Unfold your career
Mahin Ahmed, Senior Scientist, Intelligent Wireless Systems
Nominated for the Upper Austria Research (UAR) Award, Mahin Ahmed has built an impressive career in wireless networks — from studying telecommunications in Pakistan and mobile communications in South Korea to becoming a leading researcher in Linz. She completed her PhD at the University of Klagenfurt and joined SAL in 2019 while still finishing her thesis. Today, she works as a Senior Scientist in the Wireless Communications team, specializing in 5G and time-sensitive networks. Her daily work includes leading research projects, supervising PhD students, developing new research topics, publishing in prestigious journals, and contributing to EU-funded and collaborative project proposals.
"Curiosity is the most important skill for researchers."
What do you appreciate about SAL?
"SAL offers a rare combination of academic freedom and industrial relevance. I really value the flexibility it provides, especially as a parent. The support I received from my supervisor during parental leave allowed me to stay connected to projects and smoothly return to work. Also, the diversity at SAL is a big plus—people from all over the world, sharing ideas, cultures, and coffee breaks."
What was your highlight at SAL so far?
Mahin highlights several milestones in her SAL journey: "One special moment was when I proposed to continue working part-time during my parental leave and received full support from my supervisor. More recently, I developed a research topic that resulted in three high-level publications and earned me a speaker slot at the TSN/A conference in Stuttgart—one of the most important industry events in my field."
Do you have a professional role model?
"Rather than a single person, I’m inspired by those who bridge the gap between theory and real-world applications. I also greatly admire women in engineering who are ahead of me in their careers and are leading technical teams—breaking stereotypes and showing what’s possible."
A fun fact about Mahin:
"Many people don’t know this, but I’m really into arts and crafts. I love painting and making stuffed toys. I started during the pandemic and now even create toys for my child. It’s a relaxing and creative outlet that balances out my technical work."
What advice would you give to future applicants?
"Curiosity and initiative are key. SAL gives you the freedom to shape your own research topics—so bring new ideas to the table and don’t hesitate to take ownership. If you’re excited about learning and solving real-life problems, SAL is the right place for you."
Join our team!
You want to start your success story at SAL? Are you looking for a new challenge? If you want to actively shape the technologies of the future and enjoy working in an international team, then you've come to the right place.
