Researching Climate-Resilient Plants: Dr Justyna Olas on Science and Leadership at IGZ
What originally drew you to plant research?
Justyna Olas: A pivotal moment was moving from Poland to Denmark to continue my studies in Copenhagen. There, for the first time I had the opportunity to work in an international environment with colleagues from many different countries, all enthusiastic and passionate about science, and this made me realise that this was exactly the work I wanted: understanding plants, using molecular tools, and being part of a global scientific community.
Your career has taken you from Poland to Denmark, then to the Max Planck Institute and the University in Potsdam, and now to Großbeeren. Which experiences shaped you most?
Justyna Olas: Every stage was formative. Denmark gave me my first exposure to international research, Potsdam taught me independent scientific thinking and molecular plant biology, and later postdoc and group leadership roles developed my skills in project management and mentoring and in developing research ideas. Together, these experiences shaped my scientific perspective and led me to where I am today.
Your group studies how plants integrate developmental programmes with stress signals. What does this mean and why is it important?
Justyna Olas: Plants cannot escape stressful environmental conditions, such as heat stress. Instead, they have developed fascinating adaptive strategies that allow them to survive by adjusting growth, altering flowering time or modulating fruit production. We investigate the molecular mechanisms behind these adaptations, especially “thermal memory” – the ability to remember previous heat events and respond more effectively in the future. A key question we address is whether mechanisms identified in in model species like Arabidopsis are conserved in horticultural crops such as tomatoes. Our steps include testing this conservation, identifying additional molecular regulators, and applying this knowledge to improve crop resilience. This is essential for developing horticultural crops more resilient to climate change.
The possibility of transferring fundamental knowledge from model plants to crops is especially thrilling. It connects scientific curiosity with social relevance – helping plants survive extreme temperatures is both exciting and meaningful.
How has leading your own group changed your scientific work?
Justyna Olas: I now split my time between doing science and enabling others to do science. This involves developing projects, securing funding, building collaborations, and supporting my team. What has changed most is the level of responsibility: I am not only responsible for my own experiments, but also for creating an environment where students and postdocs can grow scientifically and personally. I enjoy this shift because it allows me to shape a research direction, mentor young scientists, and build a team that shares a common vision.
How would you describe your leadership style?
Justyna Olas: Supportive, collaborative, and empowering. I provide space for independence while offering guidance and structure when needed. Communication, openness, and trust are essential.
The IGZ has a notably balanced distribution of leadership positions between women and men compared to many other research institutions. How do you experience this culture in everyday work?
Justyna Olas: The balanced gender distribution fosters an inclusive, supportive and open environment where diversity feels normal. Young female researchers feel comfortable contributing ideas. Having a female Scientific Director is an inspiring example of excellent and inclusive leadership. Her approach creates a culture where colleagues feel valued, respected, and encouraged to contribute. All in all, the whole encourages collaborative decision-making rather than strict hierarchy. As a result, younger researchers, and especially women, feel more comfortable contributing ideas and taking initiative. This diversity strengthens creativity and innovation across the institute.
What structural changes are needed to ensure genuine equality of opportunity in academia?
Justyna Olas: Increasing the number of women in leadership positions is essential, but it is not sufficient on its own. Representation matters. It changes perceptions of who can lead and provides important role models. At the IGZ, having a female Scientific Director and female research group leaders shows how powerful this visibility can be. However, to achieve genuine equality of opportunity, we need more than visibility. We need structures that especially support women with children, so that they are not forced to choose between a scientific career and family life. This includes family-friendly scheduling, flexible work models, reliable childcare options, and evaluation systems that recognise different life phases – measures, many of which have already been implemented here at the IGZ and from which I have benefited during my time here.
Only when representation and supportive structures come together can we ensure that women – including mothers – have the same opportunities to succeed and lead in science as their male colleagues.
What advice do you have for early-career women scientists?
Justyna Olas: Believe in your abilities and stay curious. Your perspective is needed. It is easy to doubt yourself, especially in competitive environments, but confidence grows with experience, and every small step counts.
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