Afsie Sabokbar

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR ROLE

I am the DGS for over 70 post-graduate research and 15 MSc taught students at Botnar and have been in my role since 2002. I started my post-doc research in immunology in 1989 (funded by BHF) at University of Durham (2 years) followed by 3 years at University of Cambridge where I undertook my very first research (funded by Action Medical Research) in ‘osteoimmunology , mainly in orthopaedics and rheumatological conditions. In 1994 I became a Wellcome-funded post-doc at Oxford and after a few years I started my own research group, in collaboration with various colleagues from Oxford, London & Cambridge.

I am very passionate about students’ academic progression and as such was appointed as the Director of Skills Training in Medical Sciences Division in 2016. Having very efficient and competent colleagues at Botnar & MSD makes my duties much easier and with my experience as a researcher, PI, DGS and a mother, I have been in a very privileged position to provide academic & pastoral support for a wide range of scientists at the Division. 

WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL ASPECT OF YOUR WORK?

To ensure all post-graduate research students have a gratifying experience whilst at NDORMS and continue to fulfil their utmost potential in their future career. 

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT SOMETHING YOU'VE DONE, CONTRIBUTED TO THAT YOU'RE MOST PROUD OF?

Being a mother makes the person I am and my life experience has taught me a lot; such as being compassionate, patient and understanding of others.

With these in mind, I am very proud of the part-time biennial MSc taught programme that I wrote and initiated in 2008 (it took me 5 years to launch it whist being a PI, supervising students & post-docs, undertaking the DGS role and working part-time, looking after my two young children).

WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO SEE IN THE MEDICAL SCIENCES IN THE NEXT 100 YEARS?

Would like to see significantly higher number of female scientists from the BAME groups in leadership & decision-making roles in MSD. 

Meet other NDORMS women