During her teenage years , Iman Masrun dreamed of becoming a marine biologist. But as time passed, she found herself gravitating towards something that could be a middle ground between engineering and science.
“I was interested in tech and biology, but I didn’t feel very confident in mathematics at the time, so traditional engineering felt daunting,” she shared. “At the time, computer science struck me as the most flexible option—it gave room to explore both the technical and scientific sides of innovation.”
Today, the Kajang native is a fresh graduate of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), where she completed a Master’s in Computer Science with a minor in Management, Technology and Entrepreneurship.
Her journey from Malaysia to Switzerland, however, was anything but straightforward.
From Backup Plan to Life-Changing Experience
Iman had initially planned to further her studies in the United States (US) , having been inspired by her parents, who are both US graduates. She submitted applications to Northwestern University, the University of Southern California (USC), and Cornell University, ultimately receiving offers from the first two. But as was the case for many other students then, the COVID-19 pandemic put a wrench in her plans.
“I couldn’t get my degree certificate in time for a US visa,” she explained. “When I realised I couldn’t accept any of the US offers due to visa issues, I remembered I had another option— EPFL. I didn’t need to present a visa upon arrival in Switzerland, which made the process much simpler. Looking back, it was a blessing in disguise.”
The application itself had been refreshingly smooth , Iman revealed. “Their master’s programme was taught fully in English, and the application process was simple. Maybe because of COVID, they didn’t require standard documents like the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS)/Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).”
Initially, the decision to study at EPFL was a compromise. But as she progressed in her studies, Iman developed a deeper appreciation for the field and the country. “EPFL emphasises a polytechnic, hands-on approach. The transition was tough, but it taught me to think like an engineer despite not having a background in it. Honestly, it was one of the most humbling yet rewarding experiences of my life.”
Navigating Language Barriers and Starting from Scratch
When she first arrived in Switzerland in September 2022 , Iman was met with more than just academic challenges. “The country has four national languages—French, German, Italian and Romansh—and I didn’t speak any of them. Plus, I didn’t know anyone here.”
She described her first year as being in “survival mode,” especially with the stress of securing accommodation remotely amidst a competitive rental market .
She added, “Outside of university, the language barrier becomes more apparent. While younger Swiss people speak English quite well, it’s harder with older people—like bus drivers or cashiers. I relied heavily on Google Translate for daily interactions.”
Now that she has graduated, she is investing her spare time into learning French and brushing up on her Mandarin. “Language plays such a big part in integration and building meaningful relationships,” she said of her motivation to learn.
Research, Haptics and the World of Touch
Apart from EPFL’s rigorous curriculum, Iman was also able to hone her expertise through coursework and internships. One of her most formative experiences came from an internship at Logitech’s Technology Office, where she dove head-first into the world of haptics.
“At the time, I only knew haptics as phone vibrations. But I was curious, and I told them I was open to learning, even though I had no background in feedback generation or human perception ,” she recalled.
By the end of her internship, she had led Logitech’s first-ever user research study on haptics with the MX Ink stylus. Logitech introduced the MX Ink in collaboration with Meta to enhance precision interactions in mixed-reality. That’s what I worked on.”
The internship ultimately inspired her thesis topic : Can vibrotactile feedback improve precision in creative tasks? Along with that, Iman designed a user study and proposed success metrics to help Logitech expand its haptics ecosystem to compete with notable brands like Razer, Meta and Apple.
Widening Her Malaysian Circle from Abroad
It took Iman some time to find a sense of community in a foreign country. “When I first arrived, I didn’t reach out much. Once I was more settled, I started actively looking for ways to connect with other Malaysians.”
Her network grew rapidly through Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) officers, who introduced her to the Embassy of Malaysia in Switzerland. From there, she was able to attend events that strengthened her ties to home like Raya gatherings, Malaysian food festivals and cultural showcases.
Apart from MARA and the embassy, Iman has connected with fellow Malaysians in Switzerland through Facebook groups centring around hobbies like hiking.
Exploring Ways to Transfer Knowledge
With graduation behind her, Iman is currently exploring career opportunities in cloud computing—an area she believes is foundational to the tech industry’s future. “In the next two to three years, I’m planning to work in more technical roles to build up my expertise. Eventually, I’d like to move into product strategy or tech consulting.”
As someone who is passionate about teaching, she also sees consulting as a different yet equally impactful form of teaching. “For a long time, I thought the only way to teach was to become a professor. When I started exploring consulting, I realised that you are still transferring knowledge, but just in a more applied, strategic setting,” Iman explained .
While she plans on staying put in Switzerland for the time being, Iman does see herself returning home eventually.
Ultimately, Iman wants to be closer to her family and start her own. “We get so busy ‘adulting’ that we tend to forget that our parents are getting older every time we see them,” she said.
With the experience she gains, Iman also hopes to contribute to Malaysia’s economy as well as guide the next generation of talents. “I would love to host events where I can talk about my journey and help other students who are considering to pursue their studies in Switzerland. Whether I’m here or back home, I want to continue sharing whatever I have to help others make informed decisions about their academic and career paths.”
Are you a Malaysian abroad looking to build a community? Join MyHeart and connect with fellow Malaysians in your area or field! MyHeart is a platform designed for Malaysians such as Iman who, despite being far from home, wishes to transfer her knowledge to those in Malaysia who can benefit from it. Whether it’s through a knowledge sharing session, being a panel speaker or participating in a collaboration project – Malaysian talents worldwide can contribute to the growth of the nation no matter where they are.