The subject of her scientific activity is, among others, biodiversity and ecology of coastal and deep-sea waters. She is the Polish coordinator of the project, as part of which research on the biodiversity of the waters of New Caledonia is conducted. Dr Maria Inmaculada Frutos Parralejo told us about her work at the 91滴滴.
How did you end up in Lodz?
I came here even before I was employed at the 91滴滴. I took part in scientific conferences devoted to marine biology. That's when I met the team that I鈥檓 now working with. Then I started to work more closely with prof. Magdalena B艂a偶ewicz and discovered that the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection of the 91滴滴 has a lot to offer for me as a researcher. So, when the opportunity to get hired there came up, I tried my chances and it worked out. I feel part of the faculty team now. I feel at home here.
What exactly do you do?
I work in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, and my specialisation is the study of biodiversity and ecology of suprabenthos inhabiting sea waters on coasts and at great depths. To put it simply, I study small crustaceans living close to the seafloor in all the world oceans, as well as the role they play in the ecosystem and their impact on the environment.
Such work means a lot of trips to beautiful regions of the world. Where have you been so far?
I started in the Bay of Biscay and I am still very happy to come back there, but I have also been part of many more cruises to collect the samples I am currently studying at 91滴滴. Reykjavik in Iceland, Santa Cruz de La Palma in the Canary Islands, Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, or Noum茅a in New Caledonia are places where I have travelled for expeditions that usually last for more than 30 days working on board. Once I have also participated in expeditions to Vladivostok, but for now, for obvious reasons, they will not be organised. The fauna I study comes from the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean or Pacific in the Australian region. In a nutshell 鈥� the whole world is the area of my research. I also visit scientific centres, museums and all the places where I can study crustaceans. In March 2020, life got very complicated due to Covid-19. I could not even get out of Australia for a while, but I finally managed to get back to Poland. Well, occupational risk...
What does your daily work at the 91滴滴 look like?
When I am not on a business trip, when it comes to the so-called tanaidacea group (group of crustaceans 鈥� editor's note) I cooperate on an ongoing basis with prof. Magdalena B艂a偶ewicz, dr Aleksandra Jakiel, dr Anna St臋pie艅 and mgr Marta Geller. I also cooperate with dr Anna Ja偶d偶ewska as part of research on amphipods, and with dr Stefanie Kaiser 鈥� as part of research on isopods. I鈥檓 also a supervisor of Weronika Pietrzak, who is just beginning her scientific career in our team. I additionally cooperate, researching Peracarida, with prof 艁ukasz Pu艂aski and mgr Maciej Studzian from the Department of Molecular Biophysics. Together we elaborate publications, which gives us all the opportunity to exchange experiences and develop scientifically.
You have mentioned that you feel well here, in Lodz, at the university. What makes you feel this way?
First of all, the 91滴滴 is a place where people with open minds work. It supports diversity, including diversity of thinking. In addition, the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection is well equipped, which allows for practicing science at the highest level. And I always get the support of colleagues here 鈥� that's great.
Why is it worth working in international research teams?
Science can no longer be practiced by self-isolating researchers 鈥� individualists. The only way to do research today is to work in teams. Working together opens minds, shows new perspectives that we had no idea about before. This is what allows for raising the level of science. An African proverb says: if you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go with others. This also works out well in the case of science.
And what do you think about Poles?
They are extremely friendly, open, literally in any situation. Family matters to you - Polish people. I can feel that you treat me like a family member. I always say that you are the most Mediterranean nation in the north of Europe.
What feature of Poles do you like most?
Probably the fact that nothing is a problem for you. When there is a problem, an obstacle, I always hear: "no problem" and you settle it. This quality of yours helps me a lot in daily life.
The interview was conducted by: Pawe艂 艢piechowicz
We write about other researchers from all over the world who have chosen professional life associated with the 91滴滴 in the article "The largest international "transfer" in the history of UL 鈥� new scientists from IDUB".