My blog

Tag: academic success

  • Vet to Scientist: Dr. Vanessa Herder’s Extraordinary Journey in Academia

     

    The vet who became a scientist explains why academia is a great place to work

     

    “Kid, do what you like. Choose what you want.” This was the career advice my parents gave me during my last year at school. Ok, then. I want to become a vet. They were delighted and my mum painted pictures in her mind of me being the local vet in a small village somewhere. All neighbours would come and bring their pets to me and she could be involved in the romantic life of the female version of James Harriot. But it turned out to be very different.

    Now as a scientist, my latest research project is studying the differences in the immune response of patients with a Covid-19-induced pneumonia. We investigated in SARS CoV-2-patients which immune response determines the disease severity. This study is a large collaborative project with scientists form the UK, Malawi, Brazil, USA, France and Switzerland and published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. How can a vet be involved in this project?

    During my vet degree I realised quite quickly that my original idea of working with horses would not be happening. During my first lecture of pathology while learning about disease mechanisms in tissues my passion for studying diseases was ignited. On that day, I knew horses will always be a hobby for me. My fascination about understanding how diseases evolve in the body grew from day to day. Studying diseases does mean to understand what health is.

    How a virus infects the host, causes damage and how the body is able to fight this infection successfully is not only interesting, it is dependent on the orchestration of so many factors. It fascinates me. I finished my first PhD studying virus infections in the brain and a second PhD followed to characterise a newly emerging virus infection in animals which caused stillbirth and brain damage in ruminants.

    As a vet, I knew how close we are to our pets or farm animals, and my research always focussed on aspects of the One-Health approach:  Diseases which are transmitted from animals to humans. To strengthen my research I decided to stop doing diagnostic and teaching vet students and started a full time post as a scientist. For years, I was studying which immune reactions determine that some hosts show a severe or lethal outcome in virus infections and why some show a mild course of disease. I developed all the tools to address this question, and worked in the high containment lab with a virus, which can only be handled under these conditions.

    Then the pandemic hit, the government stopped all our virus work. Only SARS CoV-2 from now on. The joint and focussed research activities were used to study the pathogenesis of Covid-19. I applied all the skills I developed before the pandemic, including being trained for the high containment, on the Covid-19 response to contribute as much as I could. Visualising the virus in the lung, which had never been done before, was one of my tasks, and it was a tough one. It took several months. At this time, I realised how valuable it was that the PhDs I made not only taught me science.

    Most importantly, the PhD teaches grit and endurance as well as creativity. The perseverance of starting and finishing a PhD, which lasts 4 years, requires scientific depth and dealing with all the challenges along the way. In short, you need to have a very long breath. This helped me to keep going with the initially unsuccessful virus detection attempts in the tissues. I finally made it and will never forget the sunny afternoon on a Saturday during the hard lockdown, when the virus finally was visible in the lung.

    Like all projects and publications in excellent research, the people involved are key to success. Interdependence of independent people working together is the heart of the work. Only efficient priorisation with well-developed communication and the perfect alignment of different expertise’s make it happen. As in this study: Every Co-author of this manuscript did what she or he could do best and contributed it. The efforts were organised and managed from Brazil to Malawi, Switzerland, USA and France to the UK and required a smart project management system. Science connects people, cultures and experiences and this makes academia a beautiful place.

    During my time in academia I had the pleasure to work with so many driven and smart students, which is a joyful experience and which taught me so many valuable life lessons. I am fortunate to have great mentors pushing me to do the best work, opened doors for others and myself and allowed me to see further with their experience. Thanks to the diversity of my work, I know people in so many countries of the world, who became friends and part of my life.

    Science connects the dots of knowledge and unites people. And it’s the people who drive the research to the next level. The most rewarding aspect of working in academia is to be part of the career path of the younger generation, seeing them succeed and choosing the work they want. Eventually, progressing from a job to a profession leading to a passion. Each student is a special person in my life as they trusted me with being part of their academic career and there is nothing better than meeting these people after years again and reflecting together on our journeys.

