Could you start by giving more details about your current position?

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My position is within the academic world, but it’s quite different from typical academic roles and is also very Belgium-specific. I work as an Innovation Manager at KU Leuven, acting as a link between internal innovation and the external world.

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My goal is to translate university innovations into real-world applications for patients, particularly in health research. This involves activities across the full lifecycle of projects from identifying early-stage funding opportunities to supporting the development of IP or therapeutic assets and ultimately finding partners to bring these innovations to clinical development and the market.

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Overall, my role is being the link between our internal innovation in health care and its external application.

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Could you also share one positive and one challenging aspect of your current position?

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One of the main positives is that my role is not limited as a tech transfer position. Instead of only seeing a small part of a project, I’m involved from early to late stages. This allows me to stay connected to the science, even if I’m not conducting the research myself, and to feel a real sense of ownership over the projects, which makes it very exciting! 

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A key challenge is working within a large academic structure while doing a role that resembles a small, spin-off or SME-type environment, but within a much bigger structure. This can bring certain constraints that you need to manage, which is not always easy.

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Another difficult aspect is that sometimes promising projects cannot move forward due to lack of funding, even when you strongly believe in them. That’s not easy to deal with, but it’s something you must accept. And it’s not unique to academia, similar situations also happen in industry.

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From your perspective, what are the main barriers between academia and industry, and what would most effectively help close that gap?

 

The main issue is that both sides need to better understand each other’s challenges and working cultures. Part of my role is to help translate between these two worlds.

Academia often needs to become more business-driven to ensure their innovations can reach real-world application. On the other hand, industry (especially SMEs) is often constrained by financial pressures and lacks the flexibility to explore more broadly.

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Collaboration between academia and industry, if well managed, can be very powerful!  The goal should be to combine the strengths of both worlds and bring them together.

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What was it like moving from academia to a company?

 

The move from academia to industry was challenging, mainly from a personal and psychological perspective. Academia had always been my initial career goal, so transitioning into industry felt like letting go of a long-term dream. However, my first role within a company had a strong research culture, which helped ease the transition. Over time, I came to understand that both academia and industry have advantages and limitations, and today I do not regret the decision to move.

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And how can we improve communication between the two? What could be done differently?

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There has already been significant progress. Academia has become much more results-driven, which has strengthened collaboration with industry. However, processes can still be slow on both sides. Large organizations, whether universities or big pharmaceutical companies, often have complex decision-making structures.

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So, in the end, both sides face similar challenges. But overall, I do think we have already made substantial progress in bridging the gap.

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How did you end up in your current position? Could you share a bit about your professional path?

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I studied Biology in Germany, spending a year in Spain through the Erasmus program, which was a really great experience!

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I then completed my PhD in Biochemistry in a newly established research institute in Germany. It felt like Christmas, everything was new, all the equipment, all the opportunities. I was working with a professor who became an important mentor to me, since the beginning I knew he was the person I wanted to work with, I was very lucky! In Germany, we sometimes refer to PhD advisors as “Doktorvater”, like a doctoral father, and he was truly a mentor in that sense.

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Having strong mentorship early in your career is extremely valuable. A PhD should challenge you, but having someone who supports you through that process makes a big difference. After my PhD, I moved to the US for a postdoc at Harvard in Chemical Biology and Chemistry. After a few years, I decided to return to Europe, and eventually moved to Belgium where I joined KU Leuven.

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During my postdoc in KU Leuven things gradually fell into place. I worked on a translational drug discovery project that attracted industry interest. This experience helped me develop the skills needed for my current role. Over time, I grew into this position, which I value for its flexibility, independence, and strong teamwork aspect.

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How long were you a postdoc? And did this innovation manager position already exist at that time?

 

My postdoc was around 6 years in total.

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No, it was created during my postdoc as part of a Flemish government initiative. I was among the first to apply. I was lucky to obtain one of these positions, although it was challenging at the beginning, as the role was still new. It was very much learning by doing.

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Did you have any role models who influenced your career or personal experience in science?

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My PhD advisor was definitely a role model for me. I really appreciated the way he interacted with people. He would constantly challenge you, but at the same time, he was always there to support you if things didn’t work out. That balance is something I found very valuable.

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I also worked very closely with his wife, who was a senior member of the lab. I wouldn’t necessarily call her a role model in the traditional sense, but she had a big influence on me. She was probably the most meticulous researcher I have ever met. That experience taught me to work with great precision and to document everything carefully. This level of rigor is essential, especially when translating research into industry, and it strongly shaped how I approach science today.

 

As we know, the field of science often encourages - or even requires - spending time abroad. I personally find this extremely important, as I believe that growing as a person goes hand in hand with becoming a good professional and scientist.

 

Would you like to share your experiences living in different countries, and how these experiences shaped you professionally?
Yes. I have spent more than half of my life living outside my home country. One of the main benefits is that it has made me very culturally open. I don’t really focus on where people come from, it doesn’t matter much to me. At the same time, moving between countries means you must start over several times in your life, which is not always easy. You have to meet new people and rebuild your social environment.

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I wouldn’t say I was naturally very open. In fact, before I first moved to Spain, I was quite introverted. But that experience pushed me to become more open as a person. As a result, I make an effort to welcome others, especially those who are new or may feel less integrated.

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Moving between countries also shaped me as a professional. We often work in very multicultural environments, with people from many different backgrounds. These experiences helped me understand that differences in behaviour are often cultural rather than personal. If something becomes an issue, of course, it needs to be addressed, but in a constructive way, with the right perspective. I think living abroad helps you develop that mindset. It makes you more open, less rigid, and more accepting of different ways of thinking and behaving.

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As a mother, did you find these international experiences more challenging compared to those of your male peers? If so, in what ways?

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I don’t think it’s mainly about gender, but rather about whether you have a support network nearby. Without family close by, it can be very challenging. For example, before remote work was common, my children sometimes had to come to work with me when they were sick. At the same time, academia was relatively supportive compared to what might be expected in industry.

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In my case, I was largely responsible for my children during the week, as my husband worked abroad. I used to describe myself as a full-time working, part-time single mother.

This definitely had an impact, for example, I probably attended fewer conferences than I otherwise would have. I always tried to find a balance between my professional responsibilities and parenting.

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It was challenging, sometimes exhausting, and not always easy. And I do agree that, in general, these challenges tend to affect mothers more than fathers, both because of personal situations like mine, but also due to broader gender differences that still exist.

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What changes do you think would make the biggest difference for gender equality in science?

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Systems play a major role. For example, in Belgium, early childcare and shorter maternity leave encourage both parents to return to work, which supports shared responsibility.

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In contrast, in countries where mothers stay home longer, they often become the primary caregivers by default, which can impact their careers.

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I don’t think there is one simple solution, but I believe flexibility and acceptance are key. Increasing flexibility and fostering a culture of acceptance in work environments. Different people have different needs, and systems should allow for that, while still maintaining professional standards.

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If you could speak to your younger self, what advice would you give her?

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That’s a good question, I really have to think about it.

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I think I would give myself a lot of advice. But one thing I often tell my children, and younger people in general, is to take more time for yourself! 

I was always very dedicated, moving very quickly through my studies and career, working hard and progressing fast. For example, I started my post-doc at Harvard only two weeks after defending my PhD in Germany. Looking back, that speed doesn’t matter in the long term. Twenty years later, no one cares how quickly you completed your PhD or how fast you moved to the next step.

 

So, if I could go back, I would tell myself: take six months or a year for yourself. It won’t harm your career, but it will teach you things about life that you won’t learn at university or in a job!