Ana-Sunčana Smith, 46, is professor for theoretical physics at FAU and head of the PULS Group (Physics Underlying Life Sciences). She is also a member of the administrative board of the FAU Competence Unit Engineering of Advanced Materials at FAU and of the research cluster New Materials and Processes. Her research interests include the application of statistical physics concepts to materials science and biophysics. Smith, who was educated and has worked in several countries on different continents, commutes between Germany and Croatia. Apart from her tasks at FAU she is also a senior scientist at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb. The researcher and mother of three children is a global citizen – not only because of her professional experience but also because of her French-Croatian roots and her family in Australia (her husband originates from there). Professor Smith speaks five languages, including Russian and German, but in her professional environment she prefers English.