An interview with Margaryta Tevosian

You are fancying the NGC logo? Did you get a free CV photo shoot? Then, you might know Margaryta Tevosian, NGC Designer and PhD student in the Lutz lab. Between her behavioural experiments in the MBU and tissue clearing attempts at the bench, she has found time to share a few thoughts with us.

What got you interested in science?
Since the age of 14 I have known that I wanted to take the path of biological studies because there was nothing I liked more. Besides sleeping. :-P Although my parents initially didn’t want me to choose this kind of career, I didn’t give up and continued along the path.

What have you liked or disliked about leaving Ukraine for your Masters, and subsequently, the PhD?
It was of course quite hard at the beginning, because I had to leave my family and my friends. However, here in Germany, I can do what I like without having the economical and logistical limitations I‘d have had in my native country. I’m also submerged in an international environment, which I find fascinating.
Living out of Ukraine is anyway still costing me a lot: 300€ to fly back to Kyiv!

How do you keep yourself motivated after a bad day at work or during the tough times of the PhD?
I push myself not to give up and to keep on going towards my goal. I also find constant inspiration from success stories, and the others that speak of lack of success motivate me to fight it out.

What do you like to do when you are not working ?
Sleep. Travel. Rewind.

Who is your support? What do your family and friends think about your career choice?
My mother is my greatest supporter. Now she wants me to have as many titles as possible and become a Professor. Whilst I don’t.
My friends are surprised about my life choice: I don’t have a 9-17 job, you must constantly motivate yourself and besides the good parts, research is full of challenges. However, they all continually encourage me to go ahead by telling me I am actually doing what I have always wanted to do. They also remind me that I have not compromised my dreams.

Why have you chosen to join NGC and its Organizing Group?
Despite being kind of sociopathic, I still like to interact with people who have ideas I find interesting. NGC gives me the opportunity to meet such kind of people. Moreover, as the NGC Designer, I can fulfill my passion for photography  

Thank you Margaryta. Good luck for the future and don’t lose the strong motivation and determination you have!

Written by Chiara Galante; Edited by Radhika Menon. Picture: NGC/Chiara Galante. Featured Image: NGC/Design.