Prof. Maria J.G.T. Vehreschild interviewed for »Women in Science«

Maria Vehreschild is a specialist in internal medicine, hematology, oncology and infectiology and conducts research into utilizing microorganisms for treating infections and other immune-mediated diseases.

Who or what made you want to work in health research?

It has always been important to me to do something charitable with my work. When I was choosing my career, it took me a long time to decide whether I should get involved in politics, in an NGO or in the healthcare sector. In the end, I realized I was more interested in helping people directly, so I decided to study medicine. Research was important to me right from the start. The longer I work with patients, the more I feel justified in my decision to take on the dual role of clinician and researcher. This role allows me to initiate and implement research that is very precisely tailored to patients’ needs.

To what extent do you think the dynamics and relevance of health research have changed in recent years? And how has the role of women changed?

The coronavirus pandemic clearly highlighted the important role that health research, and infection research in particular, plays in our society. Yet funding for this area of science is becoming increasingly scarce due to crises such as wars and climate change. This presents a dilemma.

Today, women are increasingly represented in scientific professions overall. In Germany, however, they remain the exception to the rule in leadership positions. As a country, we have not yet managed to create the conditions that would enable women to take up management roles on a regular basis. The current shortage of skilled workers is particularly unfavorable factor in this respect. How are women supposed to develop freely academically if there are not enough childcare places for their children and when they are still doing most of the work in terms of looking after and bringing up children in this country? Fortunately, unlike ten years ago, there are already a number of programs in place that support women in situations like these.

What exactly are you currently working on at Fraunhofer ITMP?

I am currently setting up a working group that deals with the utilization of microorganisms, especially bacteria and phages, in diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The microbes that colonize us, our microbiota, play an important role in regulating our organ functions. If these microbiota become imbalanced, this can lead to health problems. We want to start by restoring the balance.

What other goals are on your research agenda and to what extent does your work interact with your private life, with your family and friends?

In addition to developing microbiota-based therapies, I am very committed to supporting young scientists and implementing modern management and work concepts. We need a complete rethink in this respect if we want to continue to attract and retain top talent in the future. Of course, my work also plays an important role in my private life, especially since my husband is also a physician and a scientist. It’s not always easy to keep work and my private life separate and it requires excellent cooperation to spread the childcare load fairly and still be flexible enough to meet the needs of everyone involved.

What advice would you like to give to women who want to start a career in health research?

Working in health research is great because, unlike in many other fields, your work directly benefits other people. It gives you a real sense of fulfilment when you get it right. If you’re worried that you won’t be able to combine having children with a career, go and talk to women in management positions. This will help you gain a better understanding of what you can and cannot expect in terms of support. Women in management positions are generally very open to answering such questions. It is often younger women who are afraid to ask them. It’s important to know in advance what you can expect and how you can prepare for it. Only then can you make a conscious decision for or against a particular career without going into it unawares.