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Prof. Dr. Maike Frye
Professorship of 3R Models and Vascular Biomedicine
What sparked your interest in a career in science resp. your professional field?
During my Master’s studies, I had the privilege to receive a six-month stipend to study cardiac development at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Sydney, Australia. This time abroad and the topic itself, sparked my enthusiasm to continue exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiovascular development and disease. For my Master’s and PhD thesis, I joined the Vascular Biology Department at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, led by Prof. Dietmar Vestweber. I later broadened my expertise with a postdoctoral position in lymphatic research under Prof. Taika Mäkinen in Sweden. These experiences have shaped my career and led me to develop my own ideas and projects in a field that I’m deeply passionate about.
Did you always want to become a professor?
After returning from Sweden, I half-heartedly applied for an industry position - mainly out of curiosity about what else might be out there. Five minutes into the interview, I knew I wanted to stay in academia. It was not about the company, which was excellent, but about the realization that I wouldn’t have the chance to see a project through from start to finish. For me, being a researcher means starting with a question, building a hypothesis, testing it through experiments, and uncovering a result - where you are the very first person to uncover that knowledge. Leading your own research team gives you the freedom to guide that entire process, and that is what excites me most about academia. Being offered a professorship after four years as a junior research group leader was a truly meaningful recognition for me.
What still excites you as a professor?
Please see above.
What do you like about working as a professor?
Being a professor brings many new responsibilities in addition to research. These include participating in committees, examining students and PhD theses, and working with the faculty council. I particularly enjoy teaching, and I am glad to increasingly align my teaching with my research, such as contributing to new study programs, such as Liberal Arts and Sciences. As part of my professorship, I am committed to advancing 3R strategies (Replace, Reduce, Refine) to improve animal welfare in research at the UKE. In collaboration with UKE researchers, animal welfare officers, the dean's office, and the press office, I aim to strengthen 3R networking, foster collaborations, develop databases on alternative methods, and promote extracurricular 3R teaching to
minimize the use of animals in research while maintaining scientific rigor.
Is there anything that you do not like much about working as a professor?
I have been a full professor for less than two years, and so far, I genuinely enjoy every aspect of it.
Were there critical phases in your career and how did you deal with them?
So far, I have not encountered any major critical phases in my career. However, like every researcher, I have faced the disappointment of grant applications not being funded. While I understand that it is a matter of competition and not personal, it can
still feel disheartening at times.
What are the main topics of your research?
My research focuses on how endothelial cells, which form the inner lining of all blood and lymphatic vessels, are regulated during vascular development and in disease.
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?
I don't think so. That said, having a clear focus on a specific research area or teaching interest is definitely helpful for building expertise and carving out your niche.
How would you rate the work-life and work-familiy balance while being a professor?
Flexible working hours are essential for me to balance a full-time job while still having enough time to spend with my 2-year-old son.
Please state briefly about a very special moment in your career.
Being offered a full professorship after four years as a junior research group leader was a truly meaningful recognition for me.
Which supporting structures and supporting activities were helpful for you on your way to professorship? Was there a special person who inspired you?
I have always greatly appreciated the support of my postdoctoral supervisor. She has been, and continues to be, a role model - not only for her scientific expertise but also for her ability to handle all kinds of situations in the lab. I have learned a lot from her.
What are your future visions, what do you want to achieve in the future?
Within my team, I would like to be able to share my enthusiasm for research with as many young scientists as possible. Regarding the 3R initiative, I would like to establish a dedicated 3R center at the UKE. This center could serve as a hub for
scientists and students to exchange ideas and advance the 3Rs by developing innovative models to replace and reduce animal experimentation.
Do you have any advice that you would like to give young scientists and students to take away with them?
Starting a laboratory can be a lonely and stressful experience, but having people to talk to and share both the ups and downs with them can make all the difference. One key factor that I believe contributed to my perseverance and success is my strong support network of friends and colleagues. Most of those people are at the same stage of their scientific career and have been invaluable in helping me navigate the early years of my career - from strategic discussions, collaborations and conference fun to sharing the total excitement about new data but also the disappointment of a grant rejection via late night voice messages.
MILESTONES
2013
Phd Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, University Münster, Germany
2014 - 2018
Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, University of Uppsala, Sweden
2018 - 2022
Junior Research Group Leader Vascular Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
2023
First nomination as a professor, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
WORK AREA
Prof. Dr. Maike Frye
- Wissenschaftliche Arbeitsgruppenleiterin