​​What are you investigating?

I am a microbiologist, but during my PhD in undertook multiple internships aimed at bioinformatics, especially analysis and visualization of next-generation sequencing data. Currently, I still combine wet and dry lab, which is super nice as it allows me to work with my hands and relax the head and vice versa. I am working with an opportunistic human pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii and figuring out how it is so persistent in rough conditions of hospital settings. My work includes everything from basic microbiology to comparative genomics.

How did you end up at VIB?

It was an extremely lucky coincidence. I never minded moving around, I did my BSc and MSc in Slovakia and my PhD in the Czech Republic and after that, I started to look around and stumbled across the opportunity in the Van der Henst lab on Twitter. Since I was new to Twitter, I had no idea if applying to a job found there has any chance, but my profile did fit the criteria and the topic was interesting, so I gave it a try and my interview took place within days.

Outside research, what is your favorite thing about VIB?

The support VIB provides, whether it is an administrative issue that needs to be solved as well as countless training opportunities, not only on skills in the lab but also soft skills. Altogether the whole community of the VIB centers and core facilities are wonderful experts who are always open for discussion and willing to help. I also must admit that the events organized by VIB are always worth attending!

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

I love the freedom, and the fact I do my hobby as my job. Even though academia itself is often stressful, and I like to say my relationship with academia is more like Stockholm syndrome, I wouldn't trade it. And it is not the syndrome talk!

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

I am not sure where will I end on such a long horizon. For example, I have never wanted to become a PI due to another layer of stress, responsibility and being further from doing experiments/analyses yourself, but the older I am the less I would mind becoming one. But not suddenly, not too fast, I still have a long way ahead and I like it that way.