RAN Newsletter 02/2025 New Contact Person: Attention Junior Scientists!

Dr Aykut, at just 35, you’ve already built an impressive career in research and clinical medicine. For several months now, you’ve been actively involved as a mentor with Heidelberg Alumni International. What motivated you to get involved?

I still vividly remember the graduation ball where we took the Hippocratic Oath together. Although it may seem like a ritual or outdated tradition at first glance, this vow embodies timeless values that continue to guide us as physicians today. A key part of this oath is the obligation to pass on the knowledge we have acquired to colleagues and future students. I still benefit today from the wealth of knowledge I received during my studies in Heidelberg. I also had the privilege of having professors and mentors who served as role models, challenging and encouraging me in equal measure. Their knowledge and experience greatly influenced my career path. I want to express my gratitude to these mentors by supporting students in their career planning—just as I was once supported.

What experiences from your own time studying and completing your doctorate at Heidelberg University shape your work as a mentor?

My time in Heidelberg significantly shaped my current understanding of academic medicine. My mentors exemplified the core principles of academic medicine: providing excellent medical care, advancing medicine through research and innovation, and inspiring students. Despite the exciting prospects offered by a career in academic medicine, its attractiveness is declining. I want to pass on the passion and enthusiasm for academic medicine that I developed during my time in Heidelberg and support young colleagues as a mentor.

In your view, what are the biggest challenges for early-career researchers today?

One of the biggest challenges is finding one’s own scientific niche—a field that allows for both professional growth and long-term, sustainable positioning. At the same time, funding bodies and research institutions often demand a clearly defined profile, requiring early specialization. This balancing act between personal curiosity, societal relevance, and viability can make orientation difficult. It is therefore all the more important to align one’s strengths with a topic that offers enough space for innovation and allows for the development of a distinctive, lasting profile.

Was there a defining moment when you decided to pursue a career as a surgeon-scientist?

There wasn’t a single defining moment; rather, my decision gradually developed during medical school. My early interest in surgery deepened through internships at the European Pancreas Center of the Surgical Clinic in Heidelberg. I realized that true progress in surgery is not achieved solely at the operating table but also in the lab. Working with cell cultures and animal models provides vital insights that help make surgeries more precise, less invasive, and more efficient—and ultimately save costs. Seeing experimental research firsthand made it clear to me that clinical skills and scientific curiosity serve the same goal: continuously improving the quality of patient care. This realization was crucial and led me to pursue the path of a surgeon-scientist as a logical continuation of my experiences.

Looking back, what mistakes would you avoid—and which ones turned out to be helpful?

Looking back, one mistake was trying to present every early-career publication as groundbreaking. Over time, I learned that scientific progress is usually incremental and not every study yields spectacular results. Some projects result in articles in prestigious journals, others in smaller—but no less important—contributions to specialized publications. I now believe it’s vital to pursue the scientific process with consistency and thus contribute steadily to the field’s advancement. Every contribution matters as long as it is evidence-based and benefits the discipline. Patience and sustained commitment ultimately prove more valuable than constantly striving for sensational breakthroughs.

What skills are especially important for a successful academic career?

Success in science relies not only on subject expertise and a research-driven mindset, but above all on teamwork and communication skills. An academic career isn’t a lonely race—it’s more like a Formula 1 race, where even the most talented driver can’t succeed without a reliable pit crew. Colleagues who share responsibility, think critically, and offer constructive support are as essential as interdisciplinary partners who bring fresh perspectives. Scientific progress comes from mutual support—not individual achievement. A strong personal network—friends, family, and mentors—acts like a secure base camp, providing support and balance. Therefore, the key skills lie in building and maintaining these relationships, in constructive communication, and in openness to input from all sides.

How do you deal with setbacks or failures in everyday research?

Setbacks are an integral part of research—failed experiments, rejected papers, or unsuccessful grant applications are routine. That’s why persistence and a willingness to learn are crucial. Rather than getting discouraged, I try to analyze the reasons behind each failure and use that insight to refine methods or hypotheses and develop alternative approaches. Research thrives on iteration and adaptation. Embracing uncertainty and learning from negative results are essential. Failures should be viewed as opportunities to advance the scientific process, not as personal defeats.

Have you had mentors or role models who particularly influenced you?

In my second semester of medical school, I worked in the research group of Prof. Dr Thilo Welsch, who was then a surgical resident. Prof. Welsch imparted knowledge, encouraged me continuously, and challenged me with demanding tasks. He embodied the ideal of the surgeon-scientist for me: caring for patients with empathy, tirelessly honing his surgical skills, and contributing to the advancement of the field through basic and translational research. Prof. Welsch impressed me both as a person and as a surgeon-scientist and remains my most important role model to this day. I can say with confidence that every success I’ve had so far was shaped in some way by his support. I’ll always be grateful to him for that.

What can early-career researchers concretely expect from you as a mentor?

Having worked in both Germany and the USA, I’ve gained insight into different academic cultures, which shapes my approach to mentoring. For me, the focus is on individualized, strength- and interest-based mentoring. My role is to support early-career researchers with advice and constructive feedback so they can recognize and develop their potential. My overarching goal is to empower them to build long-term, sustainable academic careers.

Looking back on your academic and professional journey: What advice would you give to young researchers just starting out?

I would encourage young researchers to always let curiosity guide them. Equally essential is perseverance: learning from mistakes and pushing forward with determination. And lastly, it takes courage to break new ground—established paths are often not enough to discover something truly new. This combination of curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to learn is the foundation of a successful scientific career.