Women in Science - Online Interviews - Dr. Irene Wagner-Döbler

Dr. Irene Wagner-Döbler

1. Give a brief description of your job telling what you do, (a day in your life) but also what you do specifically in your position.

My husband gets up at 5, me at 6 o'clock. While the children are still sleeping, I have my first cup of tea and do some work at the computer. We then have breakfast together, and then Ferdinand goes to the bus which takes him to school and I take Nikolas to Kindergarten by car. Between 8 and 9 h I am usually in the institute.
I am a senior scientist in a large department of Microbiology. Presently I have a very small group (two Ph.D. students, one diploma student). With each of the students I have daily discussions and look at their data. Then, there is a lot of organizing and administrative work to do. I am responsible for a Mobile Laboratory at the GBF and go on field trips at least once per month. Most of the time I work on publications and grant applications and I also give a lecture at the University.
Lunch is usually ignored, or I go into town to get some things for the family. Around 17h I leave the institute (on two days per week already at 12.30 h). At home the children have been taken care of by our nanny, a young lady who has been with us for five years now. Often they play with friends or neighbours or simply outside in the garden and the construction sites nearby which are not yet completed.
My husband too usually comes home between 17 and 18 h, except on Fridays, where he takes care of the children and comes home at 13 h. We then have supper and the children are put to bed between 8 and 9 h (usually by me).
Then, I start working on the computer again. Or else, if I am too tired, I write a letter, do a phone call, read a book and go to bed.

2. How did you decide upon your career? When did you know you wanted to do it and how did you prepare for it?

I am a classical biologist, started with aquaria and hunting for water flea, inspired originally by books of Konrad Lorenz (which nowadays I feel rather critical about). Thus, I studied biology. My Ph.D. thesis was the time which affected me most and created a deep love for field work and the process of scientific knowledge gaining. The person who influenced me most was my supervisor. I never prepared for any type of career and also never pursued the scientific career strategically. At several points I seriously considered other options. For example, I never did a postdoc in the States (USA-shunt), but rather took the job as management assistant at the GBF, basically because it was a good job and brought me closer to my husband.

3. What is the best thing about your job?

What I like best is the day to day excitement and curiosity about the experiments, interactions with students, cooperations with colleagues and going to meetings. I also enjoy writing papers and articles.

4. What do you like the least?

What I hate is fighting for power and promotion and handle hierarchies.

5. As a kid, what kinds of things did you do to prepare for this job? What books did you read or what things did you do that let you know you would like this field?

Never prepared for any job. I had a great deal of freedom, and the possibility to mess around with half a dozen aquaria. And it was generally assumed that it was important for me as a woman as well as for any man to pursue my strongest interests and make a living of my own and have a career which would not end at the moment when I met a man for life or had children.

6. Was there any person (parent, teacher, mentor, professor) you felt influenced you to pursue this field?

My supervisor.

7. What is your favorite quote?

... Im Acheron schwimmt eine Frau Über die Taiga fliegt eine Elster Der Fährmann bin ich nicht. Achternbusch ... A woman swims in the Acheron A magpie flies over the taiga I'm not the ferry driver. Achternbusch

8. What advice do you have for young women who might be interested in the field of science?

Chose a man who loves you and who really supports your ambitions. That means he must be willing to accept compromises which take his time, energy and money.

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1.	Give a brief description of your job telling what you do, (a day in your life) but also what you do specifically in your position.
	My husband gets up at 5, me at 6 o'clock. While the children are still sleeping, I have my first cup of tea and do some work at the computer. We then have breakfast together, and then Ferdinand goes to the bus which takes him to school and I take Nikolas to Kindergarten by car. Between 8 and 9 h I am usually in the institute. I am a senior scientist in a large department of Microbiology. Presently I have a very small group (two Ph.D. students, one diploma student). With each of the students I have daily discussions and look at their data. Then, there is a lot of organizing and administrative work to do. I am responsible for a Mobile Laboratory at the GBF and go on field trips at least once per month. Most of the time I work on publications and grant applications and I also give a lecture at the University. Lunch is usually ignored, or I go into town to get some things for the family. Around 17h I leave the institute (on two days per week already at 12.30 h). At home the children have been taken care of by our nanny, a young lady who has been with us for five years now. Often they play with friends or neighbours or simply outside in the garden and the construction sites nearby which are not yet completed. My husband too usually comes home between 17 and 18 h, except on Fridays, where he takes care of the children and comes home at 13 h. We then have supper and the children are put to bed between 8 and 9 h (usually by me). Then, I start working on the computer again. Or else, if I am too tired, I write a letter, do a phone call, read a book and go to bed.
2.	How did you decide upon your career? When did you know you wanted to do it and how did you prepare for it?
	I am a classical biologist, started with aquaria and hunting for water flea, inspired originally by books of Konrad Lorenz (which nowadays I feel rather critical about). Thus, I studied biology. My Ph.D. thesis was the time which affected me most and created a deep love for field work and the process of scientific knowledge gaining. The person who influenced me most was my supervisor. I never prepared for any type of career and also never pursued the scientific career strategically. At several points I seriously considered other options. For example, I never did a postdoc in the States (USA-shunt), but rather took the job as management assistant at the GBF, basically because it was a good job and brought me closer to my husband.
3.	What is the best thing about your job?
	What I like best is the day to day excitement and curiosity about the experiments, interactions with students, cooperations with colleagues and going to meetings. I also enjoy writing papers and articles.
4.	What do you like the least?
	What I hate is fighting for power and promotion and handle hierarchies.
5.	As a kid, what kinds of things did you do to prepare for this job? What books did you read or what things did you do that let you know you would like this field?
	Never prepared for any job. I had a great deal of freedom, and the possibility to mess around with half a dozen aquaria. And it was generally assumed that it was important for me as a woman as well as for any man to pursue my strongest interests and make a living of my own and have a career which would not end at the moment when I met a man for life or had children.
6.	Was there any person (parent, teacher, mentor, professor) you felt influenced you to pursue this field?
	My supervisor.
7.	What is your favorite quote?
	... Im Acheron schwimmt eine Frau Über die Taiga fliegt eine Elster Der Fährmann bin ich nicht. Achternbusch ... A woman swims in the Acheron A magpie flies over the taiga I'm not the ferry driver. Achternbusch
8.	What advice do you have for young women who might be interested in the field of science?
	Chose a man who loves you and who really supports your ambitions. That means he must be willing to accept compromises which take his time, energy and money.