Food fraud is a growing concern, with low-quality products deliberately mislabelled and fraudulently sold as high-quality products. In Italy, a team of computer scientists, including Professor Remo Pareschi from the University of Molise, has developed a digital platform to provide traceability in food supply chains, helping to combat food fraud and improve food safety.

METROFOOD-IT consists of three components – an open data platform, a blockchain layer and an AI layer – that work together as a single pipeline. The open data platform stores all data generated throughout the food supply chain, from soil moisture measurements and satellite images of crop health on farms, to food nutrient levels and bacterial analyses in processing plants, to certification documents stating exactly where and when an item moved through the production line.

Verifying data with blockchain

A blockchain is a digital ledger stored across many computers in a network. Once data is written into a blockchain, no one can change or erase it. The blockchain layer in METROFOOD-IT ensures that data on the platform is authentic and has not been tampered with.

“In METROFOOD-IT, we use blockchain in a clever way,” says Remo. “We don’t put the full datasets on the blockchain as that would be too expensive and slow. Instead, we register a cryptographic ‘fingerprint’ of each data file that is calculated from the file’s content. If someone altered even a single comma in the original data file, it would produce a completely different fingerprint.”

The blockchain layer means that if someone wants to verify that a lab report or provenance certificate has not been tampered with, they can recompute the data’s cryptographic fingerprint and compare it to the one stored on the blockchain. If they match, the data is authentic. “This is important because food safety depends on trust,” says Remo. “And trust depends on the ability to prove that data hasn’t been altered along the way.”

Analysing data with AI

Once data has been stored in the METROFOOD-IT open data platform, it is verified through the blockchain layer. After this, the AI layer generates useful insights from the data. Some advanced AI models use a ‘black box’ process – they give answers without explaining how or why they have reached those conclusions. “That’s not good enough for food safety regulations, because a certifier or policymaker needs to understand why the model is making a particular decision,” says Remo. So in METROFOOD-IT, the AI layer uses techniques that open the black box to show which parts of the data most influence each prediction. “The outputs of the platform aren’t just numbers,” says Remo. “They’re explained recommendations that producers, certifiers and regulators can trust and rely on.”

Tracing olive oil production

With so many cases of low-quality olive oil being fraudulently sold as extra virgin, olive oil production is a great example of how METROFOOD-IT works. The open data platform stores information from every step of the process, including soil analyses from the olive grove, the date and conditions of the harvest, chemical analyses performed at the oil press, and bottling and packaging records. Each piece of data gets its own cryptographic fingerprint registered on the blockchain, so no one can later alter a certificate or swap in cheaper oil and claim it is the original. The AI layer combines the data to confirm the oil’s provenance and detect potential fraud. “Everyone in the chain benefits,” says Remo. “Producers can prove the authenticity of their product, sellers gain confidence in what they’re distributing, and consumers can scan a QR code on the bottle to check that the oil they’re about to buy is what the label claims it to be.”

Thanks to the work of the computer scientists behind METROFOOD-IT, food supply chains are becoming safer and more trustworthy – and the next generation of computer scientists will help take this work further.

Professor Remo Pareschi
Stake Lab, University of Molise, Italy

Field of research: Computer science

Research project: Developing a digital platform to provide traceability in food supply chains

Institutions: ENEA; National Metrology Institute of Italy; Universities of Bari, Naples Federico II, Parma, Rome Sapienza, Siena and Molise

Funder: Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan supported by the European Union

Website: metrofood.it

Do you have a question for Remo?
Write it in the comments box below and he will get back to you. (Remember, researchers are very busy people, so you may have to wait a few days.)

Discover how Remo has developed a new and more effective AI framework:

futurumcareers.com/building-better-ai-how-are-computer-scientists-improving-ai-systems

V-ATPase is a vital molecular machine that helps control the pH levels within cells and their organelles. Professor Patricia Kane, a molecular biologist at Upstate Medical University in the US, is investigating V-ATPase function, activity and regulation. Her research explores how problems with this molecular pump may contribute to diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and osteoporosis, as well as the ageing process itself.

Much of what Patricia and her team learn from yeast can be applied directly to human cells. Although human V-ATPases can be more complex, the basic structure, function and regulation are the same, providing a blueprint for understanding how the system works in humans.

How can V-ATPase dysfunction lead to disease?

When V-ATPases do not function properly, lysosomes become less acidic, which makes it harder for cells to break down damaged proteins. The accumulation of these faulty proteins is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Lysosomes also naturally become less acidic with age, which may help to explain why these conditions are more common in older people. “To treat these diseases, we need to figure out why V-ATPases become less active and reverse this process,” says Patricia. “This is why we are interested in the reversible disassembly of V-ATPase in ageing cells.”

In other conditions, such as cancer and osteoporosis, problems can be caused by too much V-ATPase activity or pumping taking place in the wrong location. Osteoclasts use V-ATPases to break down bone, and excessive activity can lead to osteoporosis. In cancer cells, V-ATPases can move to the cell surface, acidifying the surrounding environment and helping tumours spread to nearby tissue. “In both cases, we need to block V-ATPase activity only in specific locations, but that’s challenging because all cells rely on these pumps to survive,” explains Patricia. “Any treatment must either be very carefully targeted or focus on features found only in cancer cells or osteoclasts.”

How does ageing affect V-ATPase function?

As organisms age, lysosomes gradually become less acidic, which can cause a buildup of defective proteins. Patricia’s team recently found that V-ATPases in yeast are more often disassembled in older cells, even though all the protein components are still present. This disassembly likely contributes to the reduced acidity of lysosomes with age. “We found that when we introduced a mutation forcing the V-ATPase to stay assembled, yeast cells lived much longer,” says Patricia. “Now, we want to understand why V-ATPases disassemble with age, identify factors that can prevent or delay this, and see if the findings apply to mammalian cells.”

Patricia and her team continue to study V-ATPase regulation, including reversible disassembly. After disassembly, V-ATPases rely on a protein complex called RAVE to reassemble. Mammalian cells have similar complexes, and the team recently discovered that a protein linked to severe genetic epilepsy is a subunit of the mammalian RAVE complex. “While this discovery will not provide a cure for the disease, it suggests a mechanism, which can eventually allow us to develop therapies,” explains Patricia.

Professor Patricia Kane
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Upstate Medical University, USA

Field of research: Molecular biology

Research project: Investigating V-ATPase regulation and how it contributes to disease and ageing

Funders: US National Institutes of Health (NIH); National Institute of General Medical Sciences (award number R35 GM14525); National Institute of Aging

The contents of this work are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

About molecular biology

Molecular biology is the study of the molecules that make up living cells and how these molecules interact to sustain life. It focuses on DNA, proteins and other cellular components, exploring how genes are regulated, how proteins are made and how cells carry out their essential functions. The field overlaps with biochemistry, genetics and cell biology, and it provides a foundation for understanding diseases, developing therapies and advancing biotechnology.

