International Women’s Day – Petra Bencurova

Name

Petra Bencurova

Job title/role in FutureNeuro

Postdoctoral Fellow

Tell us a little about your background and what led you to a career in FutureNeuro?

I am a researcher born in Slovakia. For my undergraduate and Master’s studies, I studied Biochemistry followed by a PhD in Neuroscience at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. I joined FutureNeuro for my first postdoc and I am working on the molecular background of epileptic syndromes, which was also the focus of my PhD.

What does a typical day look like for you? 

My work days are rather variable – no risk of a stereotype hereJ. Usually, I am busy combining experiments in the laboratory, office work (administrative, emails, data analysis) and learning (courses, workshops, reading books and articles) in various ratios during the day.

What do you find most challenging about your job?

At the moment, I find it most challenging to squeeze all that I need and want to get done into a workday/ workweek.

What has been the highlight of your career to date?

Receiving the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship award that made it possible for me to join FutureNeuro and pursue a research topic that I am deeply interested in.   I joined FutureNeuro for my first postdoc and I am working on the molecular background of epileptic syndromes, which was also the focus of my PhD.

Tell me about someone who has influenced your decision to pursue your career?

Along my path, I had so many shaping encounters and support that singling out one person who influenced my decision is next to impossible. Starting from my family and friends through high school teachers (especially biology and chemistry) to university professors, lecturers, supervisors and mentors, each of whom sparked or boosted my curiosity and thirst for knowledge.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about pursuing a career in FutureNeuro and/or STEM?

Just go for it!

What impact do you hope your role in FutureNeuro will have over the next five years?

Over the next five years, I hope that my research will produce exciting results that will drive follow-up research projects (not only) at FutureNeuro and create lasting collaborations.

What might someone be surprised to know about you?

Every day I surprise my colleagues with a pair of funky mismatching socks

What do you do in your spare time?

I dedicate a big chunk of my spare time to Roller Derby – empowering and inclusive strategic contact sport on roller skates. Besides derby (and gym) I like to spend my free time exploring new places, tastes and cultures, enjoying a moment with my friends and family, or bit of me-time with a good book or computer game. When I have some energy to spare I channel it into social and ecological activism.