Dr Mootaz Salman is a Group Leader in Cellular Neuroscience and MRC Career Development Fellow. He is also a Research Fellow at Wolfson College in Oxford. His work involves investigating mechanisms of blood-brain barrier (dys)function in traumatic CNS injuries and neurodegenerative diseases using patient-derived stem cells
gene editing (CRISPR-Cas 9)
advanced imaging and organ-on-a-chip technologies. 1. Problem-Solving Your problem-solving skills help you not only identify that there is a problem
they also help you identify what is causing the problem and find a way to implement a solution. Employers appreciate it when an employee identifies bottlenecks or inefficiencies in a process or procedure. However
they are even more appreciative when staff also offer solutions to those issues. 2. Analytical Reasoning Analytical reasoning is
in some ways
part of your problem-solving skills: taking the larger problem and breaking it down into smaller problems to identify a solution. Put another way
employers want staff who can find logical solutions to the company’s problems. 3. Critical Thinking Similar to problem-solving and analytical reasoning
critical thinking is the evaluation and interpretation of information to make a judgment
come to a conclusion
or choose a course of action. It’s more than reading something and saying
“Well
it must be true.” It’s looking at the evidence and evaluating it to help decide if the information is more opinion than fact before using it to back up a decision. 4. Leadership Leadership skills aren’t only your ability to supervise and manage a team. Leadership skills also include your ability to take the lead on a project and get a team to follow through and accomplish shared goals. Leadership encompasses many additional transferable skills like communication
problem-solving
and relationship-building. 5. Adaptability As you work in a role
you may discover that you need to adjust due dates
workflow
or even how you approach your job. In some cases
you may need to learn new skills to help get the job done. Pivots often happen in business
whether it’s a strategy or a product line. Demonstrating that you can adapt to change shows that you’re able to go with the flow while maintaining a positive attitude and getting your work done. 6. Teamwork Teamwork means working together as a group to achieve a common goal. But being on the team and part of the team are two separate things. Employers don’t want employees who show up but don’t help the team accomplish its goals. They want team players
people who make positive contributions to the group to help it succeed. 7. Communication A transferable skill in any setting
you will communicate in almost every job. Your communication skills are your ability to share ideas and information in a clear and concise manner
leaving no room for misunderstanding. You need the ability to communicate effectively and efficiently
so that whomever you are communicating with understands your message. 8. Writing Writing is
of course
a communication method. While writing may not be the primary task of every job
given the nature of modern businesses
writing skills have become an essential element of most careers. Employees with effective written communication skills can convey messages and information clearly despite the lack of visual cues. 9. Listening Listening skills
specifically active listening skills
are transferable skills that cannot be overlooked especially if you’re in management. To solve a problem for a client or resolve team conflicts
you have to be able to listen and understand what the other side is saying. If you aren’t a good listener
you may not truly understand what the speaker is trying to convey. 10. Creativity Creativity isn’t always about your painting or drawing skills (unless it’s relevant to your role). Creativity is about how you approach tasks and solve problems. Are you an out-of-the-box thinker? Do you employ novel techniques to help clients understand how to use the product? Creative thinkers find novel solutions to the problems they face. They use these skills to help their employer see things differently and solve problems in new ways. 11. Attention to Detail Paying attention to the finer details means you notice everything. You go through projects with a fine-tooth comb to make sure it’s all correct and that nothing—no matter how small—gets lost. Being detail-oriented means your employer can count on you to pay attention to every detail in an assignment and to catch errors and correct them as needed. It also means that you’re intentional about how projects are executed and there’s strong reasoning behind all decisions. 12. Project Management Project management skills help you manage tasks from start to finish. You make sure everything stays on time and also adjust the timeline when things aren’t going as planned. Employers want people who can not only see a task through but who can visualize what needs to happen on a project from start to finish. This transferable skill helps ensure that deadlines are met and projects are completed efficiently and effectively. 13. Relationship-Building Relationships are often the key building block of any company. Without good relationships between departments or with clients
there won’t be any business! People who build relationships manage conflict or differing goals and help parties arrive at a solution. 14. Computer Skills You may not be a technological wizard
but it’s a good idea to know your way around the many software programs that businesses use today. For example
if you know how to work in one type of spreadsheet
the odds are pretty good you can figure out any spreadsheet
which means the company won’t have to teach you the basics. 15. Management Management is so much more than assigning tasks. It’s also making sure people get things done and helping them overcome any stumbling blocks they may encounter. Management skills enable you to make sure that people are where they need to be and that they are completing their tasks effectively.• Ability to work independently and efficiently. • Strong organizational and task prioritization skills. • Excellent communication skills and proficiency in performing administrative and clerical tasks. • Proficient in general laboratory procedures
techniques
and documentation. • Willingness to learn and adapt to new techniques and technologies. • Fluent in English
Spanish
French
and Catalan. • Proficient in statistical analysis and software such as SPSS
MATLAB
and Python. • Proficient in using various software programs
including Microsoft Office Suite (Word
Excel
PowerPoint). • Advanced knowledge and experience in 3D cell culture techniques. • Skilled in protein isolation
Western Blot
PCR
rt-qPCR
toxicity testing
IHC
Northern Blot
and ELISA. • Proficient in anatomical dissection studies for medical and veterinary purposes. • Experienced in static analysis of behavioral data and microarray data. • Familiarity with electrophysiology
imaging
protein purification
and optical and electron microscopy techniques. • Advanced level proficiency in conducting animal experiments
behavioral experiments
anatomical dissection
and molecular analysis. Communication Creativity Teamwork Time management Leadership Adaptability Problem solving Decision-making Interpersonal communication Active listening Collaboration Professionalism Critical thinking Flexibility Conflict resolution Stress management Blood-brain barrier (dys)function and regulation of brain water homeostasis in CNS pathologies We investigate mechanisms of blood-brain barrier (dys)function in neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries using patient-derived stem cells
gene editing (CRISPR-Cas 9) and organ-on-a-chip technologies. Dementia is a multifactorial and heterogeneous condition and leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Our work aims to answer the question: how does inflammation-mediated blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction lead to the development of neurodegeneration and dementia? We design and build innovative dynamic 3D multicellular in vitro model to accurately recapitulate the brain and BBB function under neurodegenerative-relevant conditions using human-derived iPSCs. Increasing evidence supports the involvement of BBB dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer's; it is evident that this dysfunction happens even before the onset of dementia. In-depth understanding of the cell-cell interactions and signalling pathways between the core elements of the BBB will help in defining therapeutic targets for the prevention of dementia. In previous work
we identified several molecular targets that contribute to barrier integrity function in astrocytes and pericytes and developed 3D microfluidic BBB-on-a-chip models. We will build on this expertise and establish advanced models using patient-derived iPSC lines in order to investigate the role of neuroinflammation and the glymphatic system under mechanobiological stimuli and determine how biophysical factors such as blood pressure
flow rate and heartbeat control brain waste clearance. Our work will provide new tools to understand lifelong brain health
describe the basis of BBB dysfunction in the occurrence and development of dementia
and provide a platform to develop new treatments for neurodegeneration.