Same skills, different buildings: Francesca’s journey from detector to government halls

At CERN: Student (01/09/2017 - 31/08/2020), User (01/09/2020 - 31/08/2028)
Now: Scientific Advisor at the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation

As a doctoral student, Francesca Stocker helped build the first large scale prototype of the neutrino flagship detectors DUNE at CERN. Today, she is helping secure support for the Organization's next major scientific endeavour.

Few people have experienced CERN's infrastructure projects from quite so many angles as Francesca Stocker. Starting as a PhD student, her journey took her to the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), where she works as a Scientific Advisor. The young physicist now helps the Confederation assess and support the Organization's future infrastructure projects, with much of her work focused on the Future Circular Collider (FCC). Her role combines science, diplomacy, and public policy—yet it began in a detector hall in CERN’s North Area.

Learning what it takes to build something extraordinary
Francesca spent four years at the Neutrino Platform during her Doctoral Student Programme, helping to construct ProtoDUNE, one of the prototype detectors paving the way for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) located in the USA. Francesca recalls the shock of scale on her first day in September 2017:

“I was taken to ProtoDUNE in Prévessin, where they had just finished the cold structure and membrane and were bringing in I-beams. It was heavy construction work, and I was amazed to see it, realising that CERN was very big, and I felt very small.”

The scale of the facilities might have made an immediate impression, but it was the people who ultimately defined her experience.

“I had one of the best times of my life at CERN; it's such a dynamic environment with excellent people, and I had a great supervisor. Everyone is very driven and determined, so things get done really fast!”

Building ProtoDUNE demanded long days, teamwork and constant problem-solving. Yet it also offered something equally valuable: the opportunity to grow. Indeed, like many young researchers arriving at CERN, Francesca sometimes questioned whether she was keeping pace with those around her. Surrounded by internationally-recognised experts, it was easy to underestimate her own progress. Only later, when newer students began looking to her for guidance, did she appreciate how much she had learned.

"It's always a challenge as a junior to understand when you have to start leading. But over time, you see new students come in, you compare where you are, and you see how you start transmitting knowledge to them. It takes time to go through these cycles; it's only in hindsight that you realise how much you've learned. At CERN, the environment is driven, intelligent, and very genuine, but you compare yourself to the smartest people in the world. It's a tough crowd to compare oneself to."

From detector halls to movie theatres 
Beyond the steel and science, Francesca’s time at CERN captured the attention of filmmaker Geneva Guerin, as she became one of the faces of "Ghost Particle", a documentary exploring the people behind neutrino research.

The story began unexpectedly when Francesca consulted Geneva Guerin about cameras capable of operating inside liquid argon at temperatures close to -180°C. Fascinated by the project, the director began documenting life around ProtoDUNE, eventually following several researchers—including Francesca herself.

"She came along with her camera, and I had a good connection to her. At some point she asked, 'Can I film you?' and I said, 'I don't mind, I'm reasonably comfortable with it; if you're discreet, that's fine!'"

The documentary has since become a remarkable snapshot of a pivotal moment in both the experiment's history and Francesca's own career.

A Pivot to Public Policy
After her time at CERN, Francesca embarked on a postdoctoral position at Yale University. However, the unique energy of CERN proved irreplaceable for her. Driven by a desire to return to Switzerland, she went through a decisive period in finding her next career step and figuring out what to do with her qualifications. She started applying for positions in the insurance and reinsurance industry as a data scientist, but without much conviction. It was only after spotting a role at the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation that she discovered a new way to contribute towards research and the greater good: managing the public policies governing and financing it.  

"I wasn't fully aware of how public funds actually flow into research and education in Switzerland. When I realised that this entire system was what allowed me to complete my PhD without financial burden—in fact, getting paid to do it—I had a moment of clarity: this is the very mechanism that enables people to do research."

She joined SERI in 2022, where Francesca contributes to Switzerland's participation in CERN governance and helps facilitate discussions around the Future Circular Collider with on one hand the experts working on the project and on the other hand relevant actors within Switzerland that would be concerned by CERN's next flagship project.

Looking back, Francesca believes CERN’s most valuable lessons extended far beyond particle physics. The Organization taught her to work across cultures, navigate complex collaborations, rapidly assemble the right expertise to solve problems under pressure, adapt to steep learning curves, and translate highly technical concepts for diverse audiences. Driven by the curiosity she witnessed daily, she also learned that effective communication is key to fostering engagement.

These skills now bridge the gap between scientific innovation and public strategy. In her role, she engages parliamentarians and policymakers who decide on public investment but often lack a scientific background. Explaining the broader perspective and reasons that fundamental research deserves long-term, international support requires more than technical knowledge; it demands the trust and credibility to translate CERN’s realities into language that resonates beyond the laboratory.

Once CERN, always CERN
For Francesca, leaving CERN never really meant leaving the Community. She sees the CERN Alumni Network as an important way of helping former members stay connected and supporting those navigating careers beyond academia.

Her own story illustrates the lasting impact of a CERN experience. The technical knowledge she acquired opened doors, but it was the broader skills—collaboration, adaptability and genuine curiosity—that continue to shape her career. Today, Francesca no longer builds detectors. Instead, she helps build understanding, trust and support for the scientific infrastructures that will enable the next generation of discoveries. In many ways, it is simply another way of contributing to CERN's mission.

Francesca’s story is just one of many. If you would also like to tell the Community how working at CERN shaped your career, we invite you to share your story on the platform. 

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