Molecular biology is an exciting field because it allows scientists to explore life at its most fundamental level. “New technologies, such as CRISPR gene editing and advances in microscopy that allow visualisation of individual molecules in cells, are extremely exciting,” says Patricia. “The next generation of scientists will be able to see and manipulate cells and individual molecules in ways that would not even have been imagined 30 years ago.” Computational methods also allow researchers to generate hypotheses that can then be tested experimentally. These advances mean that molecular biology will continue to drive discoveries in both basic science and the development of new therapies.

Working in molecular biology also comes with challenges. “The field moves quickly, and it’s important to stay up to date as much as possible,” says Patricia. “I read scientific literature, go to seminars and conferences, and interact with colleagues to stay informed.” For students, building curiosity and persistence is key. Patricia recommends starting with popular science books, blogs and online resources before moving on to scientific reviews and research papers. The increasing accessibility of open-access scientific literature makes it easier than ever for students to explore molecular biology independently.

A typical day for a molecular biologist combines research, data analysis and teaching. Patricia and her team start by checking in on lab experiments and planning the day’s work. Techniques vary widely – from purifying proteins and constructing DNA molecules to observing cells under microscopes and conducting yeast genetics experiments. “I also spend time analysing data, communicating with other scientists and writing research papers.” This mix of experimentation, problem-solving and mentorship can make molecular biology both dynamic and fulfilling.

Pathway from school to molecular biology

At school, build a strong foundation in biology, chemistry and physics. Mathematics and basic computing skills are also helpful, as modern molecular biology increasingly relies on data analysis.

At college or university, relevant courses include molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, microbiology and biotechnology. “A strong science background is important for this field, though you can enter from multiple directions,” says Patricia. “For example, while many people major in biology or biochemistry, both my undergraduate and graduate degrees are in chemistry, and I have colleagues that have degrees in physics.”

“Big data is also a critical element of modern biology, so learning basic programming and data analysis skills would be helpful,” says Patricia.

Explore careers in molecular biology

If you are interested in molecular biology, organisations such as the American Society for Cell Biology, the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Biochemical Society and the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology offer webinars and useful resources for students and early-career researches.

Textbooks such as Molecular Biology of the Cell by Bruce Alberts and Principles of Biochemistry by Albert Lehninger, David Nelson and Michael Cox are widely used in undergraduate, graduate and medical courses and provide a holistic background in cellular and molecular biology.

Meet Patricia

I grew up on a farm and went to school in a small town, so I didn’t have any exposure to research careers. I did grow up with a great appreciation for the natural world, and that fits well with biological research.

I wasn’t interested in science until I took chemistry and physics with an excellent teacher in my last two years of high school. When I started college, I planned to major in English, but changed my major to chemistry in my second year. Over time, my interests became more biochemical. However, despite my change in major, I still do a lot of writing, and my English skills help with that!

I love the thrill of discovering something new through our research and working with students in my lab. It’s great to see students experience the thrill of discovery.

I continue to be fascinated by the microscopic world – there is so much happening that we can’t see directly and so much more to discover.

I think curiosity and persistence have helped me in my career. I love doing research because I’m very curious about how things work and excited by the possibility of new discoveries (both little and big). However, in scientific research, there are many experiments that don’t go as expected, so persistence, patience and some optimism are also important.

I go for a walk after work most days. This helps me process my day and shift gears. I live in a snowy place, so I like to ski in the winter, and I garden in the summer.

Patricia’s top tip

Don’t be intimidated if molecular biology seems complicated at first. It can seem like learning a new language, but as you get used to it, it will make sense. You don’t have to understand everything immediately.

Do you have a question for Patricia?
Write it in the comments box below and she will get back to you. (Remember, researchers are very busy people, so you may have to wait a few days.)

Learn more about the mechanisms that transport molecules across membranes:

futurumcareers.com/orphan-membrane-transporters-mapping-functions-of-the-unknown

As artificial intelligence (AI) plays an ever-greater role in our lives, computer scientists are constantly improving AI systems. At the University of Molise in Italy, Professor Remo Pareschi has developed a more effective AI framework that allows humans and AI agents to work together to solve complex problems.

To overcome the limitations of traditional AI frameworks, Remo and his colleagues had to ensure that their new TB-CSPN framework was effective, transparent and scalable. “One of the main challenges was designing a system where multiple agents can cooperate effectively without becoming too complex,” he says. “Another challenge was ensuring that the system remained clear and interpretable, so that humans can understand how decisions are made.” The structure Remo’s team has developed – where agent communication occurs through topic spaces and semantic processing is separated from coordination – allows the TB-CSPN framework to achieve this. Without the LLM bottleneck at the centre of the AI system, TB-CSPN speeds up decision-making and enables easier tracking of how decisions have been made. In addition, new agents can be added without disrupting the system.

How could TB-CSPN help solve real-world problems?

“TB-CSPN can be used in many real-world situations where multiple types of information must be combined,” says Remo. “Examples include managing emergency responses (e.g., floods or wildfires) and supporting sustainable agriculture. In each case, different AI agents in the system analyse distinct aspects of the problem and collaborate to support human decision-making.”

In an AI system designed to help with emergency management, separate AI agents would specialise in weather, transport and safety, each communicating through dedicated topic spaces. Humans would hold authority over the structure of the system itself, such as what each agent is permitted to do and under what conditions actions can be taken. This means humans do not have to monitor every step, but they remain in control of the overall process. Information produced by the AI system would then be shared with humans, who would use it to make decisions about the appropriate emergency response.

“In this vision, AI is not meant to replace humans, but to work alongside them as part of a coordinated system,” explains Remo. “Human experts remain involved in key decisions, especially in complex or sensitive situations such as emergency management or environmental planning.” TB-CSPN is a practical way to implement this vision as it provides a structure in which both AI agents and humans can contribute to shared information spaces, with each bringing their own strengths to the process: “AI systems can analyse large amounts of data quickly, while humans can provide judgment, experience and ethical reasoning.”

“More broadly, this research explores how to design AI systems that behave less like isolated tools and more like organised communities, where humans and AI agents cooperate to solve complex problems together,” continues Remo. “Understanding how to build these collaborative systems may be one of the most important challenges for the future of artificial intelligence.”

Professor Remo Pareschi
Stake Lab, University of Molise, Italy

Fields of research: Artificial intelligence (AI); computer science

Research project: Developing a new and more effective AI framework

Funders: This research was developed within the broader context of the METROFOOD-IT project and the Vitality project, both funded through the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

About computer science

Our increasing reliance on computer systems in everyday life provides a wealth of opportunities and challenges for computer scientists. “I look at computing not just as a matter of writing code efficiently, but as a way of shaping how different kinds of agents – people, software, robots, sensor networks, AI models – interact with each other and the infrastructures they inhabit,” says Remo. “The challenge for the next generation of computer scientists will be to figure out how to make these hybrid systems work well together safely and intelligibly.”

