Interview with Editorial Board Member of JDB, Dr. Sarah Woolner at the MDPI Women in Research Forum: Current Research and Advice for Women in the Industry

We recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Sarah Woolner, Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Developmental Biology (JDB) and speaker at the MDPI Women in Research Panel in Manchester.

Dr. Sarah Woolner is a Wellcome Trust-funded Senior Research Fellow at the University of Manchester. She completed her PhD at University College London, studying on a 4-year Molecular Cell Biology program. She then moved to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, for her first postdoctoral position. In 2008, Sarah was awarded a Beit Memorial Fellowship to undertake a postdoctoral project at the University of Manchester. In 2012, she was awarded a Wellcome Trust/Royal Society Sir Henry Dale Fellowship to establish her own lab at the Wellcome Trust Centre.

Dr Woolner’s research focuses on how cells and tissues respond to mechanical forces in order to regulate fundamental cell functions such as cell division. Understanding the mechanisms the cell uses to “read” the external environment and correctly position the spindle (which determines cell division orientation and thus cell fate) is a key focus for Dr. Woolner’s lab.

In 2022, Dr. Sarah Woolner joined MDPI as an Editorial Board Member for JDB.

In our interview with Dr. Sarah Woolner at the MDPI Women in Research Panel, we discussed her inspirations for entering her field of research, her advice for other women who want to enter the field, and how Open Access publishing has impacted her career.

1.      Could you tell us what inspired you to enter your field of research?

My background is in cell and developmental biology, so I have always been interested in how embryos developed. I remember reading a book by Steven Jay Gould during my A-Levels, about embryo development, which had got me really intrigued by the subject. At university, I enjoyed the crossover between cell biology and developmental biology, and getting to understand how cells behaved in the embryo. My parents, who had worked as lab technicians earlier in their careers, always talked about how much they loved the practical side of science. So, I think that also got me interested in doing research.

2.      What has been your biggest success so far?

For me it’s not one individual thing. It’s more about running a successful group and working as a team. My group is a team of interdisciplinary researchers, which includes biologists, mathematicians, and physicists. Seeing work evolve, from a single idea, a seed planted by me, and it being taken in all different directions by some really talented people, is my biggest success.

3.      Do you have any advice for women trying to establish their careers within academia or your field of research specifically?

Seek out help and support. Don’t be afraid to talk to people, within your faculty and at conferences. I think for me, I was very good at socializing with my peers, and some of them have gone on to become really successful scientists who have been able to help me along my own journey. So, I would say build that support network.

4.      What do you think about the theme this year, “Give to Gain”, for International Women’s Day?

I think it’s a great theme and I definitely resonated with it on a personal level. With my background as a fellow, I like to help and support other people who are trying to apply for fellowships. By providing that support, I gain back by creating a research culture around me – a group of people who can support one another. For me, that’s what “Give to Gain” is about.

5.      What do you think the biggest barrier is for women in the industry?

What’s still a really big barrier is the point at which you have children, as the age you are when you have them is often the age where you are really trying to define your career. I think that it is an inherent challenge but is not insurmountable. I had two children, and worked part-time for a few years, and that worked really well for me. But there were some sacrifices made on both sides. As I go on through my career, it’s thinking about how we can reduce the impact both on mothers and on fathers. I think as we even things, it can become less of a woman or mother’s challenge, and instead a challenge for everyone involved.

6.      What role do you think Open Access publishing plays within your field of research?

It’s a vital one for spreading our research far and wide. It means that people and institutions that might not be able to get access to some bigger journals are still able to access important research.

7.      How has Open Access influenced your career?

Over the years it has just made things easier. It used to be much more difficult to find a paper that you wanted to find. At the beginning of my PhD, you had to go to the library and photocopy the right article, which relied on the library having the journal that you needed to find the article in. Whereas now, if it’s online and it’s open access, it’s at your fingertips. So, I think that is the key thing, just the ability to find the research that you need, and being able to explore cutting-edge, niche topics.

As an Open Access publisher, we believe diversity in science strengthens collaboration, broadens perspectives, and supports the open exchange of knowledge.

Read more about our Women in Research event and other news.