion for physics was born in high school thanks to my teacher. Now I have begun working on a few projects in particle physics and I would like to continue with a PhD and a career in research. I hope for a path full of novelty, curiosity and great satisfaction!”.
Sara Carolina Antonellini – University of Milano Bicocca
“Physics fascinated me because it explained the world around me. I hope to continue my path in particle physics, with the ambition of one day contributing to shedding light on the great open mysteries and inspiring other young female students to pursue their interests in STEM disciplines”.
Gemma Bruni – Sapienza University of Rome
“I approached physics because I asked myself so many questions about the world. I wish my future self to continue growing as a researcher: I would like to work in the field of neutrino and dark matter physics in a large international experiment such as ProtoDUNE”.
Valeria Spasiano – Sapienza University of Rome
“Since I was a child I was fascinated by the starry sky and by the desire to understand how the universe works. In my future I hope to grow as a researcher working in an international context where curiosity and collaboration come together to expand the boundaries of knowledge”.
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The winners interested in astroparticle physics
Emma Giussani – University of Milano Bicocca
“I still remember when, at school, physics went from being a simple subject to something I really wanted to understand. For my near future I hope never to lose that curiosity that led me to undertake my studies in physics”.
Chiara Fiammetta De Santis – Sapienza University of Rome
“Studying astrophysics has been my dream since I was a child. I hope to make it come true by continuing my studies with a PhD. I can’t wait to put what I have learned into practice and to fully enter the heart of scientific research, having the opportunity to travel and get to know different academic environments”.
Alessia Gori – University of Florence
“Physics seemed to me the most natural path to give concrete form to my curiosity: it is the discipline that more than any other seeks to answer the ‘why’ of things. I hope to continue my path as a researcher, grow professionally and face new challenges”.
Greta Tosti – University of Perugia
“I chose to study physics because I was sure it would lead me to discover the secrets of the universe. My goal is to become a researcher and deepen my knowledge of gravitational-wave detectors, also in view of second-generation detectors such as the Einstein Telescope”.
Camilla Benedetti – Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna
“Since I was little I had a passion for astrophysics and for the questions it raises. I think it is a stimulating field, rich in opportunities for growth, especially with regard to multi-messenger astrophysics. In the future, I would like to become part of an experimental research project for the development of new detectors”.
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The winners interested in nuclear physics
Maria Blasi Toccaceli – Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna
“I became passionate about physics at school, fascinated by the idea that it could explain every phenomenon around us. I would like to deepen my knowledge in the field of nuclear medicine, working on projects dedicated to the development of innovative treatments”.
Gaia Bove – University of Milan Bicocca
“I have taken to heart Plato’s motto ‘χαλεπὰ τὰ καλά, beautiful things are difficult’. The possibility of contributing actively to a major research project dedicated to nuclear fusion such as ITER fills me with enthusiasm and eagerness to act, which is why I would like to do a PhD in this field”.
Giulia Russo – University of Salerno
“I approached physics with a final-year school project dedicated to interstellar travel. I would like to continue my studies with research experiences abroad. My dream is to spend a period at CERN: an international and intellectually stimulating research environment is what I am looking for”.
Sara Bolzoni – University of Trento
“What fascinates me about physics is that sometimes it leads us to discover extraordinary complexity in the simplest things, and sometimes to represent very complex concepts through apparently simple and harmonious formulae. For my future I hope to become the researcher I have always dreamed of being”.
Ludovica Rainero – Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna
“Physics has been, and still is, the discipline that answers my many questions. For the near future I hope to do my thesis internship at CERN, I would like to work in research and development for solid-state semiconductor detectors and continue with a PhD in the ALICE experiment”.
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The winners interested in theoretical physics
Isabella Corso – University of Pisa
“Physics intrigues me because it describes very different aspects of the world with the elegance and precision of mathematics. In my near future I hope to continue my studies with a PhD, which I hope will allow me to travel and collaborate with different people from whom I can learn a lot”.
Sofia Dossena – University of Milan Bicocca
“Physics offers the possibility of building a coherent vision of reality and this fascinates me greatly. For the future I hope to continue to be surprised and amazed by the reality around us. I would like to continue my research in a stimulating and inclusive environment, giving my contribution to the advancement of knowledge”.
Elisabetta Scotto – University of Genoa
“The juxtaposition between the analytical rigour of mathematics and the creativity required to develop new theories is what makes physics special to me. I hope to continue my university path with a PhD, continuing to study with passion and to always discover new things”.
Maria Luce Reverdito – University of Pavia
“What brought me to physics was my need to understand in depth what I studied and observed, to approach it with formal rigour. In the future I hope to embark on a research path, perhaps also in teaching, always keeping alive curiosity and a sense of wonder for what surrounds us”.
Alessandra Esmeraldi – University of Milan Bicocca
“My passion for physics was born from the enigma of dark matter. I hope to continue cultivating my curiosity for physics, grow as a researcher and contribute, even in a small way, to the understanding of the universe. My concrete goal is to continue my academic path with a PhD in theoretical physics”.
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The winners interested in Technological and Interdisciplinary Research and Accelerator Physics
Elena Friscia – University of Naples Federico II
“Since I was a child I have always been fascinated by science and I have always loved getting my hands dirty to understand or build something new. I hope to undertake an academic path that nurtures my passion and to take part in projects that contribute to improving people’s lives”.
Emma Moretti – University of Bari Aldo Moro
“The study of physics allows me to combine the need to rationalise and make sense of reality with the desire to put my knowledge at the service of others. I would like to deepen my studies and explore possibilities in the field of physics applied to medicine in order to contribute actively to patients’ wellbeing”.
Camilla Ursino – University of Milan Bicocca
“I chose to study physics because of my desire to discover and understand the mechanisms underlying everything. In my future I hope to continue studying and working with passion. I hope to be inspired by curiosity and enthusiasm and to contribute usefully to scientific research”.
Federica Anastasia Diana – University of Naples Federico II
“For me, choosing to study physics was a natural evolution, I let myself be guided by deep curiosity. I hope to be able to contribute, through research, to the expansion of humanity’s knowledge and to apply such knowledge to improving quality of life”.
Cecilia Marinuzzi – University of Turin
“Physics fascinates me because it allows us to explain in a profound way what surrounds us. In my future I hope to contribute to research in the field of quantum technologies, putting into practice the knowledge acquired in order to develop new solutions and innovations”.
[Photos of the day are available at this link]
