My Journey with BSNL: From Member to President
When I first applied to join the Bioscience Network Lausanne (BSNL), little did I realize how profoundly it would shape the next few years of my life. BSNL, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Life Sciences doctoral researchers and post-doctoral researchers from the University of Lausanne, EPFL, and the University of Geneva, became more than just a part of my academic journey; it became a crucial aspect of my personal growth and professional development.
The Early Days: Seeking Something More
My PhD journey was all-consuming, with my life revolving around the lab. The constant cycle of negative data and experiments that didn't work was draining. By the second year, I knew I needed something more, something beyond the laboratory. I wanted to feel useful, and to learn new skills that weren't covered in my academic work. This led me to BSNL in 2019, I joined the team organizing FameLab Lausanne and FameLab Switzerland. FameLab, an international science communication competition. It was my first step into the world of event organization.
Learning and Growing with BSNL
What started as a desire to fill my time with meaningful activities quickly transformed into a journey of self-discovery and professional development. Within BSNL, I found myself taking on more responsibilities, from event organization to digital communication and budget management. These experiences were teaching me skills that I would never have learned through my PhD alone. By 2020, my involvement had grown to the point where I became Event Manager on the Board, allowing me to play a part in shaping the strategic direction of BSNL and giving guidance for BSNL members.
Leading Through a Pandemic: My Presidency
Becoming president of BSNL during the COVID-19 pandemic was not something I had initially aspired to. At first, I didn’t apply for the position, I was concerned about the magnitude of the responsibility, I hesitated. However, I was encouraged by the president to apply for the position of president. I was elected in January 2021. Leading BSNL through such unprecedented times was challenging but rewarding. It was a period of intense learning and adaptation, from securing funding and writing grant proposals to fostering new collaborations and navigating the shift to virtual events. My tenure as president not only allowed me to contribute to the Lemanic scientific community in a meaningful way but also offered personal growth opportunities. Organizing events like roundtables with industry leaders from McKinsey & Company, PMI Switzerland, and the director of BNF, the National Qualification Programme, were highlights of my presidency. These experiences not only enriched our events’ participants’ understanding of the diverse career paths available to them but also helped me to forge connections that would later influence my own career trajectory.
Reflections and Looking Forward
I always said that by helping people I am helping myself. My goal was to help scientists navigate the ocean of questions of what comes after their PhD or Post-doc in academia. Today, I am proud to say that we have made significant strides toward that goal. BSNL pushed me out of my comfort zone, challenged me to grow in unexpected ways, and provided a platform to make a tangible difference in the lives of others. As I move forward, the lessons learned and the connections made during my time with BSNL will continue to influence my approach to life and work.
