Women in Science – Ly Porosk

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. As the second profile, we present Ly Porosk (PhD in Biomedical Technology), a researcher in peptide chemistry.

How did your scientific journey begin and what initially drew you to science?

My research field focuses on cell-penetrating peptides. Currently, I concentrate on the development and refinement of computational methods for their more precise and efficient design, enabling improved transport of target materials. As I am also interested in whether the designed peptides are indeed more effective, my work includes their experimental validation.

I was drawn to science by the realisation that many questions do not have definitive answers, combined with a desire to understand what, why, and how. This curiosity has likely remained the driving force behind my research to this day. I encountered peptides already during my bachelor’s studies and, in one way or another, have continued working with them ever since—albeit with different research questions. I believe that the specific path that led me to my research field is less important than the reasons why I chose to remain in it.

My supervisors played an important role here, particularly through the support they provided and the opportunities to actively contribute to the scientific process. As the current focus is on outstanding women in science, I would like to express special gratitude to my student-level supervisor, Piret Arukuusk, who is also an excellent example of a remarkable woman in science.

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

Peptides are exceptionally diverse molecules with significant application potential across numerous scientific and applied fields. Cell-penetrating peptides represent a particularly promising approach for applying peptides to improve human well-being. Although various methods have been developed to deliver pharmaceuticals and other biotechnologically important molecules into cells, peptides stand out due to their potentially higher efficiency, improved safety profiles, and highly versatile design possibilities.

Safety and efficacy are always of central importance in medicine, and it is possible that the next significant advancement toward safer therapeutic approaches will originate from cell-penetrating peptides. Considering current technological capabilities, decades of accumulated research, and the growing demand for alternative solutions, progress in this field is more tangible than ever before.

My contribution lies in the targeted selection of the most suitable peptides already at the design stage, as well as in the development of generalizable principles that would enable other research groups to efficiently and purposefully adapt their own cell-penetrating peptides.

What values or principles are important to you in your work as a scientist?

For me, the most important values as a scientist have remained consistent over the years, although the principles guiding my work have required adjustment at different stages of life. The most central of these is curiosity—the fundamental driving force of scientific research. If curiosity is lost, it may be worth considering alternative paths. Equally important is skepticism: both one’s own results and those of others must be interpreted based on data rather than emotions.

For me, respect means understanding that conclusions can only be drawn from available information, and that views I held with confidence at the beginning of my scientific career may change over time. Therefore, open discussion and constructive criticism are essential in science—both in receiving and in giving them. Another important value is resilience, as scientific work consists of very different phases: sometimes the focus is on growth and the search for new ideas, at other times on data analysis or writing, and occasionally simply on coping with tight schedules and high expectations. Increasingly, I have learned to be adaptable and open-minded, because although new opportunities may seem intimidating, they contribute to growth both as a scientist and as a person.

At present, my work is guided particularly clearly by the understanding that resources are limited, and therefore it is worth investing effort where the impact is greatest. This can also be described through the 80/20 principle: focusing on the small proportion that determines most of the outcome, and accepting that it is neither possible nor necessary to do everything.

What would you like to say to young people (especially girls and young women) who are considering choosing a path in science or technology?

First, do your background research before making decisions and, if possible, speak to those who are already working in the field that interests you. Their experiences can help clarify what the path is truly like. Second, choices are not final and can be adjusted if necessary; therefore, there is no need to overthink them. In many cases, genuine suitability and interest only become clear during the process itself.

Read about Women in Science thematic week

Read about group of transport peptides

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