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Prof
Helen Laburn is the University of the Witwatersrand's Deputy
Vice-Chancellor (DVC): Research
Research is in
her blood
She describes herself as someone with an open door policy and
a consultative leadership style. She also firmly believes in getting
her hands dirty when it comes to finding solutions to issues that are
important to researchers themselves as well as research managers.
She is grateful to her predecessor whose legacy, a
comprehensive research strategy put in place in 2007, provides a solid
foundation on which the University can continue to build and increase
its research outputs and profile.
“It is very comforting to know that Bozzoli has not left the
institution and that I can draw on her expertise and experience, which
she has already provided generously. I hope we will continue to work
closely together in future.”
Laburn is passionate about research. She originally started as
a medical student at Wits, but during the course of her training
realised that she was far more interested in doing research than
becoming a doctor. She completed her research training and her honours
and doctorate degrees in the former Department of Medical Physiology –
now the School of Physiology.
“During my career I was fortunate enough to work with people
who were involved in cutting-edge research. My focus was the physiology
of body temperature regulation and fever.”
Former colleague, Prof. Duncan Mitchell has credited Laburn as
one of the first researchers in the world to study fever. They were
also the first team to study fever in big mammals.
Working in this environment kept her interest in research
alive during her entire career, says Laburn.
In her later work, she focused on experimental research that
investigated the thermal physiology of the foetus. Her research was
both technically demanding and intellectually satisfying, she adds.
Her groundbreaking work in this field was recognised by the
National Research Foundation with a B2-rating in 2007.
Her current interest is into disturbances in physiology and
behaviour which accompany inflammation and infection. One of the
questions that Laburn and her team are now grappling with is the effect
of infection and inflammation on learning and memory.
“One needs the rewards and stimulation of research to keep
going at it and being able to publish papers and attend conferences and
in due course be promoted in an academic career were the kind of things
which mattered to me.”
Leadership roles
She became Head of the School of Physiology in 2000 and when
the Dean of Health Sciences’ position opened up in 2006 she applied for
it, was successful in being offered the position and subsequently
advanced to the top echelons of the University’s management structures.
Among her achievements that she rates highest is the fact that
the Faculty increased its research activities in both clinical and
non-clinical areas during her term as dean.
“Encouraging, nurturing and stimulating research in the
faculty was particularly challenging because many academic staff
members are full-time clinical professionals with demanding careers,”
says Laburn.
Nevertheless, the latest data from the Department of Higher
Education and Training cites that Wits’ strongest showing in research
outputs is in the field of Health Care and Health Sciences.
New challenges
Taking on the role as DVC: Research seemed a logical
progression in her career and a challenge that she is looking forward
to, says Laburn.
During her term she hopes for an institution where researchers
can thrive, where they want to come to do research and where they want
to stay. She also wants Wits researchers to be given every opportunity
to succeed on the local and global research stage.
“These are ingredients towards making Wits a more
research-intensive institution with a greater international profile.
The degree, to which scholarship is central in what we do at Wits,
makes us better at both generating new knowledge and teaching. We will
be a far better institution for it.”
She envisages an environment in which the pathway for
researchers is smoothed and research becomes central to what academic
staff do.
“Research is challenging, but it should also be the best part
of the job, for intellectually talented people, like our academics.
This applies as much to the young, aspiring staff member as to the
established, highly rated researcher.”
Providing the right environment for research applies equally
to the challenges for people doing scientific research as for people
doing social science research or research in professional disciplines.
The needs are different, she concedes, and admits that she still has a
lot to learn about what these are.
The
future
Asked if she is aiming for higher office, Laburn says that her
position as DVC is a wonderful way in which to finish her career at
Wits.
“I started out as a young researcher and I’m ending up
leading this great University in its research portfolio, which for me
is an enormous privilege,” she concluded.
Story courtesy of the University of the Witwatersrand
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