A Career in Science as a Woman: Lilla Turiák’s Dedication to Research Continues Despite Raising Two Young Children

What does this award mean to you, and why do you consider it important?

I think it’s something special that this award is specifically aimed at recognizing women. Not to mention, it holds significant prestige in the scientific world. This is likely due to the media exposure that accompanies it, which allows us, as researchers, to share what we work on every day. It brings me great joy, as it’s a recognition of my work, and I am honored to be among this year's awardees.

Speaking of your daily work, could you tell us more about your research topics and your plans for the future?

My main research focus at the moment is on lung cancer. We are developing methods to identify protein modifications characteristic of cancer in tissue samples. Such modifications include changes in the sugar (oligosaccharide) chains attached to proteins, which can provide crucial information about the development and progression of the disease.

The primary goal of our current research is to identify modifications in samples from lung cancer patients that can be linked to how they will respond to specific treatments. In lung cancer (too), it is crucial to administer the most effective therapy as early as possible. Since these tumors are often diagnosed late, survival rates are generally poor. However, with this method, if we can predict in advance that a particular treatment will not work for a patient, we could recommend a more suitable therapy sooner, improving their chances for a better outcome.

The long-term goal is to develop a blood test-based method, moving beyond the current reliance on tissue sample analysis. This approach would allow doctors to obtain results more quickly and without the need for biopsies. I have received five years of funding for this research through the Momentum program, and I hope that by the end of the fifth year, we will have made progress in accurately identifying these modifications in blood samples from patients. This would bring us closer to making the method available for everyday clinical use, although, of course, that may still take longer to achieve.

When did you decide to become a researcher?

I know some people have a clear career path in mind from childhood, but for me, it didn’t come immediately. In my final year of high school, I was focused on history and mathematics, planning to pursue a career in economics. My parents are pharmacists, and I’ve always had a strong interest in the natural sciences, so I added biology as an elective in my last year and decided to apply to the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences after all. Eventually, in my third year at Semmelweis University, I started working in a student research program—that’s how I became drawn to the world of research.

What is it like to pursue a career in science as a woman? Does it affect your work at all?

I think it does matter, in the sense that in most families, women tend to take on more responsibilities - whether it’s childcare or household tasks – and this makes it harder to organize research work alongside these duties. I have two young children myself, and I know that without the substantial family support I have, I would be in a much more challenging position.

Fortunately, it has now been recognized in Hungary that female researchers need support, and many grants now include age extensions for women. For example, if an applicant is eligible only until the age of 40, this limit is typically extended by two years per child. This addresses a significant gap, as even minor breaks in research or publication activity can appear unfavorable in a researcher’s CV. When my children were born, I was fortunate to have two PhD students working with me who, while I was at home with my young kids, could continue working independently in the lab. Weekly consultations with them were enough to keep the research moving forward and maintain the publication process.

Source: Máté Vincze

There is still a noticeable trend: while the ratio of men and women graduating from university is roughly equal, far fewer women pursue PhD studies and remain in research careers, with the proportion of female researchers declining even further at the academic level.

Unfortunately, statistics show a decline not only in the number of women remaining in scientific careers but also in the number of students choosing such programs at university. How do you think these programs could be promoted?

Last year, for instance, at my workplace, the HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, we organized a one-week summer camp for high school students. During the camp, students were allowed a look into lab work and our day-to-day processes. They responded very positively to the program and really enjoyed it. Additionally, the Association of Women in Science runs mentoring programs specifically for high school girls, and there are various alumni programs as well. I believe that personal experiences like these are the best way to engage young people.