Doctoral candidate 4 - Emina Horvat Velic - UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø

Supervisor: Peter McCourt, UiT;

co-supervisor Karen Sørensen, UiT

Meet our second doctoral candidate at the Arctic University of Norway, Emina Velic!

Tell us about yourself, who are you? (and how do you like to spend your time?

My name is Emina and I grew up in the north of Croatia, in a town called Varaždin. Since my youth, I have had a great interest in neuroscience, especially neurodegeneration and this interest has continued to this day; it is also reflected in my social media appearances and on my blog. I am passionate about sharing the latest research findings and managed to become a postgraduate associate in Neuroscience at Yale University in Connecticut, through my social media presence.

I also consider myself a ‘professional’ hobbyist, I read and write a lot, practice many sports and enjoy hiking and caving. 

What is your educational background and what have been up until now?

I originally decided to study medicine, but for personal and professional reasons, I switched to a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a Master's degree in Molecular Biology. I worked in both wet and dry labs during my Master's programme.

Afterwards, I spent 4 months in Graz, Austria on a scholarship, investigating the effects of fasting on autophagy in circulating leukocytes.  Then, I was employed as a teacher at a school in Croatia for one year, teaching Biology and Chemistry.  I spent the last year at Yale University researching ALS before arriving in Tromsø.

Why did you decide to join ImAge-D?

My Principal Investigator at Yale University had sent out a tweet that he was looking for a PhD position for one of his students; interested scientists, researchers, and institutions could then get in touch. One of them was Peter! I took a closer look at the project and concluded that I would really like to be a part of it.

When we talk about ageing as a risk factor for neurodegenerative disease, we can try to find a suitable drug or medicine, but if the liver doesn't do its job, even the best drug won't help. In this respect, I see the projects as combining my interest in Biology and Neuroscience. 

I also find the idea of ‘networking’ very appealing. My work in the US felt isolated at times, I like the idea that I can have some space to myself but also have the opportunity to seek help and support if necessary. Plus, I very much like the cold of the northern hemisphere!

What are your expectations regarding your work in the ImAge-D project?

I hope to learn a lot of new things and expand my knowledge over the next three years. I expect to work a lot, but I am very happy to have been given this opportunity. I am also very much looking forward to networking and staying in touch with colleague in the future, as I have the impression that we often make contacts in the academic field that are associated with a lot of ideas that then, unfortunately, disappear into thin air. 

Furthermore, I hope to learn and discover a lot of new things during my secondments, visit some museums and hopefully not wrangle a python in Australia.

Could you share a fun fact with me?

I am on a yearslong quest to find a shiny Magikarp in Pokemon GO.

We wish Emina all the best and great success with her work in the project... and in her search for the shiny Magikarp!