Tell us a little about yourself and what brought you to CERN?
My name is Coral Izquierdo Muñiz, I'm 22 years old and I'm from Asturias, Spain. I'm currently finishing my Computer Science - Software Engineering degree at the University of Oviedo researching generative AI on edge devices for my Bachelor’s thesis.
Last summer I had the opportunity to participate in the Summer Student Programme. I met amazing people (sending you all a really big hug :) ) and learnt a lot about different topics such as physics, software, data science, cybersecurity and even quantum computing. I developed a web application for the Liquid Argon team of the ATLAS detector, and I had the opportunity to continue working in the team this year as a Technical Student.

What do you do at CERN today?
I’m currently a Technical Student at CERN as a Software and Data Engineer in the Liquid Argon team of the ATLAS detector. My work focuses on implementing new functionalities and statistics on the ATLAS calorimeter to identify the most problematic boards and components to prevent future problems.

What is working at CERN like for you?
Working at CERN is a unique experience. You work surrounded by people with a lot of knowledge in different fields who are always willing to explain anything to you. There are also a lot of interesting events, so you are always learning something new.

What inspired you to pursue a career in science/engineering?
Since I was a child, I’ve been curious about technology. This curiosity led me to learn Python on my own and to create projects with Arduino such as an automated irrigation system to take care of the state of plants and a smart waist bag with sensors with IoT sensors to monitor the health of elderly people. I realized that through technology I could help others and that motivated me to keep learning. 

At the age of 15, I took part in the Computer Engineering Olympiads in Asturias in Spain and I won the Ada Lovelace prize for the best-classified female participant. It was a key moment that boosted my confidence and made me realize that with hard work, I could make meaningful contributions to the field of engineering. 

I was inspired by the idea of using technology to solve real-life problems and improve daily life of people and I didn’t hesitate to continue my education by pursuing my Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering.

What skills have you developed since joining CERN?
Since joining CERN as a Summer Student, I have improved my development skills by creating an app for the Liquid Argon team at the ATLAS Experiment, adding new data filtering and visualization functionalities that they use daily. Currently, as a Technical Student, I’m focusing on monitoring the calorimeter components. I’ve implemented detailed statistics for each LTDB board component, helping the team to identify failure patterns and reduce the maintenance workload of the system.

On a personal level, this experience made me strengthen my English and start learning French for daily use. I also had the opportunity to present my work internationally, most recently at ATLAS week, which helped me overcome the fear of public speaking in another language.

What have been the main hurdles or challenges you encountered along the way?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was adapting to a completely new environment, especially as it was the first time I had travelled and lived alone outside my home country.
This allowed me to learn how to manage my daily life, how to cook and organize myself. In the beginning, communicating outside CERN was a big challenge for me, for example in supermarkets in Switzerland, as French is spoken in Geneva and not everyone speaks English, which encouraged me to start learning the language.

What’s the most "CERN" moment you’ve experienced?
Without a doubt, one of the most “CERN” moments I’ve ever experienced was on Valentine's Day, when I started the day with a date… going down to the ATLAS detector 😊

I went accompanied my supervisor to the detector cavern because there was a problem with one of the data racks. A fault in the fan tray was causing the system to overheat and shut down as a safety precaution. I replaced the fan tray and power supply and got the system back up and running. Definitely a very CERN-style to start Valentine's Day!

What advice would you give potential applicants?
Don't be afraid if you don't know anything about physics or other subjects, you don't have to be a physicist to work at CERN. You will learn a lot by just being here.
CERN is full of people from different fields like software, data, biology and medicine, so don't worry if you don't know something! Never hesitate to ask questions, people are very nice and always willing to help.