Deborah Oakley

The Journal of Cell Science has selected Irene Miguel-Aliaga, who leads the Gut Signalling and Metabolism group at the MRC’s Clinical Sciences Centre at Imperial College, as a ‘Cell Scientist to Watch’. Miguel-Aliaga is one of four chosen so far by the journal for a series it says will “support the next generation of cell biologists.”

Last week, the journal published a two-page article and a video interview with Miguel-Aliaga in which she discusses how a TV series about lizard aliens invading Earth inspired her to become a scientist.

She also talks about setbacks in science. “I think sometimes the roadblocks are your own set of preconceptions,” says Miguel-Aliaga. She also thinks that we can be our own worst enemy: “Human nature means that, even if we try not to be, we tend to be too hypothesis driven.”

Talking about her motivation for the future she says, “I like it when we get weird results, and when, two years down the line, you find yourself working on something that you never thought you’d be working on.”

Read the full interview, find out more about the ‘Cell Scientist to Watch’ series and Miguel-Aliaga’s latest work on the gut.

For further information, contact:

Deborah Oakley
Science Communications Officer
MRC Clinical Sciences Centre
Du Cane Road
London W12 0NN
T: 0208 383 3791
M: 07711 016942
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