Yet it is precisely these challenges that make the work so rewarding. “There is something deeply satisfying about starting from a formal idea and then watching it come to life as part of a working system that real people rely on,” says Remo. “Computer science’s most valuable contributions to society are going to come from designing systems that balance the theoretical side with human context.”

What skills do computer scientists need?

“A computer scientist who has technical depth, conceptual breadth and the ability to connect with people and organisations will be extraordinarily well-equipped for the decades ahead,” says Remo. He divides the skills required by computer scientists into three categories: technical fluency, foundational reasoning and soft skills. “Technical fluency means having solid programming skills, a good grasp of data structures and algorithms, and familiarity with platforms such as the cloud and AI frameworks,” he explains. “Foundational reasoning means being able to logically and analytically design systems and evaluate what AI is producing. Finally, it is important to be able to work well in a team, communicate clearly and understand the human context in which your computer systems will operate.”

Pathway from school to computer science

Develop your coding skills by learning a computer language such as Python or R and exploring software repositories such as GitHub. “There is no better way to understand how real systems work than to explore them,” advises Remo.

While coding is an essential skill for computer scientists, Remo highlights that, as AI increasingly takes on the routine task of writing code, computer scientists will need a broader intellectual foundation. “Study mathematics and philosophy, which will teach you to reason about abstract structures and spot hidden assumptions,” he says. “Logic is where mathematics and philosophy meet, and it underlies how computers reason. Study cognitive science because understanding how people think is crucial for designing systems that work with people. And don’t underestimate the value of being able to communicate clearly.”

At university, study a degree in computer science, information technology or computer engineering.

Explore careers in computer science

In today’s digital world, career opportunities for computer scientists are endless.

“To be a computer scientist today is to have the opportunity to be at the centre of things as they are now and as they are still to come,” enthuses Remo. “We are moving into a world where the digital, physical and social increasingly overlap. And through artificial intelligence, we are watching something genuinely unprecedented take shape.”

Prospects provides information about what you can do with a degree in computer science: prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/computer-science/

Meet Remo

When I was young, I was curious about everything. I had a set of encyclopaedias – a row of heavy volumes on a shelf – that I would pull down, flip open and lose myself in for an hour. I read them constantly, wandering from one topic to the next. It was nothing like what is available today, with Wikipedia and AI assistants to answer almost any question you can think of.

I attended a ‘classical’ Italian high school where I spent years studying Latin, Ancient Greek, literature and philosophy, before going to university to study computer science at a time when the digital world was beginning to take shape. My background in classical studies shows there is no incompatibility between the humanities and sciences – the two worlds speak to each other far more than people tend to assume.

I spent several years leading research and innovation teams at the European Computer-Industry Research Centre and Xerox, where I guided technology projects from early-stage ideas through to real products and services. My industry experience was a real asset when I became an academic computer scientist – understanding how a business works and how technology is brought to market gives me a different perspective from my colleagues. And this perspective has allowed me to create spin-off companies from the results of my research.

I enjoy reading in my free time, from Wikipedia articles about the evolution of life to science fiction to classic British humour. Reading widely across genres teaches you to move between different registers of thought, which is extremely useful when you work, as I do, at the intersection of formal ideas and real-world systems. I also think that anyone thinking about artificial intelligence should spend time wondering how the natural kind ever came about in the first place.

Remo’s top tip

Don’t hesitate to take side paths. I’ve done it many times – from classical studies to computer science, from academia to industry and back again, and from research into spin-off companies. Side paths are where original ideas, unexpected connections and the most interesting work tend to appear. A perfectly straight career is rarely the most creative one.

Do you have a question for Remo?
Write it in the comments box below and he will get back to you. (Remember, researchers are very busy people, so you may have to wait a few days.)

Discover how infrastructure systems engineers are also developing AI for disaster responses:

futurumcareers.com/building-community-resilience-for-disaster-response

In the current uncertain economic climate, many young people are struggling to find employment. Baz Ramaiah, Director of Policy and Research at Youth Employment UK, tells us about the challenges young people are facing and the support the organisation is providing to ensure all young people can access and thrive in the world of work.

Download this resource

Youth Employment UK helps young people find employment and training opportunities and runs the annual Youth Voice Census to capture young people’s opinions about education and employment.

In 2025, over 9000 young people aged 11 to 30 responded to the Youth Voice Census. They came from diverse backgrounds from across the UK and represented people in school, college, university, apprenticeships, employment and those not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Every year, we update the questions slightly to reflect changes in society and government policy. For example, in the 2026 census we have included more questions about young people’s experiences of technology and AI and their concerns about the cost of living. We use the huge volume of data we generate from the census to amplify young people’s voices in policy conversations.

Why is work experience so important for young people?

In the 2025 census, over 50% of young people reported that their main barrier to getting into work was a lack of work experience. And the employers we work with also highlight that a candidate’s lack of experience is their main barrier to hiring young people.

Our research has shown that work experience opportunities are crucial for getting young people into employment, as well as allowing them to gain an understanding of what the world of work looks like and helping them figure out what they want to do.

However, access to work experience is shrinking. Last year, only 26% of surveyed young people in education took part in work experience. As employers feel the financial pinch, they find it harder to create capacity to take on young people for work experience. To try and address this, we support employers to make the most out of resources that will help them create work experience opportunities for young people.

Access to careers advice is also decreasing, with only 30% of secondary students receiving careers lessons and only 23% meeting employers through school. Careers education, work experience and employer engagement are the bridges into work, but each is in decline. Students who are Black, receive free school meals or have additional needs, along with NEET young people, are consistently the least supported, leaving the young people who most need opportunity with the least access to it.

What challenges do young people face when looking for employment?

Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to experience physical and mental health issues and are less likely to have high-quality services in their local area to provide health support, financial support or access to work.

These issues can compound in any given individual, especially in the uncertain economic climate of today. NEET young people often sit at the intersection of complex individual factors, where family circumstances, physical and mental health issues, educational experiences, and availability of opportunities and support in their local area all create challenges to accessing work and training.

When young people are not in education, employment or training, this is usually not for a lack of trying. Many NEET people reported engaging in dozens of different routes towards finding a job in the previous 12 months, but without success.

In addition to the difficult job market, mental health adds another challenge, with 30% of NEET people reporting that anxiety is one of their biggest barriers to applying for and securing a job. For young people who experience anxiety, the process of applying for a job can make them feel more anxious. And this anxiety can increase if they apply for a job and never hear back from the company.

