When starting a new journey in any career, we idolize many reputable names who are already ruling in that field for their dedication and expertise in work. The guidelines they share from their experience become an asset for all young entrepreneurs who are ready to step in.
In the field of research and medicine, Jan Van Deursen also stands among those iconic names for their remarkable contribution to providing discoveries that are an asset to us today. A new subject line for professional profiles is Jan Van Deursen.
His personal experience and opinions on academia followed with greater scientific community; all have been discussed in the interview conducted by an online publication focusing on health and wellness issues.
Throughout the conversation, he offered some of the best advice to anyone thinking about making a career out of science.
“You need to be extremely passionate about science in order to succeed in it and make it a career. Long hours are required, and simple discoveries have already been made”
Keep reading if you are also the one who is willing to keep their entrepreneurial spirit; his advice will certainly help you establish a successful professional life.
Chunk of Advices by Jan Van Deursen for Entrepreneurs
Q 1 – What one piece of advice would you provide to a newcomer to your industry?
You need to be extremely passionate about science to succeed and make it your career. Long hours are involved, and simple discoveries have already been made. Making novel discoveries truly takes time and effort, as they are difficult to come by. Therefore, cutting-edge science is not the ideal option for you if you are not passionate about your work, at least not in the long run. Without that enthusiasm, one can still have a career, but in our industry, one is more likely to reach a professional plateau early.
In science, it's important to publish your work in addition to producing quality work. Getting your study published in a well-regarded journal takes time and effort. You submit it, they review it, if they are interested, so they will get back to you with series of inquiries.
After responding to these, there are typically additional questions. It can take you a year or more to finish updating your study and resubmitting it in the hopes that it will be accepted this time. There is also no assurance that they will. The takeaway is that it's a difficult industry; therefore, perseverance and effort are required.
Q2 – Who has served as your role model, and why?
My Ph.D. advisor, had a forward-thinking approach, significantly influenced my professional life. He was motivated to increase our understanding of genetic illnesses to develop novel treatments and was not reluctant to conduct high-risk research. He was a thoughtful, exacting scientist.
He tolerated me because I always wanted things finished right away, and yesterday. He recognized and appreciated my talent, and I learned much from him throughout our association.
Q 3 – How do you manage to retain a stable work-life balance?
My more than 25 years of marriage and three adult children have kept me grounded. It can be difficult to work hard and maintain a family life simultaneously. Working in a small city is my answer. One hundred twenty-five thousand people are living in Rochester. My commute to work was ten minutes for more than 20 years.
I could spend that time with my family instead of traveling for two hours every day. Although it may not be the most creative solution, it can significantly impact even something as simple as reducing commute time.
Q 4 – What is one piece of advice you would like to leave our readers with?
My three adult children and more than 25 years of marriage have grounded me. Working hard while still managing a family life can be challenging. I recommend working in a small town. In Rochester, 125,000 people are living. For more than 20 years, my trip to work took ten minutes.
Instead of spending two hours a day traveling, I could use that time to spend with my family. Even while it might not be the most inventive answer, cutting down on commuting times can make a big difference.
To conclude;
His answers provided vision in terms of balancing work/balance life, what influence him to stay motivated in his profession and what he expect with young entrepreneurs to do when starting new career.
In addition to serving as chair of the Mayo Clinic's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dr. Jan Van Deursen mentored other young scientists. Then, these students will forward the work their mentors have already completed.
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