Tell us a little about yourself and what brought you to CERN.

My name is Veronika Krobotová and I come from a small village called Výprachtice in the Czech Republic. I completed my bachelor's degree in information technology at Brno University of Technology, and I will soon continue my studies in Data Science at the Vienna University of Technology.

What brought me to CERN was the desire to be part of this unique community and to contribute to a project in an environment where science truly thrives. Even though I’m not a physicist, CERN has always felt to me like a home of science, and I was curious to see what role computer scientists play here. At the same time, I wanted to challenge myself by stepping into a completely new environment, far away from family and friends, to see how I would adapt and grow.

The Summer Student Programme seemed like the perfect opportunity — not only to gain hands-on experience, but also to broaden my knowledge through lectures in fields of science I knew very little about. When I saw the opening, I decided to give it a try. And it worked! I will never forget that morning when I was making breakfast, sat down at the table, casually checked my email, and suddenly realized: I got into CERN!

What do you do at CERN today?

At CERN, I am participating in the Summer Student Programme and working in the IT Department, within the Storage and Data Management group. My project focuses on cback, a backup orchestrator tool that ensures daily backups of all CERN users’ and projects’ data — currently more than 35,000 backups every day, amounting to over 18 petabytes of data.

The main goal of my work is to improve the data integrity validation of these backups. In other words, it is not enough to simply store a copy of the data — we also need to be certain that the backup is correct and can be fully restored when needed. My task is to help make sure that if someone loses their files, they can reliably retrieve them exactly as they were.

What is working at CERN like for you?

Working at CERN has been an incredible experience. I am surrounded by inspiring people, beautiful nature, and a project that challenges and excites me every day. I love solving new problems, discussing ideas with my supervisors, and feeling that my work truly matters.

What makes this place special is also the community — I meet people from all over the world, learn about their work and cultures, and create genuine connections. At the same time, the lectures and workshops allow me to explore topics far beyond computer science, especially in physics.

What inspired you to pursue a career in science?

My path to science was not straightforward. For a long time, I wasn’t completely sure if this was the direction I wanted to take. I actually had to try the “wrong path” before finding the right one.

In high school, I had a wide range of subjects — from natural sciences to social sciences — and I enjoyed many of them. Because of this, I didn’t immediately know which field I wanted to pursue. At first, I chose law, but once I started studying it, I realized that something was missing.

It took me a while to understand what exactly, until I saw my boyfriend working through advanced mathematics and technical problems at his university. That was the moment I realized what I missed: thinking in a technical and logical way, solving complex problems, and using creativity in the process. For me, science and technology combine both precision and creativity. They allow us to imagine new solutions, develop tools that can make people’s lives easier, and contribute something meaningful. When I switched to technical studies, I immediately knew I had found the right path.

What skills have you developed since joining CERN?

Since joining CERN, I have developed both personal and technical skills. On the technical side, I’ve gained a better understanding of how production software is developed and maintained, and I’ve learned new tools and approaches that are essential in large-scale IT systems.

On a personal level, meeting and talking to so many inspiring people has helped me reflect on my own path and decide more clearly what I want for my future.

What have been the main hurdles or challenges you encountered along the way?

 One of the main challenges for me was stepping into a completely new environment — being far from home, surrounded by people I didn’t know, and taking on responsibility for a project at CERN. At first, it felt overwhelming, but it pushed me to adapt quickly, become more independent, and gain confidence in myself.

Another challenge was the project itself: working with production-level software at the scale of CERN was something I had never experienced before. It required me to learn fast and sometimes face problems I had no idea how to solve at the beginning. But overcoming these moments has been the most rewarding part, because each hurdle meant I learned something new.

Any favourite memories from your time at CERN so far? (What’s the most "CERN" moment you’ve experienced?)

 One of my favourite memories so far has definitely been the Hardronic Festival. The atmosphere was incredible — everyone together, enjoying the music, dancing, and just having fun. For me, it really captured the spirit of CERN: people from all over the world, from so many different fields, coming together not only to work on science but also to share moments of joy and community.

What advice would you give to potential applicants?

My advice would be: don’t compare yourself too much to others. Focus on your own story and write your application in a way that truly reflects who you are. Take the time to think about your answers, be honest, and write them from the heart. It’s not only about technical skills — motivation, curiosity, and the willingness to learn also play a big role. Show why you want to be part of CERN and what excites you about the experience.