She is looking for answers about ageing

Marija was born and raised in Belgrade, and came to Sweden in the early 2000s to study a Master’s programme in bioinformatics. This was then a developing field, and it was the link between biology and maths that attracted her. After doctoral studies in Germany, also with a clear link to biology, she returned to the University of Gothenburg and she has been a lecturer and researcher at the Department of Mathematical Sciences since 2011.

How has research in this field developed?

“As early as the 1950s, attempts were being made to apply mathematical models to biological research. The subject area was then called theoretical biology, and was based on models that were difficult to interpret from a biological perspective and not directly driven by biological questions. It was not until the early 2000s that research at the intersection of biology and maths took off, when mathematicians and biologists actually started talking to each other. New methods mean that biologists are generating large volumes of data that they need help to analyse and, on the other hand, new forms of data require new mathematical methods. So it is the interaction that is driving development in both of these aspects.”

Was it obvious that you would become a mathematician?

“Maths was a safe bet. I liked biology and medicine and thought about becoming a doctor while I as at high school, but I had just met my husband and was not interested in struggling with other subjects. Maths felt easier. I grew up with a father who is an engineer and was always coming up with clever maths things.”

You have recently returned from six months in Singapore. Please tell me about it.

“I had the opportunity to go on sabbatical to Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. I wanted to go to a place where I did not know anyone, so I would be forced to establish new contacts. We live in a rapidly changing world, and we need to be able to step outside our own world and see things from a completely different perspective sometimes. I gained a lot of inspiration to develop things here at home, but also discovered how many good things we are doing here.”

You had your family with you. How did that work?

“It worked well, but there were some culture clashes. For example, in the first week the children frequently had to explain that it was mum who worked and dad who was at home. It was also the first time the children understood what I actually do. Titles are important and I was called Professor Marija everywhere. It was great to be able to take my family with me, because I would never have gone on my own.”

You are a head of research and have also received an Excellence in Teaching Prize. Which is more fun? Research or teaching?

“Both are important to me. In first-cycle courses, it’s important to keep the students who have not chosen maths as their first choice motivated to continue. Maths is a piece of the puzzle in their study programme and they need to be able to put all the pieces together. It’s also important for them to learn how they can get help and learn from each other. At second-cycle level, I can be more creative as a teacher and connect my teaching more closely to research, and when I supervise doctoral students, it is first and foremost about educating the individual, not about the research. The subject area becomes just a way for them to learn everything they need to know.”

You do research on ageing. How far has this research progressed?

“We are now on the verge of being able to build a model of a whole cell using mathematical tools. We use yeast as a model organism, which of course is a simple organism. But when you build a method, it can easily be applied to other organisms. We cannot look at the whole cell experimentally, but modelling can help us see how the different parts interact and what mechanisms are at work.”

Text: Camilla Persson
Photo: Malin Arnesson

Sabbaticalprogrammet

For ten years, the Faculty of Science has run a sabbatical programme for teaching staff and researchers employed in indefinite-term positions. The programme provides financial support for university teachers and researchers to devote their time freely to full-time research for three to six months in an international setting. The aim is development and renewal, for both the individual and the home department.

What drives you, Marija Cvijovic?

WHAT DRIVES YOU IN YOUR RESEARCH?

“I’m not interested in eternal life, but in finding out what happens in the body as we age and why it happens.”

HOW DO YOU TACKLE DIFFICULT TASKS?

“My dad always said: Do the hardest thing first and everything following it will be easier. So I always start the morning by doing challenging tasks, and finish the day doing something fun. Then I always feel like I have had fun at work when I get home.”

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST AT THE MOMENT?

“After having returned from Singapore, I feel like I have new energy and lots of ideas. When you’re on a routine treadmill, it can be hard to be creative. But now I feel as if I have got a fresh start. You also learn a lot about yourself, your strengths and weaknesses.”