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BHF 5 mins with ;

5 minutes with... Sofia Tsakali

Sofia Tsakali completed her PhD in Cardiovascular Biology, and is currently finishing her first postdoctoral research position within the BHF Centre. We took 5 minutes with Sofia to learn about her career and life outside of work.

Briefly, tell us about your background and career up to this point?

I started my academic journey as a Chemist and moved on to specialise in Biomedical research by obtaining a MSc and finally decided to do my PhD at King’s in the field of Cardiovascular Biology. Currently, I am nearing the end of my first postdoctoral research position while looking forward to where this journey will take me next.

Between my PhD and postdoc, I have had the opportunity to explore the world of mechanobiology and its potential role in vascular calcification as well as the role of extracellular vesicles in vascular smooth muscle cell biology.

What is a typical day like for you? How has this changed due to COVID-19?

This mostly depends on the day. If it is a lab focused day, I can be found in the lab going between experiments and supervising students or if the project is at a stage of forming collaborations with other experts then the focus will be on meeting with collaborators to proceed forward. But there are also times where the focus falls on writing some form of literature and usually those days are more desk-bound.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed that daily routine. During the first lockdown my work become more data analysis driven which for my project was limited since it relays on experiments so heavily. However, I kept busy by writing manuscripts and trying to submit whatever was brought to completion in that time. The pandemic also took away a crucial part of a research lab which is interacting with colleagues and students in the same environment. Currently, we are back in the lab with safety measures in place but the work that can be done is still limited in some ways while interactions and trainings are a bit harder to manage.

Looking back, what has the pandemic and resulting lockdowns taught you?

I think the most important lessons from the pandemic and lockdowns have been to remember to be positive and maintain that mental approach as well as to try to be more kind to each other whether that is to people in our lives or strangers.

How has being part of the BHF Centre here helped shape your career?

I am so grateful to the BHF for giving me the opportunity to fulfil a dream of mine when they funded my PhD. The BHF Centre was a great place to do my PhD as it is equipped with current technological advantages in terms of equipment but it also facilitates some of the top experts in the field of cardiovascular biology. It provides a platform for leading edge research as well as the opportunity of collaborations with researchers within King’s as well as outside which further develops a researcher like me who is in the first steps of their career.

What do you think people in the School would find most surprising about you?

Generally speaking, I am a social person, but I think most would be surprised to know that I am actually an introvert and shy person as well.

What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?

Be patient, listen to every advice offered (even if you disagree), weigh it up, but make your own decisions and follow your instincts. They will never fail you if only you listen to them.

Do you have any current projects that you’d like to tell us about?

I am currently working on determining the role of extracellular vesicles in vascular smooth muscle cell biology and in the wider context of atherosclerotic plaques. In this project, we investigate how these vesicles influence important cellular functions and potentially unveil signalling mechanisms. Simultaneously, I am working on a small part of my PhD project that focuses on the role of matrix stiffness in vascular calcification. The aim is to see this work published in the near future.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

So far, my proudest accomplishment has been getting my PhD. It was an interesting journey that took a lot of work and got me over to the other side with more experience and development both on the academic front as well as on a personal level. The following postdoc gave me more confidence and refined further the skills I acquired during the PhD.

 

Favourite season: Winter

Favourite cuisine: That’s a hard one. Mediterranean mostly although I like Mexican and Chinese cuisine as well.

Coffee order: Flat white

One thing you could not go a day without: Coffee although chocolate is a close second.

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