The current economic climate means that the number of job vacancies is down 15% compared to the same time last year, and the number of redundancies is up 10%. This means the total number of job opportunities is shrinking while the number of people looking for work is growing, leading to a more competitive job market. This also means young people with less experience are having to compete with more experienced workers who are looking for new roles.

There is a lot of economic precarity for young people at the moment, which increases their stress and anxiety about being out of work. Almost every year in the census data, one in five young people report that making ends meet is a significant concern for them. And this adds to the pressure of finding work in a competitive market.

This is why interventions and programmes such as the government’s national Youth Guarantee are really important for increasing opportunities for young people and reducing competition with more experienced people in the job market, thereby making work more accessible for young people.

How has Youth Employment UK contributed to the Youth Guarantee?

We work closely with a lot of people in government, and the government has recognised that there has been a failure to incentivise employers to offer more employment and training opportunities to young people. Thanks to our work and the evidence we have provided through our research, the government has now adopted the national Youth Guarantee which provides funding to employers to create work experience opportunities for young people as well as youth hubs for young people to access local support and youth job programmes.

Now, our concern is to make sure the Youth Guarantee is delivered effectively in a way that builds on the evidence of impact that we have provided from our surveys and research. We will monitor the programmes over the coming years to ensure they are iteratively improved and are successful at achieving their aims.

What other policies is Youth Employment UK supporting?

We made various policy recommendations after the 2024 census, and we’re delighted to see that many of them have been taken up by local and national governments and employers! In addition to rolling out the Youth Guarantee, we want to ensure there is a sustainable funding mechanism behind it to support the employers who are providing opportunities for young people. Underneath and supporting that, we want to ensure there is a strong social safety net for young people, in terms of access to public transport, housing and mental health support, which could help to eliminate a lot of the barriers that many people face to accessing education, employment and training opportunities.

What else does Youth Employment UK do?

Our aim is to champion young people by sharing their voices. Young people want to work; they just need opportunities to do so. So, we are supporting campaigns to highlight the benefits young people can bring to employers.

We have so much on our website! We’ve been working with young people and employers for years and have built up a huge range of resources, all of which are free to access. Our ‘opportunity finder’ is a one-stop-shop where young people can search for training and employment opportunities in their local area. We provide free skills training courses, along with careers guides, advice about writing CVs and tips about how to manage mental health with directions for where to look for professional support. We also provide careers advice for parents and carers as well as careers lesson plans for teachers.

We have so much to share with young people to support them through education and training and into employment.

youthemployment.org.uk

 facebook.com/YouthEmploymentUK

 linkedin.com/company/youth-employment-uk/

x.com/yeuk2012

Instagram/youthemploymentuk

Do you have a question for Baz?

Find careers advice from the University of London Careers Service:
www.futurumcareers.com/find-where-you-thrive

Many of us spend more time on our phones than we would like. The compulsion to check social media, watch a new reel, or keep on scrolling is hard to resist, and there is growing evidence that this is having negative effects on our health. Young people, whose brains are still developing, are potentially especially at risk. At the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières in Canada, Dr Roseane de Fátima Guimarães is examining the relationships between young people and their phones, and how we can make them healthier.

In the meantime, Roseane has some advice for young people who are worried about their smartphone use. “Try setting limits on social media use and prioritising real-world activities like physical exercise, outdoor walks and meeting friends in person,” she says. “Build your self-regulation skills, develop healthy routines and nurture supportive family or peer environments.”

Dr Roseane de Fátima Guimarães, PhD
Research Chair on Youth Lifestyle Habits and Health, Department of Physical Activity Sciences, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada

Field of research: Health and physical education

Research project: Exploring determinants and factors associated with problematic smartphone use among youth

Funders: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC); Research Network on Cardiometabolic Health, Diabetes and Obesity; Ministère de l’Éducation du Loisir et du Sport in Québec; Fondation de l’Université du Québec

About health and physical education

Health and physical education is a broad field, focusing on educating different groups of people – from the general public through to policymakers – about how to look after their health and physical fitness.

Interdisciplinarity is critical and is becoming ever-more ingrained in the field. “Combining exercise science, nutrition and psychology, for example, creates opportunities to develop innovative programmes and interventions that can have a real impact on communities,” says Roseane.

The world is always changing, both in terms of technology and societal priorities. “Wearable devices and AI tools allow us to collect and analyse data in ways and scales that were never before possible,” says Roseane. “There is also growing emphasis on mental health and social determinants of health, which opens up new avenues for research.” New tools and knowledge are creating a rich arena for future research opportunities in the field.

Educating others is what motivates Roseane and her research. “The moment of knowledge transfer, when our findings change into something meaningful for people, is incredibly fulfilling,” she says. “On a more personal level, seeing a student graduate is also deeply rewarding, because it shows the impact of mentorship and education alongside research.”

Pathway from school to health and physical education research

Roseane recommends building a strong foundation in biology, chemistry and physical education at school.

At college, courses such as exercise science, anatomy, physiology, psychology, nutrition and research techniques can all build appropriate knowledge.

Roseane highlights gaining a university degree in physical education, kinesiology or health sciences as a useful pathway. Other subjects such as motor learning, public health and epidemiology can provide valuable expertise in the field too.

Explore careers in health and physical education research

Roseane recommends seeking practical experience via internships, volunteer programmes or community health projects.

Connecting with professional organisations can provide rich resources, networks and opportunities. For instance, PHE Canada provides a huge range of physical and health education learning activities.

ParticipACTION is a Canadian charity that promotes physical activity. Its website provides a wide range of resources to help you understand the underlying science and connect with professionals.

Meet Roseane

As a child, I enjoyed playing piano and bass. I also loved swimming and spending time outdoors. My secondary school biology teacher, who was also passionate about sports, greatly influenced me through nurturing my interest in human physiology and how the body works. That inspired me to pursue a career in physical education.

I worked as a physical education teacher in schools in Brazil. This experience shaped my career; I saw first-hand how many children, especially adolescents, were not active enough. This inspired me to pursue a master’s degree on how physical activity and sedentary behaviour impact children’s and teenagers’ cardiometabolic health.

My master’s research revealed a need for intervention. Adolescents consistently had the poorest profiles across many age groups. This became the foundation of my PhD project: a school-based programme designed to improve health indicators and promote healthier lifestyles among adolescents.

To pursue my postdoctoral training, I moved to Canada. In the final year of my postdoc, I secured a professor position – a proud career moment. I am also proud of building a strong research team and obtaining funding so we can conduct high-quality research.

I aim to provide high-quality training for my students to prepare them for their careers. I want to continue building strong, applicable research and develop recommendations to promote healthy lifestyles in children and youth. I want to help people improve their well-being and overall balance in daily life.

I try to maintain an active lifestyle myself. It keeps me fit and helps me disconnect and recharge. I also value spending time with family, which helps me maintain balance.

