Sarah Pappert receives ZONTA International Women in STEM Award

MPE PhD student Sarah Pappert receives the ZONTA International Women in STEM Award for her work on MICADO, the ELT’s first‑light camera, and her commitment to empower women in science

MPE PhD student Sarah Pappert has been awarded the ZONTA International Women in STEM Award. This prize recognises outstanding female scientists aged between 18 and 35 from around the world who are driving progress in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) through their research and commitment. ZONTA International, founded in 1919, works globally to promote equality and support women through scholarships, mentoring and educational programmes. Ms Pappert is being honoured for her outstanding work on the MICADO instrument, the first-light camera of the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), and her commitment to promoting women in science.

At MPE, Pappert is part of the international MICADO consortium, contributing to calibration, optical performance, and system testing. The high‑resolution near‑infrared camera, currently in development at the institute, will deliver ten times sharper images than existing ground‑based telescopes. Once mounted on the ELT, MICADO will open an entirely new observational regime, enabling astronomers to explore stellar nurseries, black holes, and galaxies at the dawn of the universe in unprecedented detail.

“Working on MICADO is a fascinating blend of physics, optics, and engineering,” says Pappert. “It’s rewarding to help build an instrument that will fundamentally change what we can observe in the cosmos.”

Pappert’s research continues the strong legacy of instrumentation at MPE. Under the guidance of Prof. Reinhard Genzel and Prof. Frank Eisenhauer, she is building on the institute’s experience with GRAVITY and ERIS—both of which revolutionized high‑resolution infrared astronomy. “The exchange of ideas here is incredibly inspiring,” she says. “Being surrounded by people who constantly push the limits motivates me to do my best every day.”

For Pappert, this recognition carries a special message: “Visibility matters. If women see role models working in research and instrumentation, they might envision similar paths for themselves. I hope this award shows that science truly is open to everyone.”

With her technical expertise, curiosity, and perseverance, Sarah Pappert represents a new generation of scientists shaping the future of astrophysics at MPE — both through groundbreaking research and through the instruments that make discovery possible.

About the ZONTA International Women in STEM Award

ZONTA International is a global network dedicated to advancing equality for women worldwide. The Women in STEM Award recognizes exceptional young researchers whose work demonstrates innovation, scientific excellence, and leadership potential. It supports their career paths and highlights inspiring role models to encourage more women to pursue science and technology.