Creating passionate and compassionate research environments
With Dr Mirna Mustapha
Dr Mirna Mustapha started her research career in Lebanon, a country where war had made everyday life extremely challenging and resources for scientific research very limited. Her interest in the causes of genetically transmitted diseases and the many families in Lebanon who were experiencing the trauma of these conditions was her entry point into the world of science.
Mirna has moved multiple times during her research career, from a PhD in France to a Postdoc in Michigan (USA). This was followed by an academic position at Stanford University. More recently, she has joined a new institution in the UK as a senior fellow. Her own experience of the many biases and micro-aggressions against women and minority women are probably fuelling her current motivation to support more diversity in the research environment. Having accomplished a lot during her career, Mirna is now set on how best to support scientists who come from countries where war and other economic challenges limit research opportunities.
More about Mirna
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/biosciences/people/academic-staff/mirna-mustapha
https://neurotree.org/neurotree/publications.php?pid=178106
Listening to our conversation will prompt your thinking:
Why having support networks and mentors are key to survive and thrive in research careers
Why we need to continue challenging the status quo when it comes to diversity in research environment
Why new research group leader need to be supported not just to enter academic role, but to become the best leaders and managers they can be.
“because of minority, I don’t want to feel or have these feelings that we are vulnerable. We are not, we are just not welcomed... It’s almost as if we are told, you are not welcome. You don’t fit in. So that’s why we need to raise awareness for those people and it’s so important for us to feel supported.”
