In the Accelerator team of Microsoft Research Asia, women from diverse countries, with diverse academic backgrounds and life experiences, are weaving bridges for interdisciplinary research in their own distinctive ways. These remarkable women embrace unconventional workplace philosophies and life approaches. Their enthusiasm lies in fostering connections between the lab and a multitude of partners within an open, diverse, and inclusive environment. With their passion and wisdom, they contribute vital pieces to the expansive ecosystem of computer science.
Diversity and inclusion are the drivers of innovation and creativity
Miran Lee, Accelerator Director at Microsoft Research Asia
Nationality: Korean
Relationship management expert/ Dual identity of entrepreneur and professional manager/ Hiking enthusiast
Q: What are your main work responsibilities? Which do you find most challenging?
Miran Lee: I am responsible for academic collaboration in Korea and the Asia-Pacific region. My main work responsibilities include establishing strategies and directions for these collaborations, identifying business opportunities, designing various programs and projects, and managing relationships with our partners. At the Accelerator team, we establish solid relationships with our partners through research collaboration, curriculum development, academic exchanges, etc., to promote the advancement of computer technology and foster talent development in the computer field.
During this process, given the diverse set of responsibilities that I oversee, I think the most challenging aspects of my position are effectively managing and prioritizing multiple projects, maintaining strong partnerships through good communication and management, and keeping abreast of academic trends to deliver relevant and impactful projects or plans for Microsoft Research Accelerator.
Q: If you see yourself as a piece of the academic ecosystem puzzle, how do you work with others to complete this puzzle? While promoting academic exchange and collaboration, what are your secrets or suggestions for success?
Miran Lee: As a piece of the academic ecosystem puzzle, the best way to work with others to complete the puzzle is through collaboration and communication. Building strong partnerships with students, researchers, and faculty members requires a collaborative approach where all parties are invested in achieving common goals. Effective communication is key to establishing trust and understanding among partners, and it helps to create a positive working environment where everyone feels valued and heard.
I believe that in order to promote academic exchanges and cooperation, first, you must set clear goals: Clearly define the objectives of the collaboration and ensure that everyone involved understands what is expected of them. Next, you must foster an open and inclusive environment, encourage open communication and feedback, and create a safe space where everyone feels comfortable expressing their ideas and opinions. Actively listening to others’ ideas and acknowledging their contributions is also an important part of building trust and respect among collaborators. And being open to new ideas and being willing to adapt to changing circumstances can help to ensure that the collaboration remains relevant and effective.
Q: Before joining Microsoft Research Asia, you worked at various tech companies and had your own business. Why did you choose to join Microsoft Research Asia, and what incentivized you to stay here for ten plus years?
Miran Lee: Microsoft Research Asia provided me with a unique opportunity to leverage my expertise in the areas of technology and business and to collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the industry. I was particularly drawn to the mission of Microsoft Research Asia, which is to advance the state of the art in computer science and to develop innovative technologies that benefit society as a whole. Furthermore, Microsoft Research Asia offers a unique culture that is diverse and inclusive, allowing me to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and to be part of a team that is making a real impact on the world.
Q: How have your previous cross-industry experiences influenced your current work?
Miran Lee: I’ve held management positions at leading tech companies. This has allowed me to develop and adopt a more reasonable strategy for driving long-term partnerships and innovation in key areas. My experience in academia as an adjunct professor at Anyang University has given me a deep understanding of the needs of students, researchers, and faculty members, and that has helped me in developing effective plans for collaboration. Additionally, my experience in software development and technology has enabled me to work effectively with Microsoft Research Asia’s research groups. Overall, my cross-industry experiences have allowed me to bring a unique perspective and have undoubtedly contributed to my success in my current role.
Q: Microsoft Research Asia’s employees come from different countries and have different cultures and backgrounds. How do you feel about cross-cultural communication and work?
Miran Lee: Cross-cultural communication is a vital part of Microsoft Research Asia, and it is also one of the important driving forces of our innovation and creation. By working with people from different backgrounds and cultures, we can gain new perspectives and insights, and develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of different ways of thinking and working.
Effective cross-cultural communication and work has also helped us develop stronger interpersonal skills and enabled us to be active listeners and to be empathetic. It is important to be open-minded and respectful of different opinions and perspectives, and to be willing to adapt to various communication styles and work practices to accommodate different cultural norms and expectations.
Q: What are your hobbies outside of work? Why do you like these hobbies or what do they bring to you?
