Title: From Dentistry to Immunology: Navigating Challenges and Building
a Career in Neuroimmunology
Running head: Navigating challenges in academic research
Lidia Yshii
Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven
O&N5B, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
I am a dentist by profession and worked in that field for a few months
after completing my graduation. However, my time as a master’s student
at the laboratory proved to be significantly more captivating and
fulfilling for me. This experience led me to make the decision to leave
my career as a dentist and embark on a journey as a PhD student in the
field of neurosciences at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. The
prospect of unraveling the mysteries of brain inflammation and my
aspirations of becoming a university professor were the driving forces
behind my pursuit of a PhD.
Admittedly, I initially held a romanticized vision of academia, with my
career goal set on pursuing a Ph.D., followed by a few years of postdoc,
and landing a position as a Principal Investigator (PI) at the
University of São Paulo. However, my ideals about a smooth academic
career underwent a swift transformation during the years of my Ph.D.
Frequent failures and dead ends, coupled with the realization that the
journal in which I published my work was low impact, left me feeling
lost in translation towards the end of my Ph.D. Fortunately, my Ph.D.
supervisor Cristoforo, who was incredibly enthusiastic, provided
significant support to navigate through this period of my life.
After completing my Ph.D., I decided to give academia and research
another chance. My partner, also a researcher, was working in France,
and I planned to join him there. To facilitate this, I applied for a new
type of funding from the São Paulo Research Foundation, aimed at young
researchers wishing to undertake a one-year postdoc overseas. I was
granted the funding and decided to pursue a position at the same
institute where my partner was working: the Centre de
physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan - CPTP (now renamed INFINITY).
Although I knew nothing about immunology, I was accepted into Roland’s
lab, which focused on autoimmune diseases in the brain. This unusual
choice turned out to be an unexpected opportunity. Under my mentor’s
guidance, I learned to ask questions, embraced the idea that it was okay
to make mistakes, and developed a passion for neuroimmunology—a
challenging yet incredibly rewarding field. Originally planning to stay
for one year, I ended up spending an additional five years with Roland.
Looking back, I consider these years as some of the best in terms of my
scientific learning, not only from Roland and his team but also from the
vibrant scientific community at CPTP.
However, as a postdoc, I was surrounded by uncertainties—financial,
career-related, and even regarding staying in Europe; as I am a non-EU
citizen, my visa was tied to my work contract. In search for
perspective, I requested advice from all corners: family, friends, PIs,
colleagues. In the end, I realized that no one could make the decision
for me; I held the sole responsibility for determining my destiny. I
said to my partner, ’We won’t move again for a postdoc. The next one
will be our last one.’ Both my partner and I were in our late thirties,
and due to the short-term nature of our postdoc contracts, we felt like
life was slipping through our fingers.
The last move was to Belgium. One year before my French contract was
expiring, I went to talk with Adrian Liston to ask if he could take me
on as a senior postdoc in his lab. During the interview, Adrian was
candid with me — no glossing over my CV or my prospects. A few weeks
after our talk though, he offered a 2-year contract in his lab at VIB-KU
Leuven, in Belgium; I was elated.
During these years with Adrian, I dedicated my efforts to publishing
meaningful work. My project began yielding interesting results, and
discussing my ideas with others confirmed my love for research,
compelling me to continue this path. Meanwhile, I was always waiting for
more permanency and stability, which I started to doubt would ever
happen. On top of that, I became pregnant while my paper was in the
revision stage. Still, my partner reassured me, ’Everything will be
fine; let’s just go for it.’ Once again, I consider myself lucky for the
extensive support from my partner and the exceptional working
environment and resources provided by my mentor. I had an amazing team
of co-workers who were remarkably capable and competent researchers and
while I was on maternity leave, amid the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic,
my colleagues carried out my project, with Adrian steering it and
pouring resources without restrictions. The result of this teamwork was
a paper published in a reputable journal, which also received good media
attention. Upon returning from maternity leave, I still had the full
support of my colleagues and my mentor, something I realized was a great
privilege. While at Adrian’s lab, I began searching for a permanent
position as a PI. In 2021 KU Leuven published a job for an assistant
professorship that resonated with my profile, so I decided to apply. The
application required a significant amount of work, but my mentor and
colleagues provided full support. After a series of interviews and
presentations, I received an offer from KU Leuven: my journey as a PI
began in November 2022. Six months after my appointment, my partner also
secured a tenured track in the same university as mine.
I had my son two years before starting my lab. As a newly established
investigator with a small child and no network for support, I quickly
discovered my most valuable asset: time. Since having my son, I’ve
experienced a huge wave of anxiety. I felt anxious for not being a good
enough PI or good mother. I realized that effectively managing my time
helps alleviating this feeling. Becoming organized and pragmatic, with a
keen sense of urgency, has proven beneficial for me. Firstly, starting
this year, I organize all lab activities—experiments, meetings,
teaching—during school hours. Secondly, I maintain flexible work hours
and occasionally work from home or at unconventional times. While I’m
still learning to protect my time and be more efficient, I’m enjoying
the journey. I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue my passion and
contribute to the scientific community. My journey from dentistry to
neuroscience and immunology has been filled with ups and downs, but each
step has taught me valuable lessons and shaped me into the scientist I
am today.
With that said, these are my thoughts after years in academia:
Who am I?
I believe that choosing the right lab for your profile is the most
important step early in your career. Before committing to a lab and
spending years, it is advised to conduct thorough research. Ideally, you
should know who you are and what are your preferences: What kind of PI
do you prefer? One who tries to motivate you, or one who lets your
feelings be? One who is very present and hands-on, or one who allows you
to solve your own problems and gives you more freedom? One who gives
advice? Do you prefer a big lab with lots of members or a smaller one?
Do you prefer a neat lab or is disorder acceptable? Your personality and
the lab’s style must align; otherwise, conflicts in work style might
arise, and generally, it is a difficult issue to solve.
Who is the PI?
I was lucky to have mentors who made positive contributions to my
academic life. A good mentor will encourage your interests and support
them, provide the resources you need, promote you and your work, advise
you when needed on scientific direction, offer psychological support,
and assist you in the next steps of your career. A good mentor is also
clear about their expectations, is trustworthy and has good management
skills, is accessible and approachable. Finally, a mentor who values
your motivation and work ethic, and has the ability to see past your
shortcomings, is a huge plus. Once you have a shortlist of potential
PIs, reach out to them for informational interviews. Discuss their
research, expectations for students, and the lab’s dynamics.
Who are they?
Conduct thorough research about the lab of interest. What is the
research area? What is the quality of publications? What are the alumni
of the lab doing now? Is the lab well-equipped and well-financed? Is it
well-resourced in terms of technicians, managers, postdocs, students,
secretaries, and order processing personnel? Does the lab have
additional duties (cleaning, receiving products, animal care…),
and are you comfortable with that? Talk to current and former students
mentored by the PI and ask about their experiences.
What is next?
Many doctoral students and researchers face a lack of perspective
regarding their careers. Competition for research positions and funding
is fierce, and the journey to becoming an established academic
researcher can be long and arduous. The reality is that professor
positions are limited and highly competitive. It’s crucial to recognize
that academic positions are just one of many great potential paths for
researchers. We are trained not only to excel in academia but also to be
directors, principal scientists, managers, critical thinkers,
innovators, and effective communicators in various
capacities1.
1 Liston A, Makaroff LE. SStrategic career building during your PhD: a
timeline for maximizing your opportunities. Immunol Cell Biol 2023;101 : 793-797.