Anna Duncan is a tenure track assistant professor at the Department of Chemistry at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, where she works with computer modelling of biological membranes and membrane proteins. The aim of her research is to understand how the many components of biological membranes work together to perform their function.
She describes herself as being in the midst of transitioning from a postdoc to starting her own research group.
"I primarily do my own research, but I'm working on recruiting members for my own research group. Once that’s in place, then things like supervision and meetings with students will also begin to take up more of my time. And I’ll also have more teaching hours," says Anna Duncan.
She is currently on parental leave with her youngest child, but Anna began her tenure track position last year, which meant that she and her family had to move from England to Aarhus.
She has an undergraduate degree in Mathematics from Oxford University, a Master's degree in Cheminformatics from York University, a PhD from Cambridge University and finally, a postdoc at Oxford University.
"I’ve always loved researching and exploring topics that I’m interested in. It’s taken me in multiple directions and given me a slightly unusual profile. I’ve never considered a career in the private sector. I’ve always wanted any potential benefits from my work to be used for the common good ," says Anna Duncan.
Before she moved to Denmark, she had heard good things about Aarhus University and the Department of Chemistry from colleagues and students at Oxford University. And even though moving away from England was a difficult decision to make, Anna feels that the university has helped her land on her feet.
"We received a lot of support from the department and the university. We had help finding temporary housing, and my partner has had help with his job search in Denmark. This makes a big difference when you’re moving to a new country and starting a new job,” she says.
Even though she has not yet spent much time at the Department of Chemistry due to parental leave, she is positive about what she’s seen so far. She was welcomed by new colleagues who were open and accommodating on a professional and personal level.
"I like the informality and the flat hierarchy. I think this is important for coming up with new ideas – that people aren’t afraid of asking questions. I like the fact that there’s lots of excellent science and good people to work with. And I get the sense that there’s a pretty healthy attitude towards work-life balance. That can sometimes be hard to find in academia," says Anna Duncan.
There are three things Anna has learned that she’d like to impart to anyone considering a career within academia:
"I've always let my interests guide me and conducted research within the areas I found exciting and interesting. I’ve also always tried to say yes to different opportunities, like collaborations, new projects or jobs I’ve been offered. And I've found good mentors along the way. Having someone to provide support and advice is important in an academic career,” she says.
