Name: Dorothea Portius
Hometown: Leipzig, Germany
Hobbies: Running, Yoga, Hiking, books, good music
What do you study? I studied nutritional sciences in Germany. I performed my Diploma thesis at the Else-Kröner Fresenius Institute for Nutritional Medicine in Munich. I got interested and passionate about human physiology and medical research. After finishing my diploma thesis, I started my PhD in metabolic diseases specialized on liver metabolism at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Why is it important? It is important to understand human physiology and metabolism. We need to deepen our understanding how organs and tissues are working and communicating together. Only by understanding the different networks and pathways in our cells, we will be able to improve treatments or even find cure for severe diseases and cancers.
What do you like about being a scientist: As a scientist, I am challenged each day with new ideas and experiments. To discover something, which his not know nor understood yet, makes my job very exciting. I hope that my research will give some impact in the future to improve knowledge about body function or even impact on the development for better/ refined treatment options.