1. What inspired you to pursue a career in your field, and what keeps you passionate about it today?
I have always enjoyed science, particularly human biology and medicinal
chemistry. After months of research, I found the right degree to accommodate
both aspects. I studied a BSc in Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, where I
completed research projects both in drug synthesis and pharmacological areas of
neuroscience and cancer. I enjoyed lab work from the beginning; the collaborative
environment and scientific discussions felt gratifying. I decided to continue my
cancer research studies for my master’s programme and build a great connection
with my project, genuinely loving studying the unpredictable immune aspect of
tumours. In science, it is often easy to forget the good causes you are working for.
I was fortunate enough that my project included patient involvement, and I could
see first-hand the people I am working so hard for. I believe this is the key to
keeping your passion for science alive; it is not all about publishing papers and
generating numerous data; it is simply about keeping the patients in mind, their
needs, and the impact we can make.
2. Can you share an example of a significant challenge you faced during your career and how you overcame it? How do you help others approach challenges in their careers?
In the first month of my master’s programme, I was on the verge of quitting.
However, I am incredibly happy and proud that I did not. My master’s programme was particularly demanding, including 12 months of research, two thesis projects, no lectures and no primary mentor to guide me through my everyday tasks. It was a critical period for developing my confidence, independence and critical thinking, yet I found myself struggling with an immense sense of impostor syndrome, feeling that I did not belong in the lab and was not smart enough to succeed in this career. At that point, I sought advice from my fellow colleagues with more experience, and they reassured me that becoming a researcher is a journey. With time, patience, and dedication, I will find my purpose in the lab. And they were right. I started building strong connections with my research, and soon after, I started looking forward to spending my day In the lab, planning experiments and generating cool data. Every hurdle becomes easier to tackle with patience, and now I cannot imagine a career outside of research. In fact, I’ve come to enjoy complex problems that arise in the lab!
3. How do you approach mentoring relationships? What do you believe are the critical qualities of an effective mentor
I can speak from experience as being mentored myself and also mentoring students. Different students are comfortable with various approaches of mentoring; for example, while I was undergoing my master’s, my mentor, while still fostering a comfortable environment, gave me tasks outside of my comfort zone to enhance my confidence and independence. This may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it highly motivated me, suggesting that every mentor-to-mentee relationship is unique. I truly believe that becoming a good mentor lies in being patient and a great listener, as it is vital to understand a mentee’s goals, learning style, strengths and weaknesses to offer them an open environment to ask questions and share ideas. As a mentor, it is important to lead by example, while also allowing plenty of room for independent thinking.
4. Looking back, what skills or habits do you wish you had developed earlier in your career, and how would you recommend current students working in those areas?
Active collaborative mentality. Research is highly collaborative, and it is unlikely that we can be specialists in all areas of science. As a student, the ‘collaborative mind’ is very fresh, and often it feels like asking for help and not offering anything in return. It can be very daunting to be in a room with scientists (e.g. at conferences) as a student and actively engage in networking. I wasn’t always comfortable asking people to share their expertise with me; however, with time, you will realise that most people love to share their knowledge, and sooner than you imagine, you will share your expertise with fellow scientists. Science would be stagnant without collaboration, thus, ask for help and offer help.
5. Reflect on your early career when making important decisions about your professional path, such as a research career in a foreign country. How did you navigate uncertainty, and what advice would you give students starting their research careers?
Don’t be scared to try different areas of research! The area we want to specialise in is a hot topic among many scientists. I definitely felt it when I was studying for my bachelor’s, and suddenly, I had to choose a final-year project out of 50 different areas, thinking that this was the most critical decision in my career. It took me some time to understand that specialising doesn’t happen after one project. In my case, I had interests in areas such as pharmacokinetics and molecular pharmacology, and I ended up doing projects in both areas, expanding my skill sets. When applying for master’s programmes, I was torn about which area I excelled in the most. And then I realised I am still a student, I am still learning, and I do not have to excel from the get-go, so I chose a completely different topic. Science is constantly evolving, and it’s okay to explore different areas early in your career. Do not forget to seek advice from mentors, as they have dealt with a great deal of uncertainty. I advise students to embrace uncertainty as part of the process. Be open to new experiences, new areas of research, and even geographical changes if the opportunity arises. You don’t need to have your entire career planned out from the start; just focus on what excites you and keep learning. Most importantly, stay patient and persistent, as research often involves many unknowns before breakthroughs occur.