It’s a matter of pride for me personally to be on this list. Coming from a conventional background and a developing country like India, I’ve had to break glass ceilings and shatter many stereotypes to get to where I am now. Nikita Hari, PhD Electrical Engineering

Compiled by the Telegraph in collaboration with the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), the list features the UK’s top rising female stars of engineering. This year's list focused on women aged 35 and under — to highlight and encourage them to become future leaders in the industry.

Nikita, who is undertaking her PhD at Churchill College, focuses on making systems called ‘Power Electronic Converters’ with novel devices called ‘GaN’, which can efficiently convert and conserve power. 'Gallium Nitride' devices (2014 Nobel prize) have the potential to jump-start the next generation of smaller, faster, lighter, cheaper and more efficient power converters — helping to create a more sustainable energy future by meeting the world's ever increasing energy demands along with energy savings.

Nikita was also shortlisted as a ‘Forbes 30 under 30 UK Finalist’ and ‘Hult Prize Finalist’ earlier in the year.

Nikita said: “I’m incredibly honoured and humbled to be featured in the Telegraph’s ‘Top 50 Women in Engineering’ list in the amazing company of top women engineers in the UK.

“It’s a matter of pride for me personally to be on this list. Coming from a conventional background and a developing country like India, I’ve had to break glass ceilings and shatter many stereotypes to get to where I am now.

“I firmly believe that whatever your gender or socio-economic political background, you should find your way, and that self-motivation through my experience and my circumstances have brought me to where I am today.”

Nikita is now committed to encouraging others, especially young women and girls to pursue their dreams. Her vision to uplift society through education and technology has seen her become Co-founder of two social tech start-ups: Wudi and Favalley.

This article has been edited from the Churchill College, University of Cambridge website.