Roseane’s top tips

1. Stay curious and step out of your comfort zone.

2. Seek opportunities for exchange experiences – they are incredibly enriching.

3. Networking, collaborating and meeting new people can open new perspectives and help shape your career.

Meet Robin

Robin Chaverot,
PhD student, Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Health and Society,
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

During high school, I studied marketing. I discovered strategies to influence the brain, with the objective of encouraging users to consume – known as neuromarketing. These days, I am studying closely related fields.

I entered university in the field of sport sciences. I quickly developed a passion for physical education and health. After a few years working in education and knowledge sharing about good sporting practices and healthy lifestyle habits, I decided to pursue research.

I have always been interested in the mechanisms behind the addictive power of technologies. Research into the effects of television on neurological and psychological indicators of health fascinates me. As digital tools have become ever-more prevalent, my interest in their relationship with our health and how they are regulated has only grown.

It’s important to be passionate about one’s research. Research is a long-term commitment; it requires close collaboration, organisation, leadership and motivation. Key to success is continuing to learn. A doctoral student must master research methodology, statistics, scientific writing and dissemination of knowledge, among many other skills.

Undertaking my PhD allowed me to migrate to Canada. Here, I discovered a new university, a new research laboratory and a very different way of working. This doctoral programme has allowed me to collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds – a hugely formative experience, both professionally and personally. Meeting new people at conferences and various scientific events is highly enriching for an academic career.

After my PhD, I want to become a teacher-researcher in academia. My goal is to continue to conduct research projects while teaching students. Above all, I hope to keep contributing to the expansion of scientific knowledge on screen use, and to help build recommendations for public health authorities.

Robin’s top tips

1. Trust yourself.

2. Do not give up when you encounter obstacles.

Do you have a question for Roseane and Robin?
Write it in the comments box below and they will get back to you. (Remember, researchers are very busy people, so you may have to wait a few days.)

Learn more about research into teenage lifestyles:

futurumcareers.com/staying-on-track-how-do-teenage-athletes-choose-what-to-eat

Scientific data are rarely clean and clear. Often, they are blurred or distorted by ‘noise’ – random disturbances that get mixed in with real data and make them difficult to interpret. Thankfully, statisticians like Dr Catia Scricciolo from the University of Verona in Italy are developing methods to counteract the problem, drawing on mathematical optimisation and probability to remove this noise and reveal the signals it was hiding.

When scientists record data – whether astronomers are measuring stars, medical personnel are taking MRI scans, or physicists are measuring subatomic particles – their results are rarely squeaky clean. This makes it difficult to see the true signal through the blur. “In science, ‘blur’ comes from equipment limitations, physical effects or interference, as well as random noise,” says Catia. “To counter this, scientists use deconvolution – a process that mathematically recovers the original clear signal from the blurred measurement.”

When astronomers look up at the night sky using telescopes here on Earth, the atmosphere bends light randomly, which is why stars appear to twinkle. When biologists look at cells under the microscope, all the parts of the three-dimensional cell that are not in the targeted two-dimensional plane show up as out-of-focus haze. “We can use deconvolution to turn blurry, hard-to-interpret data like these into sharper, more useful information,” says Catia. “Mathematically speaking, this involves estimating the original signal by undoing the effects of an unknown or partially known blurring process.”

Noise: the enemy of deconvolution

But deconvolution becomes trickier when the blurring is caused by random, unpredictable effects. “This type of unwanted, random disturbance is called noise,” explains Catia. “Noise makes deconvolution much harder, and sometimes impossible.” The more noise there is, the harder it is to decide what is signal and what is just random, limiting what can be recovered. Ideally, noise is minimised when the measurements are taken, but this is not always possible. “Because noise is random, you can never be completely sure which parts of your observation are the original signal and which are just noise,” says Catia. “So, deconvolution can give you an estimate of the truth, but not the exact truth.”

Thankfully, statisticians have some nifty tricks up their sleeves to help with deconvolution for noisy data. “The Wasserstein metric defines a distance between probability distributions,” says Catia. “In plainer language, it’s a way to focus on the overall shape of a distribution of data, rather than getting caught up in the ‘bumps’ caused by noise.” Catia studies Wasserstein deconvolution through a mix of mathematics and probability. “I use mathematical optimisation to find the original distribution that best explains the noisy data,” she says. “The Wasserstein metric then acts as a score that measures how far my guess is from the truth.” Catia also adds in a regularisation term that forces a recovered distribution to smooth out any wiggles that are likely to be due to noise rather than actual quirks in the data. “All together, these methods turn messy, noisy data into a clean estimate of the original distribution,” she says.

Helping out scientists

Catia’s research is improving the reliability of Wasserstein deconvolution methods, which other scientists can then use to clean up their own datasets. “Scientists in other fields can apply my deconvolution method without needing to be experts in the mathematics behind it,” she says. “For example, doctors can use it to sharpen MRI scans, helping them see tumours more clearly.” Going back to astronomers, they can use Catia’s method to clean up blurry images of distant galaxies, uncovering details that were previously hidden by the noise of the atmosphere. Space telescopes can also benefit – when the Hubble Telescope was first launched, there was an error in its mirror array which introduced blur into the data it recorded. Using deconvolution, astronomers recovered stunning images of space from the blurry data.

Catia hopes that her research can help accelerate scientific discovery by taking the burden off scientists to develop their own data cleaning methods. “Instead of struggling to invent their own mathematical solutions, they can use the Wasserstein deconvolution techniques I helped develop,” she says. “In short, my work removes a barrier so other scientists can focus on their own research – whether that is curing a disease, discovering a new planet or understanding human behaviour.”

Dr Catia Scricciolo
Associate Professor, Department of Economics, University of Verona, Italy

Field of research: Statistics

Research paper: Adaptive minimax-optimal Wasserstein deconvolution with unknown error distributions. Scricciolo, C., (2026) doi: 110.1016/j.spl.2025.110589

Do you have a question for Catia?
Write it in the comments box below and she will get back to you. (Remember, researchers are very busy people, so you may have to wait a few days.)

While Catia is developing methods to remove noise from data, some computer scientists are adding noise to data to improve online privacy:

futurumcareers.com/make-some-noise-the-mathematical-theories-behind-data-privacy

A good diet is essential to our well-being, and the importance of a healthy diet only increases as we get older. While healthy diets help to keep us free from disease, diets lacking key nutrients can contribute to conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. That is why Dr Jeannette Beasley from New York University in the US is researching how we can improve our diets to keep diseases at bay, especially as we approach old age.