Miran Lee: My hobbies are reading and hiking. Reading offers numerous benefits for personal growth, intellectual development, and enjoyment. Hiking is a physical activity that can improve health, build strength, and boost endurance. Being in nature can also help to reduce stress, improve your mood, and promote mental clarity. These hobbies help me to relax and enjoy life and often allow me to gain new, unexpected skills and interests, and to connect with others who share a love for the outdoors.
Using my ability to bridge different industries
Mawo Kamakura, Senior Research Program Manager at Microsoft Research Asia
Nationality: Japanese
Protector of traditional cultural heritage/ Gourmet enthusiast/ Fan of tea culture
Q: How did you come to join Microsoft Research Asia?
Mawo Kamakura: It all started with an email from my graduate supervisor. Many of my older classmates and colleagues in my laboratory had interned at Microsoft Research Asia, and so for me, Microsoft Research Asia was a reasonably familiar place. However, I was doing research in a fusion area with the humanities, so I honestly never thought I’d cross paths with Microsoft Research Asia myself.
When I learned about the nature of the work at Microsoft Research Asia’s Accelerator team from my supervisor’s email, I began to seriously consider this opportunity. On one hand, my previous work experience in different countries such as Egypt, Cambodia, and Italy made me highly adaptable to working with people from different cultural backgrounds; on the other hand, I had always worked with people from cultural heritage organizations (including UN agencies and government organizations) and computer science fields. I felt that these unique experiences would enable me to play a unique role at the research institute.
My decision proved to be a correct one. Microsoft Research Asia has given me the space to develop my expertise and has given me the satisfaction of living up to my true potential.
Q: You have been committed to protecting traditional culture with 3D digital technology. What the role do you think AI is playing in the protection of cultural heritage?
Mawo Kamakura: Since around 2005, I have participated in projects for 3D digital conservation of cultural heritage objects, including those at UNESCO World Heritage sites, in Cambodia, Italy, Egypt, and Japan. For example, I participated in the 3D data storage of excavation components at the excavation site of the Second Solar Boat.
Due to the recent advances in AI and storage technology, as well as the downsizing and diversification of display devices, large-scale data storage of cultural heritage has become increasingly easy. At the same time, it is also now possible to visualize and display data on things that have never been known before, such as deciphering ancient languages written on stone monuments and caves or recognizing letters and paintings that are unclear. In short, AI technology has brought to us greater and more flexible choices and is enabling us to better preserve the cultural treasures of humanity.
Q: What are your main work responsibilities currently?
Mawo Kamakura: I am responsible for overseeing Microsoft Research Asia’s academic cooperation in Japan, and I am also a visiting scholar at the Center for Spatial Information Science. Specifically, my work can be organized into three areas: Academic Engagement, Industrial Engagement, and Communication.
I hope to enable more researchers from different fields to discover the value and significant of collaborating with Microsoft Research Asia, and I will do my best to establish a connection between the two parties, promote collaborative innovation, and leverage my ability of connecting A to B to forge bridges among different fields.
Q: How do you use your knowledge and skills from different fields to solve the problems you encounter in your current work?
Mawo Kamakura: I always keep in mind two things whenever I encounter a problem. One, I look for ways to apply what I have learned from my past experiences, and two, I look forward to improving myself through new experiences and learning opportunities. I also try to break things down to make them as simple as possible and try to discover what the truly important part of the issue is.
Q: Microsoft Research Asia’s employees come from different countries, with different cultures and backgrounds. What are your feelings about cross-cultural communication and work?
Mawo Kamakura: Many members of Microsoft Research Asia are from Asia, and so we have many cultural similarities. For example, in addition to English, some colleagues can communicate with me using Chinese characters. Even though we have completely different pronunciations of the characters, it is still a very interesting experience. These exchanges can help me understand different perspectives and have allowed me to benefit greatly.
Being inclusive is one of the characteristics of an excellent organization. This is why Microsoft Research Asia can gather many outstanding talents with different backgrounds, personalities, and expertise. Here, everyone can freely express and discover themselves and can find great teachers and friends among their colleagues. This is what’s most attractive about the institute.
Q: What are your hobbies outside of work? Why do you like these hobbies or what do they bring to you?
Mawo Kamakura: During my travels to various countries, I’ve found myself very interested in the different cuisines I’ve come across. For example, tea tasting is one of my favorite food cultures. I like a tea called Omija-cha that my colleague gave me, and I also like the small blue citrus tea I first encountered at a Microsoft Research Asia event.
