Maria Kyriazi – PhD in Molecular and Cellular Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
With a research focus on aging and age-related chronic diseases, her work seeks to understand the biological mechanisms that lead to degenerative conditions, such as osteoarthritis, aiming to develop preventive and therapeutic interventions.
Having completed her studies at Newcastle University in the UK and continuing at the University of Oxford, she encountered different academic and cultural environments.
“It is important never to allow anyone, or anything, to define our path”
The transition to an international setting from an early age involved adapting linguistically and culturally. Instead of seeing them as obstacles, she used them as catalysts for growth, resilience, and self-awareness. She viewed every challenge as a learning process through which she emerged more mature, stronger, and more persistent.
As she says, “Value and consistency are not defined by age, but by commitment, perseverance, and continuous effort.” She firmly believes in the power of consistency, collaboration, and support in science. Her message to girls is to never allow anyone to define their path and to remember that courage, when paired with integrity, becomes strength.
For PhD Candidate Maria Kyriazi, the journey into science is beautiful; demanding, but full of discovery and meaning.
