Our interviewee is Anja Hartewig, a PhD student from Tampere University, Finland. Anja is a founding member of the Biobio Junior Section, the junior section of the Societas Biochemica, Biophysica et Microbiologica Fenniae (Biobio Society), a FEBS Constituent Society.

What motivated you to pursue a career in science? Why did you choose this field?

I’ve always liked Biology and Chemistry in school and was fascinated by genetics. From the very beginning of my studies I loved biochemistry and was drawn to cancer research, knowing how many lives are lost to it.

Briefly introduce your research topic. What is the purpose of your research?

My research focuses on central nervous system tumors, especially diffuse gliomas. We are trying to understand what makes some of them highly aggressive compared to other subtypes by studying their epigenetics in tumor tissues. We hope that by understanding the drivers we can contribute to the development of more effective therapies.

What excites you most about your work or research?

Brain tumors can affect people of all ages and are generally incurable. Thinking about the suffering of patients and their families associated with such a diagnosis gives me the dedication to hopefully contribute to improving their lives, even if we cannot save them (yet).

From a scientific point of view diffuse gliomas are super fascinating. They are highly heterogeneous, both within the same tumor bulk and between patients. They can even form synapses with healthy tissue to hijack their signaling, which I find equally scary and interesting.

Among all the scientific discoveries of all time, which is your favorite? Why?

I think I would go with Semmelweis’ discovery of the cause of childbed fever. Methodologically, it was quite impressive how he interpreted the observations to come to the right conclusions. And on a philosophical level it is a reminder how big of an effect can be created with simple but effective measures to protect patients.

What do you do as a scientist to make your work interesting and accessible to the public?

I try to have good everyday analogies for explaining my research to others not familiar with my field. During my studies in Germany I enjoyed interacting with highschool students and being present during scientific outreach events. Unfortunately, moving to Finland and not knowing the language well enough makes these kinds of interactions more challenging.

What do you like to do in your spare time? Do you have hobbies?

I am trying to stay active by running, hiking and yoga. I also like to be creative, playing guitar and knitting or crocheting. As a bonus, knitting while listening helps me keep focussed, especially during conferences.

How did you learn about the FEBS Junior Section? What motivated you to become a member?

During my bachelor’s and master’s in Leipzig I was part of the junior-GBM, the German Junior Section. After I moved to Finland for my PhD, Alexander Röntgen contacted me to ask whether I have connections to Biobio, the Finnish FEBS constituent society. With fond memories from the junior-GBM in mind, I am excited to start building a Finnish Junior Section.

What is the importance of getting involved in FEBS Junior Section activities for students and young scientists?

Being part of the FEBS Junior Section is an amazing opportunity to learn a lot about a broad variety of research topics. It also offers a lot of possibilities to network and meet inspiring people. Even simply being part of a great scientific community is something that is inherently making me happier. It also offers opportunities to create the change you want to see in the ecosystem!

What advice would you give to aspiring students/scientists?

Track the time you spend at the office and especially how long a certain part of the project takes to complete. It helped me to manage my research better and be kinder to myself whenever I was unhappy with the progress I made. And remember to take breaks and ask for help. You are so much more than your academic achievements!

Where do you see your career going next?

As a first step I would like to finish my PhD.

I believe artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize how we think about treating patients. However, we have to be sure that we involve the right people in this process, ensuring clinicians, researchers and patients have the necessary level of understanding and are aware of the risks and inevitable biases. I would like to find a place where I can contribute to the utilization of AI in a responsible manner benefiting everyone.

Photo by Adrien Converse on Unsplash