We are proud to work collectively with a growing community of microbiologists whose voluntary contributions are helping to put microbiology firmly on the map. This month we are joined by Tina Silovic who leads a FEMS Opportunities Board Taskforce project. She is helping to connect microbiologists all over the world with new and exciting microbiology jobs on the Opportunities Board.
Tina’s main research interests lie in marine microbial ecology. This stems from her PhD and postdoctoral positions at the Center for Marine Research (Croatia) and at the Institut Méditerranéen d’océanologie (France) respectively. She is currently a research associate in Croatia working on bioprospecting Adriatic algae, mainly cyanobacteria.
What inspired you to get involved with this Taskforce Project with FEMS?
“We have all been at the point of searching for a position and we all know how hard and time- consuming it can be. Many people don’t know where to look, since “just Google it” many times doesn’t work even if you choose the right keywords.
Nevertheless I am getting along quite well, meaning I have managed to help some of my colleagues and friends in their job search. When I saw the opportunity to join FEMS Jobs Opportunity board, my reaction was – why not help others as well?!”
What are your future aspirations?
“I remember becoming interested in science during biology classes in high school when inspired by our biology teacher where I decided to get into marine biology at undergrad school. After receiving a Bachelor’s degree, I took a position as a research technician in the Center for Marine Research in Croatia and my path was defined – marine microbiology.
Ever since then science has been my greatest passion, but I never liked how the whole academia system functions. I totally disagree with the idea that my purpose as a scientist should be “publish or perish”, but the world functions that way. I think we need to change that, and in order to do that, scientists should engage more publicly so our voices could be heard.
Engaging more publicly, communicating our science, or even becoming science communicators is a road many scientists don’t want to take but it is essential that at least some of us do. Science communication clears up misinterpretations, builds support for science and promotes the understanding of its importance to the society. Therefore we should gather our forces and make science more relevant, more visible, and more influential in all parts of our lives.”
What are your passions outside of the scientific landscape?
“With science as your passion, whatever you do, science is with you. If you are not in the lab or behind your desk doing “real science” you are thinking about new experiments, papers, projects, practically brainstorming all the time. With my particular passion for digital media, if I am not “thinking” science most probably I am “sharing” something about science on one of many social media platforms (and I use all of them). Still in (rare) times when I am offline I like to do yoga, go for a run, swim, walk, dance, read a good book and listen to music.”
Keep connected with all new microbiology jobs, events, projects and funding calls on our Opportunities Board. You can also promote your own opportunities with us for free.