How did you get involved in stroke research and why did you choose this topic?
When I was working clinically, I saw many patients with the condition that I study and I saw that the outcomes were really bad. Then I started searching the literature for possible treatments, and I found not much. I talked to my colleagues and seniors, who also implicated that we couldn’t do much for these patients. So, I wanted to help.
What have been the most difficult challenges regarding your career so far?
Getting the ethical application for my project has been arduous. Since I needed the ethical approval to get started with my PhD thesis, I had to make some compromises in the study design, for instance the age limitation.
Another challenge is making the relevance of my research clear to the clinicians, bridging the gap between designing research and clinical practice.
How is your work life balance?
(laughs) It is good currently. I work clinically one day a week, and I do the PhD four days a week. I must also say that I enjoy my work, so that I don’t mind, if the working days are longer.
And I like the place, where I am living. There are many beaches in Sydney, so it’s easy to keep a pleasent work life balance.
