What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your line of research
I am a postdoctoral researcher in the Cell Cycle Regulation lab, at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência in Portugal. I study how and why the centrosome – typically the microtubule organizing center in the cell – is lost in the muscle cells of some animal species but not others. I am also a prelighter, and mostly highlight preprints on my favourite subject: the cytoskeleton!
What are you excited about in science communication?
We are living in the “connected” age. Never before there were so many answers just a click away. The Life Sciences benefited greatly from this digital revolution, as we can now carry the vastness of the scientific literature in our pockets. Yet, science communication does not seem to be evolving at the same pace: we are performing more specialized research at a faster pace without a proportional investment in efficient communication to our peers and to the general population. Fortunately, we are becoming more aware of this gap and of its implications for society. I am happy to see a growing number of scientists joining efforts to improve the way we communicate at many levels, making this a fascinating moment to get involved and contribute.
Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?
ASAPbio is at the forefront of promoting innovation and transparency in science communication, and preprints are obviously a key component towards a needed improvement. This program is a great opportunity to extensively learn from, and discuss with, some of the most preprint-savvy people out there! Hopefully, this will allow me to propagate this knowledge and start new discussions around me.
Ask me about…
Grant lottery, Journal-agnostic peer review, Eco-Friendly Lab Practices, DORA, Mentorship Assessment, Science Comedy, Prelights and obviously … Preprints! Twitter: @Maf_Pimentel