Welcome
Welcome to my portfolio website, where I proudly showcase my work, skills, expertise, and achievements, all in a user-friendly and engaging manner. You might hear some of my closest colleagues saying, "Finally, she's made it – Woohoo!" Well, what can I say? It's all about timing!
I hold the position of Associate Professor in Environmental Molecular Microbiology at the University of Stirling in Scotland, UK. In 2015, I embarked on the journey of building my own research group from scratch. With over 20 years of experience in Molecular and Cellular Biology, acquired across various parts of the world, and an international career in Academia, it's now the perfect time to share my career path, insights and accomplishments in more depth than what you'd typically find on a university homepage, which often includes a mere list of publications and grants.
The primary goal of this website is to reach the widest audience possible. I aim to offer a window into my career journey, the outcomes of my different research projects, my research interests and skills, my teaching experience and valuable insights into academia through newsletters (coming soon). I wish to foster new collaborations with academic peers, NGOs interested in my work, and companies in the life sciences and education sectors. I’m always keen on taking new challenges and sharing innovative ideas. I look forward to engaging with you all about the various facets of my role: research, teaching, and academic responsibilities.
I won't sugarcoat it – Academia can be demanding, with constant pressure and moments of disappointment. However, it is also a gratifying career filled with discoveries, exciting challenges and the opportunity to meet wonderful colleagues all around the world. I am very lucky that many of my colleagues have become long-term friends. This is truly priceless! My aim here is also to illuminate the positive aspects of this career in Academia and inspire the next generation of talented students to pursue their dream careers.
Let's embark on this journey together !
- BIO -
My name is Sabine Matallana Surget. I am French, born and raised in Paris by two of the most interesting and creative human beings, my dear mum and dad, whom I deeply admire. My mum is French and my dad is Spanish, which explains my lengthy surname, often misspelled. :) In my family, multilingualism is the norm; my brother, a polyglot, leads the way with more than seven languages.
I undertook my studies at Sorbonne University in Paris, specialising in Biochemistry (BSc Degree), Molecular & Cell Biology (MSc Degree), and completed a Joint doctoral Degree in Marine Molecular Microbiology between two countries (France and Australia). I enjoyed my student experience from start to finish, learned a lot, made friends for life and met many inspiring Teachers and Professors along the way. Sorbonne University taught us how to become great problem solvers and independent learners - important skills that all students learn at Uni.
Beyond science, I have always explored various interests, enhancing my learning processes, memorisation techniques, creativity, adaptability, and a curiosity for different cultures and languages. I firmly believe that we are all much more than our job titles - scientists and/or teachers. We are mostly defined by our passions, dreams, collaborations, and work ethics. Those who know me best can attest to this.
But nothing comes easy… Anyone’s journey in Academia requires hard work, creativity, and motivation. After 20 years of studying and working in Molecular & Cellular Biology and 9 years as a group leader, I am finally ready to show my work through this website - nothing more, nothing less. I hope it will shed some light on my career path, expertise, research projects, and achievements in all the different roles that Academia involves.