    I am not living the romantic life of the female version of James Harriot. I am living the romantic life of a scientist who can travel the world for presentations and conferences, and works with researchers in places like India, Africa, Europe, USA, China and the Middle East.  Basic research is the joy of answering questions in unknown territory combined with an unparalleled work ethic. Understanding diseases is understanding life – in animals and humans alike.

     

  • Lee Elliot Major – The Good Parent Educator: Book Review (2024)

    The Good Parent Educator by Lee Elliot Major, a review by Evgenia Lazareva

    I have been following Lee Elliot Major’s inspiring work for some time now. A global leader in his field, he advocates for social mobility and empowering parents. The captivating title perfectly defines a new era of parents post pandemic, which we all became involuntarily. Raising a young child in London puts immense and constant pressure to get it right education-wise, despite me working in the industry, so as soon as I saw the book, I clicked order.  

    It was just what I needed. A comprehensive step by step guide, an insightful education roadmap – from birth to workplace. Backed up by solid and thorough research, yet so easy to read, it is cleverly structured, with fascinating facts, key takeaways, and useful bits of advice. You can independently explore each area and dig deeper thanks to helpful additional reading and references provided at the end of every chapter. The author speaks as a parent and educator, thus making it very relatable.

    It also could not have come at a better time: emerging from lockdowns, still slightly traumatised by home schooling, it’s the right time to be rethinking education entirely. As parents, we desperately try to get our children ahead in this turbulent reality. We are also exhausted, confused, and some even consider relocating to the sunnier climates and leaving this “educational arms race” behind (I know I am). Wherever you end up, the information that Elliot Major presents in this book is applicable to any family. 

    It compels the reader to “reflect on what you think education is for”. It is not “just grades”, but the fact remains that certain university degrees result in much higher earnings. Do you then aim for Oxbridge, or look at the bigger picture? “Parents are the single biggest predictor of children’s life outcomes”, says Elliot Major. No pressure then. It is about balance, finding out what matters most to your child and using available resources and information. The good news? “Most things turn out to be ok in the end”.

    So how do you become a good parent educator? If you do only one thing, “instil a love of reading” in your child. Ok, I think I have nailed that one. If you are struggling, Elliot Major offers practical and realistic tips to succeed. The section on choosing schools struck a (painful) chord. It completely consumes parents and often is a significant expenditure. Read that chapter very carefully before going to any school visits, and you will be well equipped.

    Unfortunately, parents can’t solely rely on schools to deliver results. The evidence in the book states that “what happens outside, not inside, the school gates” and “stable and supportive home background” are key for academic success. Work needs to be done at home, and not just the homework (which is more important in secondary than primary). Children need help with their mindset, motivation, and efforts, and to “light the creative or sporting spark.” Elliot Major believes that “children should devote as much time to arts and sports as to scholarly study” as they are “central to human development”. I could not agree more and instantly felt better about myself as a parent educator by the end of chapter seven.

    The research on attainment of summer born children was eye opening. It is disappointing that our rigid system needs that much challenging. But there are things that can be done: in particular, don’t be afraid to become your child’s advocates. Elliot Major further explores tutoring, digital exposure, learning styles, assessments, and a few other significant areas that parents must be aware of.

    The book culminates at life after school: apprenticeships, universities, Oxbridge, and venturing into the job market. Once again, Elliot Major stresses that no matter which path you choose – and there is a case to be made for each of them – “nurturing essential life skills’ is crucial when stepping into the real world of work (and avoiding your adult children living with you).

    Wherever you are on your child’s educational journey, the knowledge and advice in this book are valuable. There is even a little quiz at the end for readers, which took me completely by surprise, but I did well. I will be re-reading this book as my child grows and in moments of parenting doubts, and will continue to empower my inner Good Parent Educator.

    The writer is the co-founder of Collab Education