Photographer: Carly Wollaert ©
Make-up artist: Sharmila Vooren
Women in AI
Women in AI is a community-driven initiative bringing empowerment, knowledge and active collaboration via education, research, events, and blogging.
Women in AI started because we believe in the power of community to reduce the gender gap in the AI industry. We wanted to create a safe and inspiring place where role models and young women will meet and build together the foundations of a fair and inclusive use of AI. We joined this campaign because the reality is that there are a lot of women that are experts in AI and Tech, but they are not as visible as their male peers. For us this campaign helps us put the light on those women who are experts and excelling in the AI sector. The women in our campaign have been nominated by our community for the amazing work they do and selected by a jury of AI experts. We feel this campaign helps create an environment where women own the stage and our candidates can present their inspiring ideas.
Rianne van den Berg
AI Researcher of Women in AI Netherlands
About
“I am a Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research in Amsterdam, where I work in the AI4Science team on the intersection of deep learning and computational chemistry and physics. I received my PhD in theoretical condensed-matter physics in 2016 at the University of Amsterdam, where I continued to work as a postdoctoral researcher in machine learning as part of the Amsterdam Machine Learning Lab. In 2019 I won the Faculty of Science Lecturer of the Year award at the University of Amsterdam for teaching a machine learning course in the master of AI. Before joining Microsoft I was a Research Scientist at Google Brain, where I worked on machine learning research.“
What or Who inspired you to pursue your chosen career?
“Throughout several stages of my career, my mother has been a huge source of inspiration for me. I’ve been scared many times about the road ahead, albeit because I didn’t feel like I would ever fit in, or because I wasn’t sure if I could really succeed in this new research field. She has always been there for me, listening to my endless rants and calmly giving me advice on how to navigate difficult situations while staying true to myself. She has this natural air of confidence, while also being one of the kindest people I know. I feel immense privilege to have her as my mother.”