CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided turningby MPG.PuRe points | FOCUS turning points | FOCUS Finding your way through the science maze Asifa Akhtar is Director at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and . Her lab focuses on and epigenetic regulation. A member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation, she received the European Life Science Organization award in 2008 and the Wilhelm Feldberg Prize in 2017. Asifa Akhtar

any scientists live what can be group-leader years — the intense interaction considered as a cosmopolitan life, in a small team was highly stimulating, as we Mmoving countries between career all worked towards the same goals. This was steps and attending conferences around the extremely important as at the time I also had world. My introduction to this lifestyle started a child and was juggling running a lab and as a teenager, with my family’s move from being a mum. Although I can relate to the Karachi to Paris. This was a turning point pressure and uncertainties that come with for my academic outlook, but finishing high both roles, I would advise young scientists school did not come with a eureka moment not to compromise on their personal goals. about my future career; life seemed to hold A balanced home life can provide a different many uncertainties. But education was my perspective to the very competitive and parents’ highest priority, so I never felt the challenging realities of research. Scientific need to justify my eagerness to move from institutions should ensure that having work- Paris to London for my university studies. life balance and raising a family is possible, It was not until my summer project as for example by integrating childcare facilities a third-year biology student at University in institutional planning. To enable equal College London that I discovered my opportunities we first need to take care passion for science and the joy of doing of basic needs, which are required by all experiments. Completing a PhD was X . Even after decades of work researchers regardless of gender. definitely the way to go. Imperial Cancer we still do not understand everything. Like My next move was to the Max Planck Research Fund (now the Francis Crick peeling an onion, there is always another Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Institute) in London was an ideal choice: level of knowledge to be gained. We are now in Freiburg, where I am currently a apart from a centre for great science, it getting into the exciting area of exploring director. This provided yet another level was also the only place where overseas which regulatory aspects have diversified and of responsibility that goes beyond the lab students like me could afford to do their which have proven essential to pass through and requires managerial skills and strategic PhD, since it offered stipends. I had the the evolutionary barrier in mammals. thinking. I am learning and enjoying this pleasure of training under the supervision My postdoc was very enjoyable, as new facet of my life every day. of David Bentley and . I had developed sufficient experience My career path may appear to be a However, although I enjoyed my time as a and confidence to ask questions about smooth transition from one step to the next, PhD student, I had many disappointments everything and to not be satisfied by simply but it has been a fight all along. There might and nagging doubts that I may not be good thinking ‘I don’t know’. I realized that I be obstacles every step of the way, but my enough for a career in research. wanted to figure things out myself. However, main advice for the younger generation is Being an optimist, I decided to test myself as for many postdocs, I also wondered to never give up. A positive attitude can in a different environment, and I moved to about my next career step. Becoming a go a long way during hard times. Having a the European Molecular Biology Laboratory group leader was an obvious move forward, stable and supportive environment at work (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, as a but it appeared almost unachievable at and at home is also essential in enabling a postdoctoral fellow in Peter Becker’s lab. the time. Yet, I went ahead and sent some PhD student, postdoc or group leader to be Moving to Germany may not appear easy if applications, thinking that if I do not apply, creative and achieve their dreams. My advice you do not speak the language but this was then I will surely not get the job. And is to choose a mentor and a life-partner never a hurdle at the EMBL, a thoroughly against all odds, I became a group leader at carefully — the wrong choice in either can international institute. My first year was, the EMBL. The scientific environment was lead a bright young mind to drop off the again, full of struggles until I changed thrilling and the positive energy was very research path. ❐ projects for what was meant to be a trial motivating. Ian Mattaj, the current director period of two months — I have worked general, was a great inspiration. The advice Asifa Akhtar on this topic ever since! Regulation of the I received from day one was that I should Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and to equalize expression of tackle an important question rather than Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany. X-linked genes between females and males rush to publish. Such open and critical e-mail: [email protected] poses an interesting epigenetic problem. A scientific discussions can broaden young two-fold change in gene expression would minds and focus their research approach. Published online: 28 August 2018 appear to be a simple solution, yet it can I may have been motivated as a postdoc, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-018-0175-3 make a difference between life and death, and but there is nothing more motivating than involves complex molecular events between leading a group and being responsible for Competing interests RNA, proteins and a specific target — the people’s careers. I really enjoyed my early The author declares no competing interests. 1000 Nature Cell Biology | VOL 20 | SEPTEMBER 2018 | 1000–1012 | www.nature.com/naturecellbiology