Physicist of the Month

Are you a physicist and would like to introduce yourself and your research? Don't hesitate to write to us at chancengleichheit@oepg.at!

January 2026

Magdalena Schatzl, Team Leader at the Metallurgical COMET Competence Center K1-MET

About myself and my research

I have been working at the metallurgical COMET Competence Center K1-MET in the field of simulation and data analysis since 2016. After spending a few years as a postdoctoral researcher, I am now leading a COMET module that focuses on the simulation, modeling, and monitoring of future-oriented plasma- and arc-based processes in the metals industry. My work at the interface between university and industry is very diverse. The research tasks can be close to fundamental research or aimed directly at industrial process applications. My responsibilities range from developing new research topics and acquiring projects to project management.

What can be done to achieve more equal opportunities in physics? 

Fortunately, my parents and teachers recognized my talent in STEM very early on, supported me accordingly, and encouraged me to attend a technical high school (HTL) for computer science. There, my physics teacher inspired me so much that after graduation I spontaneously enrolled in Technical Physics at Johannes Kepler University Linz, where I eventually completed a PhD at the Institute of Semiconductor Physics.

My career path clearly shows how support from parents and teachers, as well as the visibility of role models, can give girls and women the confidence to enter male‑dominated fields. After completing my PhD, I decided to turn away from an academic career due to the challenges of balancing family and work (in terms of geographic and time flexibility, fixed-term contracts, etc.). Non-university research institutions like K1-MET offer a good opportunity to continue working scientifically while having greater planning security. From the very beginning, K1-MET employed women in leadership positions and did not shy away from hiring women of childbearing age or those with caregiving responsibilities. This is certainly part of the success story in achieving a very high proportion of women in the technical and natural sciences sector.

Throughout my school, university, and professional career, I hardly ever noticed inequalities affecting me personally. Since becoming the mother of two small children, however, I have certainly realized that balancing family and career can be immensely challenging. I see an equal partnership and a fair distribution of family work as key factors. But employers also have a responsibility to trust parents working part-time with roles that carry responsibility and to consider models such as part-time leadership or shared leadership. It is important not to forget that fathers who are committed to their families must be offered the same opportunities.

If you would like to learn more about Magdalena Schatzl and her work, you can find the link to the K1-MET Team website here and the link to her LinkedIn profile here.