Jeannette’s research, including BRIDGE, is founded on a strong evidence base. Dietitians and nutrition epidemiologists, like Jeannette, use a range of tools and analytical skills to help them study how diet influences health across populations. “We use a range of questionnaires that ask participants which types of food they typically consume, or what they consumed in a set time period, such as the last 24 hours,” explains Jeannette. “We also use objective biomarkers, such as measuring nitrogen concentration in urine samples, to improve measurement accuracy.” Advanced statistical techniques and different types of trials help generate a range of high-quality comparable data.

Digital technologies are making data collection and processing easier than ever. “Electronic health records allow us to study real-world patient outcomes across large populations,” says Jeannette. “They provide data on diagnoses, laboratory values and long-term health outcomes.” It is important to include demographically diverse populations in these studies because disease risks can vary hugely across different cultures and socioeconomic contexts. “Inclusive research ensures recommendations are equitable,” says Jeannette.

Jeannette’s latest projects are embracing these technologies and ensuring inclusivity. “I am collaborating on projects that are exploring digital and AI-supported interventions, while continuing to improve our understanding of the role of dietary patterns in cardiovascular, metabolic and cognitive health,” she says. “My long-term goal is to improve diet quality among older adults while increasing equity and inclusion in nutrition research.”

Professor Jeannette Beasley
Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, Department of Medicine, New York University, USA

Fields of research: Dietetics; nutrition epidemiology

Research project: Exploring the links between diet and disease

Funders: New York University; US National Institutes of Health; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; American Diabetes Association; Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences; American Heart Association

About dietetics and nutrition epidemiology

Dietetics is the study of diet and its effect on health and nutrition. “Dietetics combines biology, behaviour, medicine and public health,” says Jeannette. “It offers opportunities to conduct research, work clinically, influence policy and educate communities.”

Nutrition epidemiology focuses on how diet affects health across populations. Researchers analyse dietary patterns, health data and biomarkers to understand how food influences diseases like diabetes and heart disease, and to identify ways to prevent them.

A day in the life of a dietitian or nutrition epidemiologist is typically very varied. “My days include mentoring students and junior faculty, teaching, analysing data, reading and contributing to papers, writing grants, and collaborating with clinicians and community partners,” says Jeannette. “No two days are the same, which makes the field dynamic and rewarding.”

Everyone eats, so dietetics affects us all. “Nutrition affects nearly every chronic disease, so the potential for impact is enormous,” says Jeannette. Dietetics also engages with the socioeconomic side of nutrition, acknowledging the health disparities that arise due to differences in ability to access nutritious food. For instance, around 19 million people in the US live in ‘food deserts’ (areas far away from the nearest supermarket) meaning they may rely on processed foods found in smaller stores or fast-food outlets close by. Addressing these challenges involves a lot of advocacy and communication work.

The importance of effective communication is also exemplified in countering myths about nutrition. Public opinion on which foods are healthy or not is changing all the time, and is not always based on evidence. “Combatting misinformation and finding ways to make accurate measurements to better understand the science are big challenges in our line of work,” says Jeannette. “To meet these challenges, it’s important to have strong communication and critical thinking skills.”

Pathway from school to dietetics and nutrition epidemiology

At school, subjects such as biology, chemistry, mathematics (especially statistics) and psychology are useful for understanding the core material around dietetics and nutrition.

At university or college, the same subjects can lead to a career in dietetics – as can fields such as food science, clinical nutrition, public health or human physiology. A dietetic internship and registration exam are also necessary milestones for becoming a registered dietitian in the US.

Jeannette also recommends getting research or volunteer experience in healthcare or in community settings to understand more about dietetics as a career path and what it looks like in practice.

Explore careers in dietetics and nutrition epidemiology

Jeannette recommends exploring professional organisations such as the American Heart Association, where she serves on the nutrition committee.

Careers in dietetics may fall under job titles such as clinical dietitian, public health nutritionist, research scientist, professor, policy advisor or digital health innovator. You can find out more about the path to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist here.

As Jeannette mentions, dietetics careers (and salaries) are very varied. Dietitians can work in hospitals, private practice, health departments or academic research, like Jeannette.

Meet Jeannette

When I was five, I chose to become a vegetarian for ethical reasons. In high school, my biology teacher questioned whether I would get enough protein to grow. This sparked my interest in nutrition science and eventually shaped my career.

I love discovering new insights about diet. I enjoy uncovering how diet influences long-term health, which unlocks the possibility of preventing chronic disease and helping people age with strength and independence. I also love mentoring the next generation of researchers and seeing them grow into professionals.

Curiosity and persistence are essential ‘soft skills’ in dietetics. Additionally, strong quantitative analysis skills are very handy, as is a focus on establishing and nurturing strong mentor relationships.

I have run five marathons across the United States, Italy and Ireland! Staying active is important to me: I love running, yoga and keeping up with my son, which keeps me balanced and energised. Seeing his curiosity and hearing his constant questions about science and health reminds me why science communication and mentorship matter.

Jeannette’s top tips

Ask questions, embrace statistics, stay active and do not let doubt discourage you. Curiosity can turn into a lifelong career.

Do you have a question for Jeannette?
Write it in the comments box below and she will get back to you. (Remember, researchers are very busy people, so you may have to wait a few days.)

Learn more about how dietetics can help teenage athletes perform better:

futurumcareers.com/staying-on-track-how-do-teenage-athletes-choose-what-to-eat

P’urhepecha is an Indigenous language of Mexico that is also spoken by diaspora communities in the USA. At Leiden University in the Netherlands, Dr Kate Bellamy is investigating how P’urhepecha varies between these communities, and how multilingual environments influence the way the language is used.

I studied modern and medieval languages at university, focusing mostly on French and Italian from about 1200 CE to the present. After graduating, I worked in sales for a large brewery but didn’t enjoy it. So, I found a job that made use of my language skills by researching education systems and qualifications throughout Europe and beyond to establish standards of comparison between them. Nonetheless, I felt like I was wasting one of my main talents – my multilingualism. I moved to Luxembourg to work as a project coordinator at a university, which made me realise I wanted to study more. And so I ended up at Leiden University in the Netherlands, where I gained a Master’s degree and PhD in linguistics, and now work as a linguistics researcher.

I love learning new languages because I love being able to interact with people who speak different languages. It opens my eyes to their culture in a different way. I am fluent in English (my mother tongue), Dutch, French, Italian and Spanish, I can have conversations in German, I can get by in P’urhepecha, and I can do basic things like ordering food in Russian and Georgian. Last year, I also started learning Limburgian, the local language of the region where I live in the Netherlands.

One of my favourite memories from my linguistics research was when I organised a trip to the Newberry Library in Chicago for P’urhepecha speakers living in the area. The library holds P’urhepecha books written in the 16th and 17th centuries, and it was very moving to see members of the P’urhepecha community come face-to-face with these books for the first time – to be able to turn the pages and read the words aloud.

