“You have to be curious and creative” - Interview with Elodie Limberg

On the occasion of Boys Day 2026, Yannick Reuß and Dorde Stojadinovic interviewd PhD student Elodie Limberg about her career and research.  

Were you interested in science even as a child?

Yes. When I was little, I always wanted to be a marine biologist because I used to watch underwater documentaries with my dad all the time. I thought they were really cool. Later, I realized that studying marine biology isn’t as exciting as it seems in documentaries.

How did you end up doing research here? 

Actually, by chance. I saw a presentation by the professor under whom I wrote my master's thesis. I didn't know much about the Max Planck Institute beforehand. After seeing the lecture, I thought it was cool and I ended up here. 

What are you currently researching? 

Here at the institute, we work a lot with stem cells. These are cells that can still become anything, and we’re interested in how they control the process of differentiation into different cell types. For example, your eyes are different from your skin. They're different cells that perform different functions, yet they all originated from a single cell. The cell must keep deciding, "Now I'll do this, and now I'll do that." For that to happen, something must occur inside the cell. That’s what we’re looking into broadly. More specifically, I’m focusing on the elements that regulate this process. They're called genes. These genes also need to be regulated, and I’m looking into how that works.  

Do you plan to stay in research? 

That’s always a difficult question. I can definitely see myself staying in research, though. Staying in research doesn't just mean doing this kind of work here. You can also do research at companies or in the business world. There are many possibilities. I’m still thinking about where exactly I want to do research, but I know I want to continue. 

What would you like to continue researching? 

I find my current work very interesting, but it's very specific and precise at the moment. I could see myself moving more into applied research later on. For example, I could study how regulation works in diseases or how it changes. But that’s not entirely clear yet. 

What do you like and dislike about your work? 

Well, what I like best are my colleagues. They’re great. I like that you’re always learning something new; it’s never boring. Every day, you do something new and plan something new. Of course, we work with cells, and they always need attention, even on weekends. That means you often have to work on weekends, too. I’d obviously prefer that to happen less often. But there are so many great things about the job. 

What does a typical workday look like for you? 

Every day is different. I usually arrive around 9 a.m. and sit down at the computer to check what needs to be done that day. If I have lab work to do, I usually do it in the morning. Then it’s time for lunch, and we always eat together, which is really nice. In the afternoon, I do more work at the computer and plan for the next day. Every day is different. There isn’t really a standard day. 

What skills are important for working here? 

You have to be curious and somewhat creative. You also need to be resilient because things often don’t work out in research. That’s completely normal. The most important thing is understanding why things aren’t working, making the necessary changes, and persevering. Although you're always working on your own project, teamwork and camaraderie are essential in research. This isn't discussed often, but having social skills and being able to work well with others is crucial because the work environment and how much you enjoy your job depend entirely on that. If nobody gets along or talks to each other at work, that’s not a pleasant experience. 

What advice would you give young people regarding their careers? 

When you’re doing your Ph.D., you’ve already completed all your undergraduate work. University programs are usually designed to train researchers. My parents didn’t go to college, and nobody knew what a researcher was. I only found out about it by chance when I was in college. I think you should be open-minded in college. Personally, I tell myself to try everything at least once. If something sounds interesting, try it and then decide if you like it. My advice would be to be open to new experiences, like trying new foods. If it doesn't taste good, then it's not the right fit.