University of Helsinki
The application period for the HiLIFE board representative candidacy ended on 11 August. After the call, there are eight applicants, which means the position will be voted on. The candidate with the most votes will be selected for the board member position and the candidate with the second most votes for the deputy member position.
You can cast your votes between August 12th – August 14th (12:00). Everyone currently enrolled in the HiLIFE doctoral programmes has one vote. The votes will be given electronically and anonymously via elomake. More info and voting instructions will be sent to your helsinki.fi email address when the voting starts.
Candidates
Sachin Muralidharan
Doctoral Programme in Integrative Life Science
Cell and Developmental Biology
Starting my doctoral programme at University of Helsinki has been an enriching experience in terms of the science. Along with the great science, I would also like to gain some strong leadership qualities. One key strength I have developed during these early years is my ability to become a good listener. I have taken the lead in several group competitions and have demonstrated my ability to receive ideas from my peers and amalgamate into a suitable solution. One of the most important topic discussed amongst the doctoral students is the type of courses being offered at the University and how they would benefit them in their career. So, if I am elected I would run a survey on what the doctoral students feel are the key skillsets they would like to gain from their programme and the courses that could be designed for those requirements. With the skills I have developed I strongly believe that I would be the perfect candidate to voice the opinion of the doctoral students in the HiLife board.
Md A-A Chowdhury
Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research
Immunology
Indeed no doubt, a great opportunity to work in an international environment of research where I can give wave of positive influence for the development of our cutting edge research. Being a doctoral student of University of Helsinki where I am attending in all semester and even during the era of covid 19, I see myself strong candidate for the running post who can attend in all board meeting and other official activities. I hope this role will enable me to have strong collaboration and connection with other renowned researchers that in results will help me to contribute for UH.
Toiba Mushtaq
Doctoral Programme in Integrative Life Science
Actin cytoskeleton Lab
Tuomas Pylkkö
Doctoral Programme in Drug Research
Pharmaceutical microbiology
I am PhD student in Pharmacy (DPDR, Viikki), working on developing antimicrobial drugs. Previously I have been active in representing students for example as the student member in the Teaching skills committee of the Faculty of Pharmacy, as member of the Teaching committee of the Pharmacy students association and as an international tutor for the Faculty. I believe there needs to be a strong connection between doctoral education and the various decisions related to life science research at the University of Helsinki. A very large proportion of the total research is done by doctoral students and they need to have representation. I believe that doctoral student voices should be present on the board, and that there should also be a fluid flow of information from the ongoings of the HiLIFE board towards HYVÄT.
Lisa Gawriyski
Doctoral Programme in Integrative Life Science
Proteomiikka, Kehitysbiologia
I’m a bioinformaticist that’s working on a PhD in Varjosalo lab. I’m interested in improving the rights and services currently available to graduate students, namely: In planning and improving courses/research support/research exchanges, in improving our rights (particularly as it comes to the recent COVID situation and those that were in a very difficult position, due to weak and ineffective communication from research institutes/doctoral schools/departments), and I’m interested in learning how the University works and makes policy decisions.
Olen Bioinformatiikan maisteri Viikistä, teen väitöiskirjatyötä Varjosalo labissa. Olen kiinnostunut johtoryhmän jäsenyydestä, jotta pääsisin osallistumaan väitöiskirjatutkijoiden opetuksen/tutkimustuen/tutkimusvaihtojen suunnitteluun ja laajentamiseen, väitöskirjatutkijoiden oikeuksien suojeluun (erikoisesti tällä hetkellä mielessä COVID-tilanne ja mahdollisesti vaikeaan asemaan joutuneet opiskelijat/mielestäni puutteellinen ja tulkinnanvarainen tiedottaminen), ja haluan oppia ymmärtämään Yliopiston toimintaa/päätöksentekoa laajemmin.
Safak Er
Doctoral Programme in Integrative Life Science
Molecular Neuroscience
My involvement with BI started in early 2017, and since then it has been a privilege to observe the many positive changes that HiLIFE has brought. Collaboration and growth opportunities for early-career researchers and open-speech about also non-scientific matters were some of the important ones for me. I believe that our mutual contribution is essential to keep us diverse, collaborative and open. Hence, I try my best to be present as a HiLIFE member and project these values. I actively participate in events organized by HiLIFE, eg PhD student networking, and also was active in organization committee of ILS. It is exciting for me to explore the people aspect of the scientific community, as much as my passion for science. I would like to participate in HiLIFE board to represent our successful, diverse and international scientific community, to be the voice of my fellow PhD students and to improve my career in research.
Rishi Banerjee
Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine
Mitochondrial disease
Presently, I am pursuing my PhD with Vineta Fellmans group at Folkhalsan research center. During my masters, at University of Helsinki, I was selected as one of the student tutors for the batch 2017, in faculty of biological and environmental sciences. Moreover, during my bachelors in India, I was the class representative and was selected as the treasurer of the Biotech association at SRM University. Alongside, I was one of the organizer of International Conference on Cardiovascular Translational Research and 13th Annual Conference of International Society for Heart Research (Indian Section), 2016, Chennai, India. In all these years, I have developed my leadership quality and evolved as a team player. I think this position will provide me a huge opportunity to excel my extra-curricular skill, amidst the rich and stimulating environment of HiLIFE. I am also very positive that my interpersonal skill will also help in the development of university network and strengthen it.
Anna Seelbach
Doctoral Programme Brain & Mind
Microglial endoplasmic reticulum in health and disease
I am interested in actively taking part of the HiLIFE community and acting as the voice on behalf of the PhD students. This would not only give me the opportunity to engage and potentially improve the doctoral education at UH, but I would further gain experience in the structure and inside works of a large research institute that HiLIFE is. Being a first-year PhD student, decisions made for HiLIFE, particularly concerning the doctoral education, will certainly affect my time at UH and it is thus an important chance for me to actively influence it. Moreover, as I live in central Helsinki and spent the majority of the year here, I will also be able to attend the meetings. I would be grateful and honored to be a part of the HiLIFE board as a PhD representative.