Q and A

Research for Impact is one of the core strategic themes in SU`s Vision 2020. How does your research relate to that?

The 2021 Olympics is now done and we have seen athletes performing at their peak with their muscles finely tuned to the requirements of their discipline. The Muscle Research Group at SU studies how muscle regenerates from injury and how it adapts to high intensities of training that can induce microdamage - the so-called "no pain, no gain phenomenon".

Please give us your impression of the role that research and innovation can play in the betterment of society?

Human Physiology covers how our bodies live and function every day. Understanding the molecular control of the cells that make up the body allows for innovations to target specifically what is going wrong when a person has an illness or injury. Our quality of life depends on the wellness of all the parts of our Physiology and in the times we are living, we can monitor a lot using technology.

What would you regard as the most important aspects to consider to effectively support researchers?

It is essential to have very good access to libraries and electronic scientific journals. Researchers do not operate in a vacuum, we need to know and think about what other scientists have done recently, so that we can design our research to tackle the next building block of the unknown. We are descended from the stone age men and women. The most imaginative persons in the clans, who were essentially the scientists, came up with new ways to modify and use stone to better their lives. Similarly, we need the new tools of our trade to stay at the forefront of technological developments that allow us to ask the interesting questions.

What do you enjoy most about your job and what are the aspects that you find challenging?

I enjoy working with the postgraduate students whom I mentor to become research scientists. Together, we probe some difficult problems. Sometimes the road can seem long, but there are light-bulb moments along the way when the student makes a leap in their understanding, which is gratifying to watch. Yes, you can see it! I get the light bulb moments myself, which I achieve because guiding the student's thought processes, puts me on the path of new ways to think about and explain and solve things.

What is the biggest piece of advice that you would give early-career researchers?

Do incremental studies that follow a theme form a body of work from which you can build and justify your research to funding bodies. But try to have a project with the potential for a high reward: think carefully and take some brave steps that might not work at first. This could seem risky, given budgets and time available and pressure to produce outcomes, but when these projects work, they will distinguish you.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the way we work. What, from your point of view, is the most pertinent change and how will this affect your work in the future?

As researchers, we need to be very accurate and logical, we need to plan well and follow good procedures. The biggest lesson has been to be flexible. Expect the unexpected and make a new plan. The new plan may require new procedures and the challenges can end up being very interesting.

What do you do for fun (apart from research!)

I like plants and trees and visiting my Mom. Plants grow more quickly than research projects and are satisfied with less attention. Big old trees are magnificent, just to look at - live art changing with the seasons. My Mom is 92 and still likes to hear what I am doing with my students. We both like jewelry. She often asks: "Do you change it up regularly, so that your students don't get bored?". She gets a bit mixed up with time - she thinks I either just returned from a conference, or am leaving very soon! I like taking photos when I am travelling.