Trying out various foods from different cultures has allowed me to become more aware of myself in the world. I also like to cook. Cooking is a time for me to clear my mind, so I think it is refreshing and helps me maintain a good work-life balance.
Making the world a better place with technology
Beibei Shi, Senior Research Program Manager at Microsoft Research Asia
Nationality: Chinese
Environmental science/computer science from beginner level to proficiency/traveling with family
Q: What is your current job, and what do you think is the most challenging part of it?
Beibei Shi: I am mainly responsible for the Open Collaborative Research Program at Microsoft Research Asia and focus on the research topics of sustainable development and trust. I’m also responsible for the StarTrack Program and university relations in multiple regions.
In summation, my work is akin to building bridges between two originally isolated places, creating reaction catalysts for two independent substances, and laying a solid foundation for cooperative relationships. The challenge is to identify what needs to be bridged, catalyzed, and/or stabilized under different circumstances, and to achieve this in the most appropriate way.
Q: With your professional background in environmental science, how would you view the impact of technological development on the natural environment and on society?
Beibei Shi: Since I was a child, I’ve always like to go to places with a lot of great natural landscapes. I chose to study environmental science because I wanted to protect the environment and our planet Earth. While at school, I discovered that many courses in environmental science intersected with computer science. Later, there was an interdisciplinary scientific research project between ecology and computer science that served as my opportunity to step into the computer science industry. Since then, I’ve undertaken many cross-industry projects in environmental science and computer science. During this process, I’ve come to believe that the intention behind good technology is the same as my original intention for going into environmental science, and that is to make the world a better place.
Undeniably, the development of technology has caused damage to the natural environment and excessive consumption of resources. To solve these problems, we’ll actually further need the power of technological innovation, such as to replace the development method that’s destroying the environment with environmentally friendly technologies. But this type of scientific and technological innovation is not easy, requiring cooperation of scholars from various disciplines, long-term research, and integration and innovation. At Microsoft Research Asia, a group of researchers have joined forces with experts in the fields of environmental science, earth science, and climatology from many universities in Asia through our Carbon Negative Computing Research Collaboration Program to work together and pursue this arduous but meaningful research direction. I’m very fortunate to be able to join them in this.
Q: How has your interdisciplinary background influenced your work and life?
Beibei Shi: Throughout my career, I’ve constantly been moving out of my comfort zone and going into new territories. From environmental science to computer science, and from a researcher to a research project manager, I’ve had to keep learning things that are unfamiliar to me. Luckily, I’ve had excellent colleagues around me who’ve given me a lot of help and trust along the way, helping me grow rapidly.
The good thing is that my unique professional background and cross-disciplinary perspectives and way of thinking has enabled me to bring valuable contributions to the team as well. During this process, I’ve been able to gradually face the changes in life and at work with a better attitude. I’ve been able to cope with novel things and challenges in new fields and to see the wonders of the world from a broader point of view.
Q: How do you perceive the impact of AI on society at large?
Beibei Shi: With the development and popularization of AI, and especially with the recent dawn of the era of large models, we might soon see a new Industrial Revolution driven by advanced AI technology. Actively mastering technology and using it the right way will definitely create great value for social development.
In this process, as professionals engaged in AI research, we value more than ever the belief that technology can promote the development of society towards sustainability and trust. Because of this, Microsoft Research Asia launched the Carbon Negative Computing Research Collaboration Program in 2020 in the hopes of giving full play to the advantages of AI technology in the field of data and computing to aid in the sustainable development of the world. Then in 2021, we launched the Responsible AI Interdisciplinary Exploration Program, where we work with experts in humanities fields such as law, psychology, and sociology to promote the development of those fields while creating reliable and trustworthy artificial intelligence technologies to better support the needs of societal development in the future.
Q: What are your hobbies and what have you gained from them?
Beibei Shi: My biggest hobby is traveling. When I was little, I dreamt about traveling around the world. I wanted to go see different mountains, lakes, rivers, and seas, and I wanted to experience different cultures and customs. Over the span of my life, my travel companions have ranged from my parents to my friends and partners, and now to my family members, including my daughter. Every trip has been a happy experience, from the early preparation stages to looking back on the trips after they’ve ended.
Traveling has allowed me to gain a lot of new knowledge and skills. It’s enriched my way of thinking and allowed me to face life and work in a better way.