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Maryam Borghei has been serving as one of the Academic Coordinators at the Department of Applied Physics since 2022. She completed her doctoral studies in Applied Physics and continued with postdoctoral research in Bioproducts before taking on her current role. Maryam coordinates the LIBER Centre of Excellence, supports eight research groups, and contributes to departmental management. Additionally, she is part of the Aalto Networking Platform, where she is responsible for the Materials Platform. Drawing from her personal experience of arriving at Aalto University as an immigrant, Maryam is deeply aware of the challenges faced by international students. She is passionate about supporting and facilitating their integration and success. She is also a member of the EDI team of the School of Science, and initiated the Finnish conversation courses Puhutaan suomea at Aalto University. In her free time, Maryam enjoys meeting friends, jogging along nature trails, painting, and reading.

Christian Flindt has been an Associate Professor at the Department of Applied Physics since 2019. His research group focuses on theoretical problems in quantum condensed matter physics. He has a keen interest in diversity and is involved as a faculty representative in the PHYS Diversity Team. In his free time, he can often be found on the local soccer field with his two sons (and their friends) or discussing diversity issues with his knowledgeable wife.

Bernadette Gehl-Väisänen (she/her) is one of the Academic Coordinators at the Department of Applied Physics. Prior to her current role she was a researcher in biochemistry. At the Physics Department she takes care of SuperC, eight research groups and supports the leadership. Bernadette has been a Diversity team member since our start in May 2020. She spends her free time with her kids and husband exploring the beautiful surroundings in Espoo and Helsinki, loves house plants and reading science biographies. 

Rebecca Heilmann (she/her) is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Applied Physics, where her research focuses on plasmonic nanoparticle arrays. She also works as a teaching assistant and acts as a graduate student representative of the Diversity Team. She is keen on getting more people with diverse backgrounds interested in physics. Rebecca spends her free time with her partner and their pets, enjoys baking, reading fantasy literature, and ice-skating in winter.

Fereshteh Sohrabi (she/her) is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Applied Physics. Her research focuses on active matter physics, and she also works as a teaching assistant. She has a keen interest in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) efforts, and acts as a graduate student representative of the PHYS Diversity Team. In her free time she enjoys spending time in nature, yoga, reading, and recently found a passion in learning contemporary dance and theatre.

Jami Kinnunen is a senior lecturer at the Department of Applied Physics and has been working in the department since 2008. He teaches first-year students and his research focuses on many-body quantum mechanics in ultracold atom gases. He is interested in making physics more welcoming for all people and acts as a faculty representative of the PHYS Diversity Team. Jami spends his free time with his family, baking, cooking, and doing various sports.