This summer, you have the chance to get to know some of the postdoctoral researchers at our university. Our portrait series highlights the diversity within this group of University of Graz research talents - and obviously the fascinating research that they do. Here are four questions for....
Pedro Acosta-Manzano, Institute of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health
1) Tell us a little about yourself, and your journey to become a researcher at Uni Graz.
I am Pedro Acosta, a Spanish postdoc and exercise scientist who conducted his PhD at the University of Granada, Spain. During this time, my passion for traveling prompted me to do a research stay at Uni Graz, together with Mireille von Poppel, which was very fruitful and enjoyable. During my last year as PhD candidate, she proposed that we apply for the MSCA-IF. As living abroad was one of my dreams and I am passionate about science, I decided to go ahead with it. In a few months, we had developed the idea and applied for the MSCA-IF. One year after, here I was.
2) What are you currently researching, and why do you think it is important (and/or interesting)?
My amazing team and I are exploring the effects of exercise on maternal and foetal metabolism during pregnancy, with a special focus on pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. Our research is especially relevant for these women since exercise during pregnancy may help to prevent future diseases and birth complications. Exercise is indeed a powerful polypill able to optimise health not only in the mother, but also in the baby and possibly in next generations.
3) What gives you joy in your everyday work life & what are some challenges?
What I most enjoy daily is working with friendly people, learning new things every day, facing new challenges and proving myself, travelling and establishing new collaborations, helping people to improve their lives, and having scientific discussions with colleagues. The main challenge I usually face is working at the same time as student assistant, project manager, PhD candidate, supervisor, lecturer, principal investigator, and other responsibilities that postdocs often assume imperceptibly and under uncertain conditions. Of course, I cannot forget about trying to secure funding for my team and myself either.
4) What's next for you this year/next year?
That's a big question I am still trying to figure out. Indeed, this will be a busy year finishing the project, writing articles, travelling to conferences, teaching, enjoying Austria, and visiting my friends and family. As for next year, it is still quite uncertain due to the lack of funding, my partner’s job and our personal life. Indeed, my partner and I will take important decisions and make changes in our lives. So, it might be that we come back to our home country, we stay here, we move to another country. We are not sure yet, which is also somehow exciting.
Picture credit: Pedro Acosta-Manzano (privat)
Interviewer: Johanna Stadlbauer, July 2024
P.S. You can read every portrait in this interview series with Uni Graz postdocs right now!