Interview a woman scientist: Dr. Maria Gazouli

On the search for a woman scientist, I found Dr. Maria Gazouli. She is a professor at the school of Medicine in Athens. She is one of the first women scientists in Greece to win the L’Oréal – UNESCO for women in Science Award. You can find here more information on the award.

Dr. Maria Gazouli 

-      Dr. Gazouli, some people know since their childhood what they want to do in their life and some people don’t. How did molecular biology come to you?

Biology fascinated me from the first moment and piqued my interest and excitement at school, when we started to learn the heredity of the species through the laws of Mendel.  So, before I finish high school, I knew what I wanted to do and consciously chose this field; I wanted to add a little bit to the understanding of the mechanisms underlying various serious diseases and to help in dealing with them.

-      What is it that excites you most in your field?

I've always been fascinated and I am still fascinated by the complexity and aesthetics of living matter. Why are we so different from each other? What is the living organism after all? Biology is an access to life. It is charming to study what lies inside the cells and the microcosm in general.

It is also important that from science you gain self-awareness, feel that you improve the humanity, society, culture.

-      Describe to me an average day at your work.

One day in my lab: Research is team-work. With my students we study everyday different types of samples (blood, tissues, cell cultures), DNA/RNA extraction and experiments (amplifications, sequencing), results analysis, designing the next experiments. Everyday is exploring, examining, knowing!!

-      We all know about the academic difficulties in Greece: lack of funds for research, lack of recognition of science by society, cutting spending on education, etc... How do you deal with these problems?

It's a long conversation.... The situation remains difficult: very limited jobs, low wages, minimum funding for research, minimum support for young researchers with competitive salaries and a modern working environment. It is inevitable that Greek scientists will take their minds and leave after their degree.  Unfortunately, that situation remains.

We must all accept that the university has a key place in society. It must be the place where new ideas are born, a place of creation and hard work, a place where public service culture has no place. The university should not tolerate mediocrity, cronyism, low productivity, low standards, lack of transparency, or corruption; only then, will move forward.

It is difficult to deal with problems such as lack of resources, modern machinery, human resources. Personally, I keep collaborations with colleagues abroad and working on things we can't do it in Greece, because of the above-mentioned problems. But my motivation is young people, our students, their strength and their longing to learn and to be able to respond to new facts and new developments and to keep learning with them. Scientific, professional career is an endless uphill road of accumulation of knowledge and experience, maximum effort and commitment to goals. Nevertheless, it offers thrills when the objectives are met and unimaginable satisfaction when the results contribute to the treatment of diseases that afflict people. These remain for me the big bet, the challenge, and help me deal with the problems and stay in Greece.

-      You are also a professor at the University of Athens since 2003 and you have certainly met many skilled people. What advice would you give to those who are starting their career now?

Follow their instincts and do what they like. Be patient, set goals and have a lot of will and zest for what they do. Studies in this field require intensive study and effort, energy, perseverance and the capability of turning knowledge into practice…

-      Very nice answers, thank you.

Tell me one more thing. You are one of the first to be awarded the L’Oréal - UNESCO Prize for women in science in Greece. How did the award come up? What feelings did you have during the ceremony? Do you think that the prize has helped you in some way? If yes, in what way?

The award came up unexpectedly; I had recently returned from the USA and was elected lecturer in the Medical School in Athens. I heard about the contest and I thought I could give it a try; I had nothing to lose and applied. When they called me to announce that I was qualified, I didn't believe it, because you know in Greece, we are a little suspicious that it is "a fixed competition". Over the years this institution has proved to be absolutely meritocratic.

At the ceremony, I felt a special emotion and satisfaction that some organization recognizes my hard work. Unfortunately, universities and research institutions have not embraced this institution as much as they should and are not actively supporting it.

The award helped me to set higher goals, it was for me an incentive to create.

What would I advise young scientists? That their work requires stubbornness, patience and perseverance; to believe in their work and ambitions; to set goals; then they will surely find their way to succeed!

Maria Gazouli, PhD

Assoc Prof of Molecular Biology

School of Medicine, University of Athens

Michalakopoulou 176, 11527 Athens, Greece

Tel/Fax: +302107462231

©Georgia Giannopoulou