Women in STEM at INFICON: Stories of Innovation and Success
We recently sat down with a few of the incredible women at INFICON to learn more about their journeys in the world of STEM. From engineers and researchers to software developers and leaders, these women represent a diverse range of expertise and backgrounds, each contributing uniquely to the success and innovation at INFICON.
In this Q&A, we aim to highlight their stories, celebrate their accomplishments, and explore the challenges they’ve overcome in their careers. Join us as we gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a woman in STEM today.
What first sparked your interest in STEM and how did it lead you to INFICON?
Tiffany Alden, Quality Manager: I pursued a bachelor's degree in Engineering Management, which sparked my interest in quality management and Lean Six Sigma. This led me to manufacturing, where I could explore how these principles connect across all branches of engineering. What drew me to INFICON were its innovative technologies and applications – I wanted to be a part of that.
Dr. Valerie Derpmann, Specialist, Mass Spectrometers: When I was young, I was curious about how things work and was supported by my parents. This led me to study chemistry, and during my bachelor's degree, I started working in a department that did research on mass spectrometry. From then on, I worked in mass spectrometry and loved the range of fields and applications. At INFICON, I found a perfect mix of research, customer interaction, and international collaboration.
Taylor Friedman, Mechanical Engineer: My high school physics teacher sparked my interest in STEM. She encouraged my aptitude for math and science, which led me to major in physics and engineering in college. After graduating with two bachelor’s degrees, it led me to my career in engineering.
Nicole Guard, Lean Leader, Industrial Engineering Manager: I always enjoyed solving problems, putting together puzzles, and creating things with my hands. I had great mentors and supporters throughout my secondary school years who helped me connect those interests to STEM-related career paths. I was fortunate to attend a few summer programs in high school that further honed my interest in engineering and ultimately paved the way for my degree in Industrial Engineering. My passion for pursuing lean – improving efficiency by eliminating waste – and applying my industrial engineering skills led me to INFICON.
Hannah Henley, President, Intelligent Sensor Solutions: I was encouraged to pursue my interests in math and science from a young age and was fortunate to have great teachers early on that demonstrated the beauty in problem solving. This was highly motivational for me and led to me pursuing an engineering degree and later the type of work I love.
Chunhua Song, Applications Research Manager: I studied diligently in primary school and immersed myself in reading. Middle school introduced me to physics, but I was told that excelling in STEM was the only way for a village kid like me to have a better future, so I dedicated myself to mastering it. Over time, I not only conquered my fears, but grew to love the subject. My hard work paid off; I won medals in academic competitions and earned admission to a university in China. After graduation, a scholarship from Syracuse University changed my life. It allowed me to pursue my education abroad. When I graduated, INFICON was hiring. I persistently called until I secured an interview, and eventually, a job. That was 13 years ago.
Jennifer Taylor, Director of Software Quality: My journey began with a deep curiosity about technology, problem-solving, and how things work. I was drawn to computers, enjoyed logical challenges, and found satisfaction in improving systems. After earning a B.S. in mathematics, I joined a software company that developed a TCP/IP stack for personal computers. While I was fascinated by networking, I became even more captivated by software. Over time, this passion evolved into hands-on experience with software testing, cloud infrastructure, and IT operations, ultimately shaping my role at INFICON.
Emily Ton, Sr. Manufacturing Technician: I like science, technology, and building small subassemblies.
Sara Zuroski, Junior Systems Engineer: I have always been interested in math and science; I grew up surrounded by engineers. I started my college career in business administration but quickly transitioned to physics and math once I realized I enjoyed those classes more. When I graduated, this job opportunity with INFICON popped up!
What challenges have you faced as a woman in STEM, and how did you overcome them?
Nicole Guard: Being one of few women in the room can sometimes feel intimidating, and building confidence in those situations is not always easy. One strategy that helps is being well-prepared by investing in myself. Learning doesn't stop when school ends, and maintaining a curious mindset has been indispensable. By continually developing my skills (living that continuous improvement mindset), I feel more confident in navigating challenges and building a sense of belonging.
Hannah Henley: Finding my best leadership voice, which is also my most authentic voice was a journey for me (and a journey never stops). Trusting myself when my approach or style was different than what I typically observed on a day-to-day basis took some trial and error.
Chunhua Song: Early in my career, I feared making mistakes, thinking it would undermine my credibility. But I’ve since realized that setbacks are part of the learning process. In both research and industry, failure often leads to innovation. By shifting my mindset to see challenges as opportunities to grow, I’ve become more resilient and adaptable.
Can you share a project or accomplishment that you’re particularly proud of in your career?
Tiffany Alden: Obtaining my ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification. The process inspired me to pursue additional lead auditor certifications for other ISO standards.
Taylor Friedman: My development from a Mechanical Engineer to an Agile Leader.
Nicole Guard: Seeing my team or the kaizen team I'm working with succeed and become lean thinkers.
Hannah Henley: I’m incredibly proud of the growth journey that our team has been on. I’ve been with INFICON close to 15 years and we keep evolving and continuously improving. There’s been several technical barriers we broke through in recent years to bring some incredible technology to market, and then we’ve successfully industrialized that technology for high volume manufacturing. We navigated several major disruptions and each time the team grew stronger.
Sara Zuroski: One accomplishment of my career is that I have a patent! This has been on my bucket list ever since I learned my dad had one, too.
How do you see the future of women in STEM evolving?
Dr. Valerie Derpmann: I believe we will see more women in STEM positions, driving innovation, and making significant contributions to science and technology and creating a better workplace for everyone.
Hannah Henley: I’m excited to see how STEM fields evolve as more and more women develop these fields. It takes a large range of perspectives to drive innovation. I also look forward to more innovation in areas that uniquely impact women. From manufacturing to healthcare to tourism, there are gaps in offerings that best serve women. Having women scientists, engineers, and designers will accelerate solutions to the problems that women face around the world.
Jennifer Taylor: I hope to see more robust networks, communities, and platforms designed to support women in STEM. Mentorship, sponsorship, and female-led initiatives will create more opportunities for women to collaborate, share knowledge, and uplift each other.
Emily Ton: As this industry changes, then so must we, but the future is bright with new opportunities.
We hope these stories have provided insight into the passion and expertise that drive women in STEM. Their journeys highlight the dedication and innovation that push technology forward.