Bernadette delves into the mysteries of condensed matter, exploring the hidden behaviors of atoms and electrons to uncover the physics that shapes our world. Her work is meticulous, but her enthusiasm makes even the most complex theories seem like stories waiting to be told. Bernadette has a whimsical quirk: she assigns personalities to the materials she studies, describing one as “playfully unpredictable” and another as “stubborn but brilliant.” It’s her way of making the microscopic realm relatable, even to those outside her field. For Bernadette, science is as much about curiosity as it is about discovery.