After university, Binti-Othman worked as an engineer in Japan, but after giving birth to her second child, she decided to become a stay-at-home parent. She spent three years raising her two young children and becoming fluent in Japanese. She describes this period of her life as personally enriching but professionally uncertain. “During that time, I didn’t do anything related to science or research,” she said. “I didn’t know if I could ever return to that world.”

Although Binti-Othman and her family loved life in Japan, they returned to Malaysia. “I felt it was time to go back and contribute to my home country,” she recalled. 

Back in Malaysia, Binti-Othman was offered a research position at the Malaysian Nuclear Agency through a governmental Returning Expert Programme. The opportunity was not without challenges. “I was 30 years old with two children and starting from scratch. Most of my new colleagues were much younger and fresh out of university. I had to learn everything again and catch up quickly.”

A key element of her career transition was finding a mentor. “My division director took me under his wing,” she said. “Even though I was new, he brought me along to every meeting and presentation. I learned so much just by observing.”

Binti-Othman completed her PhD in 2020.Through her involvement in IAEA-supported national and coordinated research projects, she gained insight into the Agency’s work.  When she learned about an open position at the IAEA, she applied and was selected. 

As an IAEA Radiation Processing Officer, Binti-Othman focuses on how radiation technologies can be applied to real-world settings. She primarily works on the NUTEC Plastics initiative, which uses nuclear technology to tackle plastic pollution worldwide – both through recycling and at the source. The initiative’s use of radiation technologies in sustainable materials processing aligns directly with her area of expertise. 

"Working on NUTEC Plastics allows me to collaborate with a global network of scientists, researchers and technologists, to grow professionally in a range of areas, and to contribute to innovative, radiation-based solutions for plastic pollution,” she said.

Binti-Othman also represents the IAEA at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, which is working toward an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution both on land and in the marine environment.

One of Binti-Othman’s proudest achievements at the IAEA was her key role in organizing the Third International Conference on Applications of Radiation Science and Technology (ICARST-2025). The conference, which showcases developments in radiation science and technology, attracted over 1700 in-person and virtual attendees.

Binti-Othman said that experiencing the IAEA from the inside has deepened her appreciation for its global work. “From the outside, the IAEA can seem complex. But being here has helped me better understand the systems and processes behind IAEA activities, and I can bring that knowledge back home with me,” she said.

Reflecting on her journey, Binti-Othman said that both academic and life experiences have helped shape her. “Being a stay-at-home parent taught me practical skills, confidence and communication. And being a researcher taught me how to ask questions and find answers,” she said, highlighting that every experience, whether in a lab or at home, can equip you for a successful career. “Never underestimate yourself,” she said. “You can always start over. You can learn something new. Give yourself the chance.”

The IAEA is committed to gender equality and to supporting the ability of all individuals, regardless of gender, to equally contribute to and benefit from its programmes and activities. 

In 2020, the IAEA launched the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme to support the next generation of women nuclear professionals by offering scholarships for master’s degrees in nuclear-related fields. The IAEA’s Lise Meitner Programme, launched in 2023, offers early- and mid-career women multi-week training visits to nuclear facilities.  

Read more about the IAEA’s work on gender equality and apply for vacancies, internships or pipelines.