Kate’s top tips

1. Study what you enjoy – don’t study something just because you think it will get you a job.

2. Be prepared to get out of your comfort zone – the results can be very rewarding.

3. Don’t let failure or rejection get you down – know it will just make you stronger. Remember that persistence and hard work pay off!

Do you have a question for Kate?
Write it in the comments box below and she will get back to you. (Remember, researchers are very busy people, so you may have to wait a few days.)

Learn how your language abilities can shape you:

futurumcareers.com/can-embracing-plurilingualism-transform-education

In Kenya, men who have sex with men (MSM) face higher risks of HIV, yet their voices are often missing from the science that shapes health decisions. A team of academic and community researchers, including Professor Sharmistha Mishra, Jeffrey Walimbwa, Nancy Tahmo and Dr Lisa Lazarus, is co-developing mathematical models of HIV with MSM organisations. By combining lived experiences with mathematical models and epidemiology, this community-led project aims to create more accurate models, improve HIV prevention and empower communities.

Over the past two years, the team has run a series of workshops with community members, starting by teaching the basics of data systems, modelling concepts and terminology. These workshops gradually built up to a stage where the community members co-designed their own mathematical model alongside the academic researchers. “This was a great success – it took a lot of knowledge sharing and training together to get to this point,” says Sharmistha. “The fact that community members co-designed the architecture of the mathematical model means it is based on their real lived experiences instead of just assumptions from the academic literature.”

Another key achievement has been training community members to lead the analysis of data collected by local MSM organisations. “These data become the inputs for our co-developed mathematical models to better understand the persistence of HIV epidemics,” explains Sharmistha.

An important component of the project involved critically reviewing over 9,000 published infectious disease models to examine how often community participation is included. Several community members were involved in the review process. “Preliminary results confirm our hypothesis that community involvement in mathematical modelling of infectious diseases is still quite rare,” says Nancy. “These insights reinforce the importance of our work – by co-developing a model with community partners, we are contributing to the evidence that participatory modelling can uniquely foster representation and the relevance of research.”

Lastly, during the model co-development process, the team recognised that meaningful community participation requires a shared understanding of modelling fundamentals. To support this, they developed a digital learning module that explains key modelling concepts and provides examples relevant to the local context. One of the community researchers helped refine the module before it was shared with the group, ensuring it was practical and accessible. These steps have strengthened both the skills and confidence of community researchers, enabling them to contribute to the models, interpret data effectively, and apply findings to HIV prevention and care in their communities.

“When community voices drive modelling, results are richer and more impactful for advocacy and designing interventions,” says Jeffrey. “This participatory modelling process proves that community expertise is essential, and it challenges traditional assumptions about who can contribute to scientific understanding.”

Research project: Co-developing mathematical models of HIV epidemics with affected communities

Fields of research: Mathematical modelling; epidemiology; social sciences

Funder: New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) – Exploration grant number NFRFE-2023-00436

About the intersection of infectious disease epidemiology and social sciences

Epidemiology is the study of how infections spread through populations and how they can be prevented or controlled. “Epidemiologists try to understand patterns of infection, which could be at a community or whole population level,” says Sharmistha. “By understanding how an infectious disease might spread, epidemiologists try to understand how we can support communities and populations to prevent the spread and become healthier.”

When combined with insights from social sciences, epidemiology gains a deeper understanding of human behaviour, community dynamics and the structural factors that shape health outcomes. “Critical social scientists are interested in better understanding issues of power, relationships, and social and political contexts,” says Lisa. “The ethnographic methods that we have added to our project aim to track ethical issues in attempts to make visible what is often hidden in projects.” This interdisciplinary approach ensures that models and public health interventions are grounded not only in biological and statistical data but also in lived experiences and community knowledge.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this work is seeing how diverse perspectives come together to tackle complex health challenges. Community members bring insights that can reshape scientific thinking, prompting new questions, simulations or analyses that would not have arisen otherwise. “Communities know their needs better than researchers can ever imagine, and they are eager and motivated to see the research contribute to something positive,” says Nancy. For researchers, these interactions, which are often informal conversations, highlight the importance of integrating community knowledge with epidemiological methods, ensuring that models and interventions are both scientifically robust and truly responsive to the communities they serve. Witnessing community members gain skills and ownership in the research process is also deeply rewarding, as it demonstrates how participatory approaches can democratise science and amplify the voices of those most affected by health decisions.

Pathway from school to epidemiology and social sciences

Epidemiology, mathematical modelling and the social sciences are very broad and interdisciplinary, so almost any educational path could lead you to a career in these fields!

In high school, focus on mathematics, biology, computing, social studies and humanities.

At university, it would be useful to take courses in epidemiology, public health, social sciences, sociology, anthropology or health policy.

“Epidemiologists and social scientists need critical thinking skills to question what they observe and critically analyse data, as well as communication skills to explain results,” says Sharmistha. “Epidemiologists also need to be able to think logically and creatively to solve problems – board games and escape rooms are great for developing these skills!”

“Social scientists often work with social theories (which involves a lot of reading) and analyse qualitative data,” says Lisa. “Writing skills are also incredibly important.”

Explore careers in epidemiology and social sciences

“Epidemiologists critically examine data and try to explain what is going on – skills which can be applied in a wide range of areas from public health to wildlife ecology to genetics to virology,” explains Sharmistha. “Social epidemiologists use epidemiology principles and tools to understand and address inequalities, not just in health but in any sector of society.”

“Social sciences is not a single field, so there are endless career possibilities, depending on your interests,” says Lisa.

“If you’re interested in epidemiology or modelling, remember that numbers only make sense in context,” says Nancy. “Take every opportunity to connect with communities, because understanding the realities behind the data will make you a far stronger scientist.”

“Volunteer with community-based organisations to build relationships and learn about community needs,” advises Lisa. “Come in ready to listen to what people are telling you about their own needs, and partner in ways that support community-identified approaches.”

Many international organisations provide learning resources, training opportunities and insights into careers in epidemiology and social sciences, such as the World Health Organization (who.int) and UNAIDS (unaids.org).

Meet Sharmistha

Professor and Infectious Diseases Doctor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada

As a child, my family moved from India to Canada. We moved in December and my first memory is of huge mounds of snow and sliding down snowy hills in the park! I remember missing my extended family back home a lot, but over time, I found a community of new friends. Initially, I was the ‘odd kid out’ at my new school in Canada as there were only two other non-white students. Over the years, more children from different backgrounds gradually arrived which made a difference as we gravitated toward each other.

As a teenager, I think medicine appealed to me because it was what many of my friends were interested in. It wasn’t until my third year of medical school, when I first got a chance to practice it, that I realised I loved medicine. I had no plans to do research until the very end of my clinical training, when I attended a talk about the collaborative response to the HIV epidemic in India. This inspired my interest in epidemiology.

