On October 20, Women in HPC, MAR Chapter, hosted the 2nd MAR Chapter Workshop of Women in High Performance Computing (WHPC) at CIEMAT in Madrid, collocated with JURES 2026.
The workshop was dedicated to hearing talks by women who shared their technical research, ideas, and perspectives across different areas of HPC.
Dr. Negin Mahani, Associate Technical Coordinator of the DARE Project at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), shared her experiences at the intersection of computer architecture, technical leadership, and personal growth.
Drawing on her background as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Computer Architecture, Negin spoke about her research in hardware/software (HW/SW) codesign and how this experience has shaped her current role in DARE. The €240 million EuroHPC JU initiative brings together 38 European partners to develop a European supercomputing ecosystem based on GPP, AIPU, and vector chiplets, contributing to Europe’s technological sovereignty.
Dr. Negin Mahani, Associate Technical Coordinator of the DARE Project at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC)
In her closing reflection, “Enjoying the HPC Journey,” Negin shared how her passion for classical Persian music and her experience as a vocalist have shaped her perspective on research. She explained how singing helps her organize her thoughts, maintain mental clarity, and relieve stress, fostering a calm and positive mindset. Her artistic background also gives her the confidence to explore unfamiliar problems and challenge conventional approaches, inspiring fresh, creative, and distinctive ideas and solutions in her research.
She also reflected on the importance of encouraging more women to take on technical leadership and steering roles in high-performance computing (HPC). Drawing on her own experience, she described how stepping into such responsibilities has been both challenging and rewarding, helping her grow professionally, build confidence, and actively contribute to shaping the direction of research and innovation. Her journey highlights the importance of women’s voices and perspectives in technical leadership.
“Engaging with so many talented women in supercomputing was a genuinely rewarding experience,” Negin reflected. “While the event rightly placed women at its centre, broader participation across the HPC community, including male colleagues, could further strengthen our collective efforts towards greater diversity and inclusion. The atmosphere was welcoming and full of energy, creating valuable opportunities for meaningful conversations and new connections. One particularly exciting moment was meeting a researcher from Azerbaijan and discussing the possibility of establishing a WHPC Caspian Sea Chapter.”
The workshop offered an opportunity to exchange experiences, build new connections, and reflect on the different paths that lead women into technical leadership. Negin’s experience also highlighted how technical expertise, creative interests, and supportive communities can come together to enrich both individual careers and the evolving field of European supercomputing.
Speakers of the 2nd MAR Chapter Workshop of Women in High Performance Computing (WHPC)
Women in HPC welcomes everyone to join the community: people at all career stages, women and men alike, who are interested in helping to build and sustain a strong community of women in high-performance computing.
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