Dr. Katarzyna Buczak
LC-MS specialist at the Proteomics Core Facility
What’s your job at the Biozentrum?
I work as a scientist in the Proteomics Core Facility. What we do there is help people perform their experiments using proteomics, which is a technique that allows you to study proteins in different biological samples. We provide the instrumentation and the expertise, so people can pursue their scientific questions with the support of experts.
How did it come about that you work in a core facility?
I was always more technology-oriented. After doing my PhD in a lab where I did a lot of proteomics research, I realized that focusing on the technology aspects would be more interesting to me. When I saw a position open at the Biozentrum in the Proteomics Core Facility, I thought it would be a perfect fit, allowing me to stay connected to science, but with a focus more on the technology.
What do you think about the Women in Science Day?
This is a great initiative to highlight that there are women in science. It shows that many female scientists are successful, that they had a chance to work on their interests, focus on research, and achieve something valuable and interesting. It is very important to promote this and make it visible to others, especially to those who are not sure whether science something for them.
What would you tell a young woman who is unsure whether a career in science is right for her?
First of all, gender should never be a deciding factor, that should be completely out of the question. If science is something she likes and where she sees her future, she should definitely go for it. The most important thing is to enjoy what you are doing, and if you are interested in science, you are going to enjoy that.
Do you have a female role model in science?
That's a tricky question. As a person who grew up in Poland, I would of course have to say Maria Skłodowska Curie. However, when it comes to a personal role model, of course there's plenty of very successful women scientists, but most of whom I haven't met in person. But throughout my career, I have met many fantastic colleagues, bosses and supervisors; many of them outstanding female scientists, who impressed me from different aspects, for example how they managed to balance their life with work. And it was inspiring to look up at them and try to follow their paths.