Love at first science: From lab partners to MSCA power couple

From lab fellows into life partners

Designed to bring researchers together across countries, cultures and disciplines, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme has sparked countless collaborations and lifelong connections in 3 decades.

In the case of Somayyeh Bozorgzadeh and Hassan Hamidi, 2 electrochemists who study the development of health monitoring sensors at the Tyndall National Institute in Cork, it also happens to frame a love story that began in a lab 19 years ago and continues to blossom today.

As they grew from simple lab fellows into life partners, their shared path in research brought them to win two MSCA grants with their own projects. Today, they are beyond grateful to the programme for boosting their research careers and facilitating their family's relocation.

Ahead of Valentine's Day, we spoke to them both to find out how much chemistry runs between them, how science brought them way more than a lasting career and what it's like to be a couple in research nowadays.

How did it all get started?

Somayyeh

We met 19 years ago as PhD students at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS) in Zanjan, Iran, when we both joined the same research group in electrochemistry. At first, we were just colleagues, but we quickly grew fond of each other. We're from different parts of Iran so we got to exchange on our cultures and we built mutual admiration for each other's work. We were working closely every day and we grew closer little by little. This is how it started - but Hassan has a slightly different version!

Hassan 

I love telling that story and Somayyeh loves to deny it! We had already been growing closer while working in the lab and I had been invited to a student party that Somayyeh and fellow students were hosting. She was attending to all the guests, but I felt like she was paying particular attention to me… And without going into detail, that's when our love story really began.

How did you both decide to apply for MSCA?

Hassan

During the pandemic, we were stuck at home and had more time on our hands. We had been encouraged to apply for the MSCA grants, but we knew it was very competitive and we weren't very confident our proposals would make the cut. We both decided to try anyway for the 2020 call. My proposal was selected, and so I received the MSCA grant first.

Somayyeh tried again, and in 2022 she finally made it! Because we had been working under pandemic restrictions for a while, it was even more rewarding to be selected and be able to go back to research fully and independently. We received the good news on Valentine's Day and were able to go out for dinner in Cork that evening and celebrate with our daughter.

How did becoming MSCA researchers change your life?

MSCA is all about mobility, knowledge transfer and building a community.

Somayyeh

MSCA has been a huge support for both of us. It allowed us to further shape our research project and lay the foundation for new research directions within our groups. It made us more confident in our work and gave us more legitimacy to apply for more funding. We were also able to move countries as a family and settle into a completely different culture and working environment.

After four years, Cork certainly feels like home to you both. Did you encounter any difficulties when you first arrived in Ireland?

Hassan

First, of course, there was a culture shock. English isn't our first language and getting used to the accent took a little while - just like driving on the other side of the road. Then all the administrative procedures we needed to do to enrol our daughter in school, get a driving licence, open a bank account, and rent a house were pretty tricky.

Luckily, we could count on Irish people to make us feel at home! We work in a very positive environment and people in general are very welcoming and kind.

Describe each other as researchers without using scientific words?

Add something you deeply admire about each other.

Somayyeh 

What I really like about Hassan is he's very kind and emotional, but at the same time thinks very logically. He's always been a very supportive partner.

Hassan

My first impression of Somayyeh was that she is a very calm, determined and sincere person. I really admire her patient and persistent character - in fact, I have to say we wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for her perseverance.

A message for researchers planning to apply for funding

Somayyeh 

Don't give up! Take it step by step and be patient. Ask around for help and advice and if you fail, you can try again. You also need to be prepared for when you eventually get the grant!

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