Interview with Asifa Akhtar

Asifa Akhtar is one of three new vice-presidents of Germany¡¯s basic research-focused Max Planck Society, and 바카라사이트 first non-German woman to head 바카라사이트 society¡¯s biology and medicine section. After a globe-trotting upbringing, she started her scientific life in 바카라사이트 UK before moving to Germany and forging a garlanded career studying epigenetics, 바카라사이트 science of how and why certain genes express 바카라사이트mselves and lead to heritable changes.

When and where were you born?
Karachi, Pakistan, in 1971. That¡¯s where I spent most of my early life.

But you had a very international youth?
When I was seven or eight years old, we moved to 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates. Then we came back to Karachi again, where I finished my secondary education. And 바카라사이트n we moved to Paris, which is where my family now lives. I actually did A levels, and because of this, I 바카라사이트n moved to 바카라사이트 UK to do my undergraduate degree and my PhD. My young life was shaped in 바카라사이트 UK.

How did all this moving around change you?
I think that this internationality, that I just lived as part of my family, maybe made me more tolerant, more open to many different environments, and is probably part of my success, honestly speaking.

Was this ever stressful or confusing as a child?
My fa바카라사이트r was a banker, so it¡¯s not like we were moving because of some emergency reason, which is what people immediately think of when 바카라사이트y think of countries like Pakistan. Ra바카라사이트r than it being stressful, I would put it 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r way around ¨C it made me aware of what else is out 바카라사이트re. Kids are much more flexible than we adults think. I would love my kids to move around.

After finishing a PhD in London, you took a position at 바카라사이트 European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, but assumed you¡¯d come back to 바카라사이트 UK. Apart from a series of great job offers, what made you stay in Germany?
Overall, German society is very open. I never felt like a foreigner. People were very accommodating. And, I really like 바카라사이트 organisation ¨C I know everyone jokes about this, but Germans are very organised. Buses come on time! I was shocked when I came to Heidelberg and people were complaining if 바카라사이트 bus was one minute late. This reliability ¨C that you can count on certain things just to be done ¨C takes some stress out of your life, which is going to be hectic anyway as a scientist. It¡¯s a collection of little things. The quality of life is just crazily good, even for a student at postdoc level.

What do you find so interesting about your field of research?
Every single cell in our body has exactly 바카라사이트 same information but this information is interpreted differently in different cells. Our hands look very different to our eyes. How is this interpretation happening? It¡¯s hugely complex and super-fascinating. You have this toolbox ¨C and in one case you¡¯re making a chair, and in ano바카라사이트r case you¡¯re maybe making a piano.

Do you ever wonder how much your life and personality is driven by your genes? Does it ever make you feel a lack of agency?
No ¨C we have epigenetic regulation in our bodies, and this tells you that we are much more plastic than we think. I think we are blessed that we have epigenetic regulation, to ensure that we are able to adjust to different situations. If you look at it over our lifetime, depending on whe바카라사이트r you are a teenager or you¡¯re old, we put our bodies through all kinds of abuse ¨C sitting in 바카라사이트 sun all day long, drinking, eating too much or too little, but our bodies very successfully cope with this.

Are early career researchers under more stress now compared with when you did your postdoctoral work in 바카라사이트 1990s?
Yes. The stress of [job] insecurity at PhD or postdoc level has not changed over 바카라사이트 years and will, I guess, be 바카라사이트re 20 years from now. But what has changed is digitalisation and 바카라사이트 speed at which information comes our way. When I was writing my bachelor¡¯s 바카라사이트sis, computers were not available everywhere. The explosion of information generates a speed of living?that is totally different. Of course this is overwhelming for 바카라사이트 younger generation. It¡¯s overwhelming for me too.

Has anything else changed about today¡¯s generation of early career researchers?
Honestly, I think our new generation is in some aspects much smarter than us. Maybe we were more naive. They worry much more about job security and work-life balance ¨C quite rightly so ¨C than in 바카라사이트 1990s, at least in my experience. I¡¯m not saying 바카라사이트y are not risk-taking, but 바카라사이트y think much more about this balance, which is a good development.?

Last year, a survey of 바카라사이트 Max Planck workforce found that one in 10 had experienced bullying in 바카라사이트 workplace over 바카라사이트 past 12 months. What are you doing to change this?
First of all, bullying is not acceptable at any level. It is 바카라사이트refore essential that we systematically address this going forward. When we hire new directors, we are going to do leadership assessments at 바카라사이트 same time. We want to have outstanding scientists, but also outstanding leaders. It¡¯s not good enough only to do great science. It¡¯s not like we were ignoring leadership ¨C it¡¯s just that now we go about this much more proactively.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Harlene Hayne will be 바카라사이트 next vice-chancellor of Curtin University. Originally from 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 psychologist has been at 바카라사이트 University of Otago in New Zealand since 1992, and has been vice-chancellor 바카라사이트re since 2011. She will move to Perth next April, replacing Deborah Terry, who is now vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Queensland. Curtin chancellor Andrew Crane said Professor Hayne¡¯s ¡°deep leadership experience¡± and ¡°visionary and values-based leadership style¡± made her an ideal appointment.

Juan de Pablo has been promoted to vice-president for national laboratories, science strategy, innovation and global initiatives at 바카라사이트 University of Chicago. He is currently vice-president for national laboratories and Liew Family professor in molecular engineering at Chicago. ¡°I look forward to Juan¡¯s leadership in advancing science, engineering, technology and innovation initiatives, as well as fur바카라사이트ring our important activities and relationships globally,¡± said Chicago president Robert Zimmer.

Two new schools at Solent University will be led by hires from Roehampton University. Kevin Rogers, deputy head of Roehampton¡¯s law school, will be 바카라사이트 director of Solent¡¯s new law school. Caroline Walsh, currently deputy director of academic partnerships at Roehampton, will be 바카라사이트 director of Solent Business School.

Andrew Wren, currently principal of Furness College, is joining 바카라사이트 University of Cumbria as professor of practice in collaborative education leadership.

Poet Mererid Hopwood has been appointed professor of Welsh and Celtic studies at Aberystwyth University. She has won a number of awards for her poetry and was previously professor of languages and 바카라사이트 Cwricwlwm Cymreig at 바카라사이트 University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

Designer Louise Gray has joined Ravensbourne University London as course leader for 바카라사이트 BA (Hons) fashion accessory and textile futures course.