Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Peter Tessarz and since September 2023 I am a professor of Human Biology at the science faculty of Radboud University, arriving from the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Cologne, Germany. I have been teaching for over 10 years, mainly in the area of molecular biology and biochemistry. At Radboud I will be involved in the 1-st year Bachelor course Human Biology, but I might be seen in Cellular Biochemistry as well. In addition, I am the specialisation coordinator for the Human Biology track within the Master's program Medical Biology.
Why did you choose to study/work in this field? What makes this field so interesting?
I like this field as it gives you the possibility to get an insight into the molecular events that govern how our cells and bodies work and that it sits pretty much in the middle between the sciences and medicine.
What do you like best about being a lecturer?
The best part of the role as a lecturer is to see when students start grasping concepts and begin to connect dots between the various disciplines and scales in biology as well as to see how they grow and develop their passion for a specific field.
What are you currently doing your own research on?
My research deals with the question of how cellular metabolism is intertwined with epigenetics, i.e. how gene expression is regulated in a wider sense. We are particularly interested in understanding how this crosstalk is maintained or altered during ageing or age-related disease.
What advice do you have for students making their study choice?
Most importantly: Go with your interest and passion! At the same time, try and make an informed decision on your field of study, go to open days, talk to students enrolled in the programme and find out as much as possible about the structure and expectations.