Nicole PASCHEK
Project Officer, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine
German
What I like most about my job is that the things I do and DESCOM offers, have an impact on young scientists. Occasionally I hear from doctoral candidates who participated in our trainings and then considered a career in science communication or science writing. It really makes my day.
I joined the University of Luxembourg in January 2019. Before, I worked in Germany, where I still live and from where I am commuting daily to Luxembourg. I was living close to Luxembourg already when I saw the job posting, which was a perfect fit with my background in biology and science journalism. I am fluent in German and English and also speak Silesian (Polish) and some French. As the Project Manager of DESCOM I am in charge of organising different kinds of trainings in science communication for doctoral candidates in Luxembourg. So apart of administrative tasks, I am managing our science communication course and internships, but also plan and carry out outreach activities. In the context of those activities, like our science comics, scientists learn how to communicate science.
What do you like most about your job?
I like the creative freedom and the possibility to realize projects I really care about. But what I like most about my job is that the things I do and DESCOM offers, have an impact on young scientists. Occasionally I hear from doctoral candidates who participated in our trainings and then considered a career in science communication or science writing. It really makes my day.
What does a typical day look for you?
There is no typical day. But mostly it starts with answering some emails, followed by meetings with colleagues, bringing ideas to paper, finding collaborators and suppliers, organizing events or writing proposals.
What makes doing research in Luxembourg special?
I cannot really answer that question, as I have never done research myself in Luxembourg. But it seems to me that in a small country like Luxembourg it is easier to implement something on a nation-wide level and measure the impact. In case you wonder what doing a PhD is like, we made a comic about that.
Which is your favorite place in Luxembourg?
I think it’s the Mullerthal with its beautiful forests and magical sand stones. Hiking there is highly recommended!
What would you miss most when leaving Luxembourg?
Probably I’d miss all those inspiring people I met here.
What’s your advice for a newcomer to Luxembourg?
Make an effort to get to know the people you are working with. It makes everything easier.
What surprised you most about Luxembourg?
All those traffic jams and how long it takes to get from A to B using public transport.
What was the most rewarding experience in your job so far?
When I heard that our science comic LUX:plorations was nominated for a GINCO Award. Even though we did not win it at the end, this external appreciation for our work was very rewarding. Especially, as this was the first project within DESCOM I was involved in from the very beginning. It feels like my little science communication baby that came to life with the help of over 30 collaborators. At times, it was very challenging to make it work, but at the end, it worked out very well – thanks to the team effort and the amazing artists that collaborated with us. Volume 2 is out now too!