In this episode, we sit down with Colinda Scheele, a researcher who focuses on the earliest stages of cancer, revealing the fundamental biology of how healthy cells transform into tumors at VIB-KU Leuven. She believes that to truly conquer cancer, we must first understand how cancer begins and ultimately, how to stop it before it even starts. 

Colinda’s curiosity and a deep drive to understand biological mechanisms have not only shaped her research, but also her unconventional career path. Securing a group leader position straight after her PhD, she proves that success in science isn’t about following a set path, but about taking risks and asking big questions.  

She shares how a fiery passion for discovery has guided her journey, how she disconnects from work, and why embracing risk is at the heart of scientific progress.  

We would love to know how you disconnect from work or how you approach balancing risks in research. Tell us in the comments!

Ready to take your research further? Join VIB – Where top science meets global talent. Check out our open positions at jobs.vib.be.

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Called to Science is a podcast by VIB. Produced by De Praeters.