International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2025
© Rafael Vinz
Dr. Sara Zain
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrated annually on February 11, is a reminder of the importance of gender equality in research, technology, and science.
At BI, we are committed to fostering diversity—not only by employing and supporting talented women in our institute but also by inspiring young women and girls to explore careers in STEM.
This year, we’re spotlighting Dr. Sara Zain, a senior researcher at BI and a member of the Verified System Design Automation (VerSa) group.
With a PhD in “Formal Verification of Digital Signatures” from the University of Bristol and postdoctoral experience at TU Dresden, she brings invaluable expertise to our work.
We’re proud to have her on our team and to celebrate her contributions on this special day!
Interview
What sparked your interest in science?
Having a family with a science background always made me curious about how things work. As a kid, I always used to ask my family many questions, and the knowledge of knowing about something made me fascinated. When I started to learn about security during my BSc in Computer Science , I realized I was more interested in computer security.
What is your research about?
My research focuses on cryptographic security protocols, mainly digital signatures and remote attestation. I work on formally verifying their security properties using the Coq proof assistant with the SSProve library to ensure they are mathematically sound and trustworthy.
What do you like about working in science?
I love the intellectual challenge and the problem-solving aspect. Science allows me to explore complex ideas, collaborate with brilliant people, and contribute to building secure and reliable systems.
Do you have female role models in science?
Yes, my mother, but besides that, seeing female researchers excel in the field of science motivates me to contribute and support the next generation.