Q1. Who inspired you to become a scientist?

No one individual, really. I was always fascinated by things I didn’t understand, so pursuing science felt like a natural progression for me.

Q2. What drives your research interest?

With a background in electrical engineering, I view science primarily as a vehicle for complex problem-solving. Currently, I am driven by a major bottleneck: while we can predict how a system responds to one or two isolated stressors, we are remarkably poor at understanding the combinatorial effects of multiple interventions on complex networks.

Q3. What is your current research focus?

My current focus lies at the intersection of engineering and biology, specifically in building large-scale mechanistic models in plant biology. We are attempting to move beyond purely descriptive biology to develop predictive frameworks that can simulate how complex organisms behave under dynamic, multi-variable environments. Basically, I am betting that mechanistic understanding is the way to solve the multiple stressor problem.

Q4. Who are your current scientific influences?

I am less influenced by specific personalities and more by high-quality, practical research that crosses my path. Specifically, I look to peers who are either tackling the same combinatorial problem-solving challenges I am facing, or those developing innovative computational and mathematical tools that I can adapt to my own modeling work.

Q5. If you hadn’t become a scientist, what would your dream job be?

I would likely have pursued a career in editing scientific publications. For me, engaging with broad scientific concepts, analyzing new discoveries, and reviewing diverse manuscripts is just as intellectually stimulating and enjoyable as actually conducting the hands-on research behind the computer.

Q6. What are your hobbies?

I highly enjoy cycling and gardening, though finding sufficient time for them between professional responsibilities and family life is a constant balancing act. I have been attempting to get my children actively involved in both activities, though I must admit I am failing miserably at convincing them so far.

Q7. What books influenced you the most?

I am a big fan of science fiction, particularly Neal Stephenson and his meticulous, science-based alternative history world-building. Looking back, immersing myself in speculative fiction during my youth undoubtedly shaped my scientific mindset. I deeply appreciate any literature that treats science seriously, framing it as an essential, foundational part of our daily existence.

Q8. What are your favourite movies?

Currently, my favorite is The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. It is a masterfully crafted film that beautifully showcases the profound psychological complexities of both the individual and society, maintained by what I consider to be absolutely perfect cinematic pacing.

Q9. What advice would you give your 18-year old self?

I would tell myself to worry less about the immediate future, and to realize that biology is poised to become incredibly exciting and mathematically rigorous in the 21st century. If I had known how much it would evolve, I would have pivoted into the field much sooner than I did.

Q10. What, in your opinion, is the “next big thing” in the field of scientific research?

Rather than a single breakthrough, the next big shift will be our ability to truly master biological complexity. By the end of this century, we will understand biological networks deeply enough to move past guesswork, allowing us to predict multi-intervention outcomes and manipulate living systems with genuine engineering precision.