Malin Linder Nording is an associate professor in chemistry whose research combines advanced mass spectrometry and metabolomics to better understand human health and disease. By linking molecular data to real-world clinical challenges, her work helps pave the way for more personalised diagnostics and treatments, with applications ranging from inflammation and pain to pregnancy-related disorders.
What do you enjoy most about working here?
– I enjoy a lot the freedom to shape most of my work from a place of curiosity. There are always many doors open and many possible directions to explore, and the university gives individuals considerable autonomy to find their own path and develop their own ideas and expression. But the academic environment is not always easy to navigate. It can be hierarchical and competitive, so the best ideas do not always find an easy path forward. Still, I appreciate having the space to reflect, choose and create new possibilities together with my colleagues.
How do different backgrounds and perspectives contribute to the workplace?
– Different backgrounds and perspectives can challenge what we take for granted and make us see both problems and possibilities in new ways. To me, diversity is about creating a workplace where people are given enough space to think differently and develop their own ideas. When that space exists, differences become a source of creativity and learning, and not something that has to fit into a predefined way of working.