From Informatics to Antarctica: Katharina’s Journey of Science, Leadership and Collaboration

We spoke with her about her journey from PhD to Programme Manager, her leadership voyage to Antarctica, and what she’s learned along the way.

I studied biomedical sciences as an undergraduate and then did a master’s in bioinformatics. After that, I knew I wanted to continue with something that combined those worlds: the computational side but still connected to the biological and interdisciplinary side of things. 

The topic was fascinating, but it was also the sense of community that drew me to Edinburgh. The idea of having a cohort of PhD students and being part of a community, really appealed to me. Before I got here, I didn’t know the city at all, I was living in Barcelona and remember visiting for the first time in November, when it was dark and freezing! But even then, there was something special about it. Edinburgh has this lovely atmosphere, and the whole student community and experience felt like such a complete package. It just felt right.

I often say I used informatics to get my PhD; I had the technical knowledge and ability to do what I needed, but I wouldn’t consider myself a pure computer scientist. What has really stayed with me was being exposed to the very theoretical and informatics-driven way of thinking. That experience opened my eyes to the breadth of what’s possible across disciplines and how crucial communication is between different fields. 

Being exposed to those different perspectives during my PhD really shaped how I see my role now, working at the interface between disciplines, helping projects and people make the most of what they can achieve together. That’s where I feel I can make the biggest impact. 

And beyond the research and PhD itself, I think Edinburgh offered fantastic opportunities for personal and professional growth. I made great use of the Career Service workshops and training sessions, many of which were open to PhD students for free. Those experiences gave me confidence in areas like communication, leadership and self-management, which I still draw on constantly in my current work. 

It also helped that those sessions brought together PhD students from across the University. Meeting people from other Schools who were going through similar challenges made a big difference - it reminded me that I wasn’t alone. Having that chance to exchange ideas and share experiences with people outside my immediate research area was incredibly enriching.

It’s hard to pick just one – there were so many memorable moments! 

Recently, I was at a conference in Lithuania where they organised a gala dinner with a cultural show, with lots of traditional music and folkloric dancing. It instantly reminded me of the ceilidhs we had in Edinburgh during my PhD, that sense of community and celebration really brought me back. 

I also remember being invited to speak about my PhD as part of a #GirlsInTech series, I think it’s still on my LinkedIn profile somewhere! That was also a lovely moment to remember. 

And of course, defending my thesis and finally graduating were incredible milestones. The viva was nerve-racking, but also deeply rewarding - the culmination of years of work, research and learning.

Looking back, those moments of connection, celebration and achievement all stand out equally as highlights. 

I’m Programme Manager for Communities and Training at ELIXIR, a European research infrastructure for life sciences, that helps make life-science data FAIR, which means it should be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable.

I coordinate a portfolio of 18 scientific and technical Communities, as well as their activities, helping to identify shared challenges and develop collaborative solutions. On the training side, we develop infrastructure allowing us to make materials open and reusable so that other trainers can use and adapt these, meaning that the knowledge can circulate widely. 

I also contribute to European-level strategy work on biodiversity, food security and pathogen research. This is focused on identifying what the core challenges are for researchers in certain areas across Europe and beyond and then helping us all to prepare for what might be ahead.

It’s an incredibly international role; on any given day I speak with people from at least four countries.  There’s a real sense of shared purpose that I find very motivating!

Yes, I think I always knew I wouldn’t stay in academia. My PhD gave me a deep understanding of research, but I realised my strengths lay elsewhere, and I’m most fulfilled when I’m enabling others, helping projects run smoothly and connecting people. There are so many rewarding paths beyond the postdoc route, and for me, combining science, strategy and collaboration felt exactly right.

Much of what I do is about making science more open, ensuring data is findable and reusable, not locked away where only a few can access it. That principle of openness is central to progress. Beyond that, working with people from many cultures and disciplines has shown me how diversity strengthens science. Inclusion isn’t just about gender; it’s about different perspectives and experiences.

In my role, I spend a lot of time facilitating conversations across disciplines and countries. I’ve found that being open and allowing myself to be vulnerable helps create space for others to do the same. When people feel safe to speak honestly, collaboration becomes far more creative and productive. For me, inclusion starts there, in building environments where everyone feels heard and respected.

You don’t need to have everything figured out, just take the next step that feels right. When I started my PhD, I couldn’t have imagined I’d end up working at a European Research Infrastructure or travelling to Antarctica! But every experience taught me something new and opened another door.

Trust the process and don’t be afraid to explore different paths.