5 Minutes with … Professor Michelle Keske
Prof Keske is a Deputy Director at IPAN and one of our leading diabetes researchers. For National Diabetes Week, we wanted to find out what drives her passion for research.
Q. What’s your research focus in a nutshell?
A. I study how tiny blood vessels known as capillaries play a role in delivering nutrients like sugar and oxygen to skeletal muscle after eating or exercise. When these capillaries don’t work properly, it can cause insulin resistance, which is the initial step towards developing type 2 diabetes and impair our exercise capacity.
Q. You also head up IPAN’s early-mid career research (EMCR) development group. What’s the best piece of advice you could give to an early career researcher?
A. Embrace rejections! Whether from manuscripts or grant applications, view these as opportunities for valuable feedback and the opportunity to improve your work.
Q. What’s something a lot of people don’t know about you?
A. I left school at the age of 15 after completing grade 10 following my family’s tradition of entering the workforce. One year later, I decided to return to school, completed grades 11 and 12, and eventually pursued higher education (Bachelor of Science Degree) and a PhD.
Q. What is the one rule that guides you through life?
A. I’m a big believer in the motto “work hard, play hard”. I try to dedicate time for both professional and personal growth.
Q. What’s your favourite food?
A. My father’s raspberries! I spent my childhood on a farm in Tasmania where we grew a variety of fruits and vegetables, but nothing could beat the raspberries.
Find out more about Michelle’s research here.
