Question: hi marleen I would like to know how your work will change the future and if this field of work will still be around in the future because im interested in that line of work :)

Marleen Wilde answered on 13 Mar 2019:

Hi Ed, to be honest, I cannot predict what the future brings. However, I strongly believe that medical or pharmaceutical research will be ongoing for a long time. There is still so much to discover, to learn, therapies for diseases to be developed. Not only the research is evolving, but also the diseases and needs for medicines and means to prevent diseases. There are so many layers in life science research, there will be always a space for you and other young scientists. The trick is not just to study a suitable undergraduate degree, but to explore and find out what you might be interested most to find your niche. And don’t be afraid to change areas of interest and expand into other fields. There is always a need for interdisciplinary scientists with a wider view. You even could combine computing with biology for example. Programming/ computer skills are more and more required as technologies that we use are evolving.
For my own research, I’m not sure how much it will change the future or if even. I’m still at an early stage of my science career and for the time being I haven’t made any ground breaking discoveries. However, I have done a good bit of work in my small niche area and this has led to publications in form of research articles and also in conference talks, so my findings are accessible to other scientist and can be used to enhance and form their research. It’s just a little piece in a big puzzle, but every little helps.