As an infectious diseases doctor, I spend my days seeing patients, listening to their stories, and trying to diagnose and treat their conditions. As a mathematical modeller and epidemiologist, a typical day involves problem-solving by drawing diagrams of mechanisms and writing or debugging code to run epidemiology models.

Co-developing mathematical models with affected communities is very rewarding. I like it when something unexpected arrives from community expertise to re-shape our thinking.

I worked with the World Health Organization during the 2014 Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone. I used my clinical expertise as an infectious disease doctor to care for sick patients, and I used my epidemiology expertise to support outbreak investigation and management. I collaborated with colleagues in Sierra Leone to study the impacts of the Ebola outbreak on other health conditions and services.

Sharmistha’s top tips

1. I think 15-year-old you could be very surprised by what 25-year-old or 35-year-old you ends up doing with your life and work!

2. Looking back, the most fulfilling work experiences were the ones that I was most scared of trying.

Meet Jeffrey

Program Manager, Ishtar MSM, Kenya; Research Lead, Community Research and Technical Support Hub

When I was a teenager, I dreamt of becoming a chef. Cooking was my creative outlet, and it taught me patience and attention to detail. I also enjoyed dancing, which was another way for me to express myself and connect with others, and reading, which opened my mind to new ideas and different worlds.

My first experience with research came during a fellowship at the Human Rights Advocacy Program at Columbia University, USA. At the time, I didn’t see myself as a ‘researcher’. I was an advocate, deeply committed to the rights and dignity of gay men. That fellowship opened my eyes to how research could be a powerful form of advocacy when grounded in the voices and experiences of the communities it aims to serve.

For me, research is never just about the data – it’s about the people behind the data. I’ve participated as a researcher in numerous studies, always grounded in the belief that data must lead to action.

I believe that communities are the experts in their own lives. For too long, research on gay men has been done to communities, not with them. To challenge this, I co-founded Action for Access, an international community-led study into gay men’s health and rights, to show that research can be a tool for empowerment when it is community led.

In my role at Ishtar MSM, I am involved in coordinating our programmes, advocating for community needs, engaging with policymakers, ensuring our interventions are impactful, and translating research into actionable tools that inform policy and practice. I have also established a Community Research and Technical Support Hub to strengthen community-led research projects.

I am passionate about community-based participatory research because it centres the voices and expertise of those affected by the issues being studied. It is empowering to see how co-developing mathematical models of HIV fosters a sense of ownership among MSM as they take an active role in shaping the models.

Jeffrey’s top tips

1. Stay consistent and focused.

2. It is not an easy road if you are gay in Kenya, where you can be at risk of violence. So stay strong.

Meet Nancy

PhD student, Division of Epidemiology, University of Toronto, Canada

I have always wanted to bring hope to people, because I believe keeping hope alive helps people stay motivated and thrive. This led me toward community health, as I understood first-hand the vicious cycle of poor health and well-being.

I wanted to be a doctor, so I studied science subjects at school and took the medical entrance examination in Cameroon. But I failed. I studied biochemistry at university instead, where I found my true calling in infectious disease prevention and control. In hindsight, my interests have matured in a beautiful way because of that failure.

My inspiration to become an epidemiologist came from Dr Judith Shang at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Cameroon. She was the first person to talk to me about public health. Until that day, I only knew about healthcare, but through her, I learned about the critical role of public health in supporting population-wide disease prevention and control efforts.

In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, I moved by myself to Omaha, Nebraska – a place that felt worlds apart from Cameroon. The culture, weather and pace of life were all very different. My biggest challenge was navigating imposter syndrome as a young Black African woman in a predominantly White Midwest environment. At the same time, the move was transformative, helping me learn more about myself and truly become independent.

During my work with zoonotic diseases (that spread from animals to humans) in Sub-Saharan Africa, I collaborated with research teams in Cameroon and the US to understand the burden of infectious diseases such as Ebola. We worked with tribal chiefs, communities and health district leaders to learn from their lived experiences, and we combined our findings from research and community conversations to inform surveillance and response efforts.

Nancy’s top tips

1. Remember to enjoy the growth process. My journey hasn’t always gone as planned, as things have evolved in unexpected ways. So it is important to have a plan but to also stay open to the magic of the moment.

2. Surround yourself with good people who understand your vision and will support you along the way.

Meet Lisa

Assistant Professor, Institute for Global Public Health, College of Community and Global Health, University of Manitoba, Canada

As a teenager, I really enjoyed music and went to a lot of concerts. One of my first jobs was at a music store selling CDs, well before streaming became the main way that we listen to music.

I started my professional career as a social worker at a hospital-based clinic in Montreal, working with people living with HIV. While I loved my job, I became interested in the recurring systemic issues within the healthcare system. This led me to pursue a master’s degree in public health, where I met Dr Robert Lorway and learnt about community-based research methodologies. Community-based research allows me to address systemic health issues while collaborating with community members who have lived experiences of interacting with healthcare systems. Rob and I still work together, and he is also a member of this participatory modelling project.

I credit Ashodaya Samithi with my on-the-ground education in community-led practices. Ashodaya Samithi is a sex worker-led organisation in India which was established in response to the HIV epidemic. Community leaders run the organisation, which provides medical care, prioritises community voices in health interventions, and advocates for the needs and rights of sex workers. I began collaborating with Ashodaya Samithi in 2009 and, for my doctoral research, I studied how the organisation’s community-led delivery of HIV prevention medicine among sex workers increased uptake.

There really is no ‘typical’ day as a social sciences researcher! When I am travelling for work, I spend time with community partners collaborating on our research activities. This includes meeting to co-develop our research methods, working together to analyse data, and discussing how to disseminate our findings to community or government partners. When I am at the University of Manitoba, I write papers to share our findings, write grant applications to get funding for projects, and read about the latest research.

Lisa’s top tips

1. There are lots of avenues in public health research, so reach out to people who do work that interests you.

2. Spend time volunteering to build genuine relationships and listen to what communities are telling you.

With special thanks to the HEKA participatory modelling team: Allan Ogalo, Anthony Noah, Byron Odhiambo, Charles Kyalo, Fortune Ligare, Gilbert Asuri, Jedidah Wanjiku, Kennedy Mwendwa, Kennedy Olango, Kennedy Ouma, Loice Nekesa, Pascal Macharia, Silvano Tabbu, Adrienne K. Chan, Stefan Baral, Robert Lorway, Nancy Tahmo, Jeffrey Walimbwa Wambaya, Lisa Lazarus and Sharmistha Mishra

Do you have a question for the team?
Write it in the comments box below and they will get back to you. (Remember, researchers are very busy people, so you may have to wait a few days.)

Discover how epidemiologists use mathematical models to keep our food safe:

futurumcareers.com/can-mathematics-keep-our-food-safe-to-eat