Dora Mahečić, Postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard Medical School, NAT 2011

Dora Mahečić

Campus des Nations, 2011

Postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard Medical School

USA

Learn more about me :

• • • • • • Harvard Catalyst Profile
          • Connect with me on LinkedIn

Most students who attend Ecolint have experienced moving away from their home country, which has led to a strong sense of camaraderie and the formation of bonds that transcend our respective countries of origin, cultures, and languages

I am currently working as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. Though my background is in physics, I have moved towards the life sciences in search of the most intriguing questions and solutions. As a result, I am now part of a group of interdisciplinary scientists working on a range of topics, from fundamental biology to developing new methodologies. Our overarching mission is to understand how single-cell variability drives population dynamics, with a particular focus on antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

Many of my most cherished memories were not made in the classroom, but in the spaces between classes, during lunch breaks, and at after-school gatherings. Most students who attend Ecolint have experienced moving away from their home country, which has led to a strong sense of camaraderie and the formation of bonds that transcend our respective countries of origin, cultures, and languages. It is this sense of belonging in a new and dynamic environment that remains my fondest memory of Ecolint.

My experience at Ecolint was diverse and enriching. It allowed me to meet and learn from people from different parts of the world, which helped me become a more open-minded and inquisitive person. The knowledge I gained during my International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma proved to be very useful when I started my bachelor's degree in physics at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), which had a fast-paced curriculum that required a strong foundation in mathematics and natural sciences, as well as a strict work discipline.

If I could go back in time and start over, I would have liked to cultivate an interest in biology much earlier. As someone who was fascinated by physics, I tended to overlook biology as a field that was more focused on description and less on rigorous quantification, unlike physics and chemistry. However, I came to realize later that this is not entirely true, albeit is often the way biology is taught.

I also wish that I had been better at keeping in touch with my friends from Ecolint. When we all went on to university, things changed and many of us lost touch. However, I have enjoyed reconnecting with some in recent years – it was as if no time had passed at all – and I look forward to reconnecting with others.

I am still in the process of figuring out many things myself, so I am uncertain about how much "wisdom" I can offer to the students of Ecolint today. However, based on my personal experiences, I would advise them to actively pursue opportunities that take them out of their comfort zones – this is where real growth and progress happen. Embrace healthy discomfort as a sign of progress and watch yourself grow and your world expand. Of course, it's easier said than done, but for a start, just go that one extra step deeper into the water where your feet can no longer touch the ground and see what happens.

Embrace healthy discomfort as a sign of progress and watch yourself grow and your world expand.

In my career, I aspire to promote inclusivity in the field of science and motivate more individuals to choose it as a profession. During my school days, I recall many people questioning me about my future plans if I decided to study mathematics or physics as if there weren't many opportunities available. Through outreach programs, I aim to provide others with an understanding of the different career paths available in science and that it is open to everyone.