Zum Gleichstellungsreferat | Medizinische Fakultät
EN
Prof. Dr. Lucie Carrier
Professorship of Functional Genomics of Cardiomyopathies
What sparked your interest in a career in science resp. your professional field?
During my PhD in Grenoble, I attended a meeting in France where was presented the discovery of dystrophin as the disease gene for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This impressed me so much that I wanted to invest in the field of genetics. During my postdoctoral period in Paris, I contributed to earliest genetic analysis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the identification of the first genetic variant in one of the components of the cardiac sarcomere. Later on, we developed mouse models for the disease and provide a proof-of-concept study that gene replacement therapy can prevent on the long term the development of cardiomyopathy in mice, paving the way towards human application.
Did you always want to become a professor?
Of course, not. It became slowly but surely an evidence during my career development. In France, I studied biology to become a biology teacher. But during my bachelor and master, I started to be interested in research and decided to do a PhD. Then, as I absolutely wanted to perform research in genetics, I move to Paris, where they started genetic analysis for cardiomyopathies. I received a permanent position as researcher from the centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) in 1993, my habilitation to direct research in 2000,and became a Director of Research in 2002 in Paris. I became professor in UKE in 2011.
What still excites you as a professor?
I am always excited by new ideas, novel discoveries and also to get always new students to lead or to teach to. I also like to see the motivation of young scientists from different training (medical, molecular life science, pharmacy and biology...) and different countries. I also like the interactions and collaborations between scientists with complementary expertise within the institute of Pharmacology, the UKE and also worldwide.
What do you like about working as a professor?
Research, teaching my passion, team leading, cooperation and scientific meeting. I really like my job.
Were there critical phases in your career and how did you deal with them?
I was educated in France, where there were no concerns on how to manage family and job. I always worked full time and paid for care for my two kids. Of course, this was not always easy... When I moved to Hamburg, I was already established as a scientist with my subjects and I had to start all new (team, models, materials, grant applications...)... The main challenge was the language, but in science most people speak and write in English. I think that I was not afraid for change, I was in general positive and thought that there is always a solution to a problem.
What are the main topics of your research?
Genetics, Pathophysiology and Therapy of Cardiomyopathy.
In your opinion, does a young researcher/physician need to decide to take the path towards a professorship already at a very early stage in her/his career?
In the German system, I think yes, because this is a long way to. On the other hand, young scientists must ask themselves the following questions: 1) do I want to be principal investigator, i.e. writing grant applications, scientific manuscripts? 2) do I want to teach? 3) do I want to present in conferences? and importantly as well do I want to lead a team?
How would you rate the work-life and work-familiy balance while being a professor?
Work-family balance is a better definition that work-life balance, because work is part of our life. As I said above, I think the balance depends on each individual, and there are means to help for child care if we accept that others participate in their education and development.
Please state briefly about a very special moment in your career.
I applied for a Marie Curie Excellent Team Grant in 2004. The grant was dedicated to Principal investigators who would like to move to another European Country. I applied with a high risk project without too many preliminary data and was selected in the 6%... There are plenty others, including the identification of the first genetic variant in a novel gene for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and, of course, the thesis finalization, publications and any other success of young scientists.
Which supporting structures and supporting activities were helpful for you on your way to professorship? Was there a special person who inspired you?
My PhD supervisor, who always challenged me with my career path. My postdoctoral supervisor in Paris, Ketty Schwartz, who had a clear view on what is important or not and was an excellent team leader for all of us. She was highly supportive and generous, positive and strong, and she allowed me (and other young scientists) to present instead of her in scientific meetings, which gave me confidence.
What are your future visions, what do you want to achieve in the future?
I would like to see at least one baby with a severe form of cardiomyopathy to be treated with gene therapy. I would like some of my team members to be able to continue an academic career
Do you have any advice that you would like to give young scientists and students to take away with them?
Do what you like and trust yourself!
MILESTONES
1989
PhD, Grenoble University, France
1993
Researcher, centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France
1998
Habilitation, Sorbonne University, Paris
2000
Habilitation to direct research, CNRS, Paris
2002
Director of Research, CNRS, Paris since 2011Professor, UKE, Hamburg
WORK AREA
Prof. Dr. Lucie Carrier
- Teamleiterin
- Professor of Functional Genomics of Cardiomyopathies