On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, IWT Pharma highlights the experience of Silvia Imbriaco, Product Manager Barrier Technologies.
With a background in Energy and Nuclear Engineering, Silvia is actively involved in the development and positioning of GMP and ATMP isolation and decontamination systems, supporting product strategy, market analysis and cross-functional collaboration with technical, scientific and commercial teams.
In this interview, she shares her professional journey, her perspective on the effectiveness of barrier technologies in regulated environments, and her experience working in a highly technical field. An insight into how engineering, pharmaceutical manufacturing and regulatory compliance come together in everyday practice.
Can you briefly tell us about your professional background and what led you to work in barrier technologies and isolation systems?
I am an Energy and Nuclear Engineer. I initially chose this path driven by environmental sustainability, but during my studies I discovered nuclear medicine — a field I had not encountered before. This intersection between medicine and engineering led me to work on my dissertation at Sant’Orsola Hospital in Bologna, where I first experienced isolator technology hands-on. From that moment, I became deeply interested in barrier systems.
As Product Manager for Barrier Technologies, what is the core value of your role in supporting GMP and ATMP projects?
As Product Manager, I am involved in all aspects of barrier technology projects, both GMP and ATMP. My work ranges from product development based on market analysis to direct interaction with end users approaching isolation technologies for the first time, as well as supporting technical, scientific and sales teams in defining the most suitable solution for each application.
In regulated environments such as GMP and ATMP manufacturing, what makes an isolation or decontamination solution truly effective from your perspective?
Compared to traditional cleanrooms, isolation and decontamination solutions significantly reduce environmental impact by confining processes within controlled volumes. This leads to lower energy consumption, reduced footprint and minimized use of consumables. Automation and interlocking also reduce human error, improving safety, traceability and process reliability.
What does it mean for you to work in a highly technical and engineering-driven environment as a woman in science?
It means to face challenges every day, some due to the highly demanding technology I am dealing with, some due to the prejudices that are still very common in the workplaces and not only. As a woman in science, I often find myself in a position of scrutiny from the person I am interacting with, man or woman indiscriminately, that before actually taking into consideration what I am saying, needs to evaluate if I can actually be taken seriously as a professional figure, which means harder work from my side to prove that I am worthy. Since I started working, I have seen some improvements on this aspect, I don't know if it is because I got older and for this more reliable to my interlocutor's eyes, or because the mentality is slowly changing thanks also to the increasing representation of women in STEM that make the presence of a woman in a scientific field less exceptional and more ordinary, as it should be.
How does IWT Pharma support collaboration, professional growth, and the development of technical expertise within its teams?
At IWT Pharma, I have had the freedom to develop my role from day one. Collaboration and knowledge sharing come naturally, and internal dialogue has supported my recent role evolution, allowing me to better express my technical skills.
What would you say to young professionals or engineers considering a career in regulated technologies like GMP, ATMP, and barrier systems?
Don’t be discouraged if GMP, ATMP and barrier technologies seem complex at first. It’s a field that requires time and learning, but once you understand it, it becomes extremely engaging and rewarding.
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