Soheila Aghlmandi: «What fascinates me about research - when chaotic data becomes a pattern»

If I wasn't working in research, my dream job would be ...
Psychologist. I am always fascinated by how people think, make decisions and give meaning to their lives.

I became a researcher because ...
To be honest, it wasn't much of a plan: it came about through opportunities that presented themselves at the right time.

What fascinates me about research is ...
The moment when a coherent pattern becomes visible from chaotic, imperfect data.

I gained my first research experience as / at ...
Immediately after my BSc, as a research fellow at Ardabil Medical University, my hometown in Iran. I worked on a cancer registry in collaboration with the International Agency for Cancer Research in France.

One research question I would like to solve is ...
I would really love to find out whether the patterns of antibiotic prescribing observed in Swiss primary care have measurable, long-term effects on the development of the child's microbiome and immune programming.

What I particularly appreciate about research is ...
The culture of accountability.

«I particularly enjoy working at the interface between clinical issues and data science - in a team with complementary skills»

Have you already carried out projects with the PFZ or are you currently planning one?
Yes, several, and throughout the entire research cycle. I was very fortunate to be involved in the entire research phase, from conception to analysis, which was immensely fulfilling for me.

My current project is ...
A cohort study on infant health outcomes after prenatal exposure to immunosuppressive drugs. We analyse hospitalisations, infections and growth parameters using Swiss health insurance data with the aim of providing an evidence-based foundation for the clinical counselling of pregnant patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.

What I particularly like about my current work is ...
Leading a team with truly complementary skills and working at the intersection of clinical issues and data science, where the impact feels very real.

What I like less about my current work is ...
The administrative burden associated with institutional research.

«My advice to my 18-year-old self:
Not every perfectionism gets you further.»

Who or what inspires me - and why ...
Clinical workers who ask questions that are actually relevant to patients.

The advice I would give my 18-year-old self ...
Learn to distinguish between productive perfectionism and perfectionism that delays action.

If I could spend a day working with a famous scientist, it would be ... and why?
Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to win the Fields Medal. She approached even the most abstract problems with fearless, playful curiosity. I find her willingness to embrace complexity, avoid hasty conclusions and trust that rigour and imagination belong together deeply inspiring.

My favourite music to listen to when I want to concentrate on my research is ...
Music without singing

What is important to me is ...
Intellectual honesty, transparency in dealing with uncertainty and work with a real connection to improving care.

On Sunday mornings I enjoy ...
A quiet Sunday morning with coffee, chatting with the family or reading away from work.

Something surprising about me is ...
The curiosity driven by my inner child, while in practice I am a solution-orientated adult.

The best thing that happened to me in 2025 was ...
There were several highlights this year - I honestly can't pick just one.

What I would like to see at the moment is ...
More peace in the world.

The last book I read was ...
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig - a novel about all the lives we don't live and the choices we leave behind. Deceptively light, but it asks serious questions about regret and what it means to live a life that truly feels like your own.

The three things I would take with me to a desert island are ...
I honestly don't see myself going 😊😊