Melanie Scharpf is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Division of Gynecological Oncology at Ulm University. She is a principal investigator in the Collaborative Research Center 1506 “Aging at Interfaces”, a university-based research institution funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) in which researchers work together within a multidisciplinary research program.

She graduated in Molecular Medicine at Ulm University and obtained a Ph.D. at the International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine (IGradU). She then continued as a postdoctoral CEMMA fellow at the Division of Gynecological Oncology and later as a postdoc at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt.

Her main research focus lies in understanding the role of DNA damage and replication stress response during aging, with a particular interest in exploring sex differences. During her postdoctoral training, Dr. Scharpf discovered striking sex differences in the regulation of DNA double-strand break repair and replication dynamics in human hematopoietic cells upon aging. In her current projects, she further investigates the interplay between aging-associated DNA damage response and inflammation in human cells.  Her particular focus is the comparison of men and women to uncover sex-specific characteristics in these processes. Her work contributes to understanding genomic instability and its implications for aging and age-related diseases.

Keywords: Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Gynecological Oncology, DNA Repair, DNA Damage Response, Genome Stability, Genome Replication, Gender 

Ulm – September 28th, 2023

How did you (decide to) become a scientist?

I became interested in science during school while I was attending science classes. In particular, I was fascinated by Biotechnology. I struggled with whether I should study Medicine or Life Sciences. In the end, I decided that Life Sciences would be more interesting and so it was.

What is your drive and excitement in science and in doing what you do now? 

Now at the CRC network, it’s the first time I am a PI (Principal Investigator). I have my own funding for this project. I have written a proposal for the first time, so it’s based on my own ideas. I enjoy doing what I’m interested in, ask the questions that I want to address and then find out whether something is true or not.  This is quite exciting and new for me right now. Before I was working on research projects designed by other people, and I was dependent on their decisions. Now, I’m more independent in my research.

Would you have one word to give as a gift to other women and more in general to young aspiring scientists, women or men?

They should trust their skills. When I was young, I was very shy and I thought that I would not be able to achieve things. However, as I progressed step by step, I realized that I could do it.  If you’re considering a research career, you should find a topic that you’re interested in.

Doing research needs some kind of intrinsic drive because it can be quite demanding and exhausting. You need to love what you’re doing and stay interested to keep going. Only in this way, you can keep your motivation alive.