Women in Science – Helena Sork

From 9 to 15 February, the Women in Science theme week will be held at the University of Tartu to highlight the role of women and girls in science, break gender stereotypes and encourage women to pursue careers in science. As part of the themed week, female researchers from the Institute of Technology introduce themselves. The first researcher introduced is Helena Sork (PhD in Medicine), who works in nanobiotechnology.

How did your scientific journey begin, and what initially drew you to science?
My research field is drug delivery systems, that is, how to deliver drugs to the correct location in the body. In my doctoral work, I focused on natural carriers and their applications; later, I worked several years with synthetic carriers. Currently, I am trying to bring these two experiences together and find solutions that would represent a step forward.
I cannot say that I had a clear plan to become a scientist from the very beginning. However, from an early age I have been drawn to the idea that some questions can genuinely be answered. Not simply “guessed”, but understood on the basis of evidenceby examining how things actually work. For me, science is precisely the opportunity to search for these real answers.

Why is your research field important both for science and for society more broadly?

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The development of drug delivery systems is one of the major bottlenecks of precision medicine. Often the issue is no longer whether an effective drug exists, but whether we are able to deliver it to the correct target site in the body. My research seeks to better understand how drugs and their carriers reach their targets in the organism, and what makes this process so often inefficient.
This knowledge does not turn into ready-made solutions overnight, but it helps, step by step, to clarify how drug transport functions and to lay the foundation for future improvements.

What values or principles are important to you in your work as a scientist?
For me, everything begins with the team, because science is not done alone. I want to be accessible and genuinely present, so that people find it easy to come and ask questions or discuss ideas. I believe that team culture is shaped largely by what a leader does on a daily basis, which is why it is essential that words and actions are aligned. I also believe that as a leader, you need to know what is really happening in the laboratory; otherwise, it is easy to overlook the points that truly slow a project down and the places where people need support.

What would you like to say to young people (especially girls and young women) who are considering choosing a path in science or technology?
Although science may appear intimidatingly complex from the outside, in everyday practice it is more like solving a puzzle: a little from here, a little from there, until the picture comes together. You do not have to be a “genius”; what you need is curiosity, a willingness to learn, and patience because if something does not work the first or even the tenth time, it does not mean that you do not belong in science. It means that you are doing real research.

If you are still considering your options, it is worth starting with a simple question: what truly interests you, and what would you like to understand better? If the answer leads you toward science or technology, then that path is just as open to you as it is to anyone else - gender says nothing about how good of a scientist or engineer you can become.

Read about Women in Science thematic week

Read about RNA Therapeutics and drug delivery Lab

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