Dr Yuval Elani MRSC

From a young age, I remember loving chemistry. I have a distinct memory of my mom taking me to the local library. I would always go for the science textbooks (never the novels) and read them page-by-page. Chemistry was always my ‘thing’ at school—I was pretty good at it and, luckily, had some amazing teachers who were really inspiring. But I'll be honest, I wasn’t always interested in the topic. When I got to university, I started to feel disillusioned. I even dropped out of my four-year degree early! Back then, the thought of me ending up in a chemistry career, especially in academia, seemed pretty far-fetched. After leaving university and working random jobs for a year, I sort of stumbled into doing an MRes – because I wasn’t really sure what else to do. This ended up being a turning point. The encouragement I got from my MRes and PhD supervisor, who I still work closely with, was game-changing.

There is some amazing research emerging on the development of digital twins, which are virtual models designed to accurately reflect/simulate physical objects and systems. Traditionally, we've seen these applications in areas such as supply chains, cities, and factories. However, researchers are now expanding this technology to biological systems, including cells, organs (like the brain), and even entire organisms. This will revolutionise the biochemical sciences.

Without a doubt, establishing my research group – a critical phase in an academic career – over COVID. Not meeting my new colleagues for what felt like years, missing out on face-to-face interactions with my new research team, and the absence of conferences and networking opportunities were all major hurdles. This period was not only challenging for me but profoundly impacted my students, who faced these obstacles alongside me. Their resilience through such a tough time is admirable, and I am immensely proud to see them now flourishing.

To me, a good research culture within a team embodies collaboration and passion for the work. It involves team members pursuing goals for the right reasons, supporting one another, and genuinely enjoying their research. It also encourages independence and creativity rather than merely following instructions.