Member Spotlight: Meet Selvi Seçil Şahin
Member Spotlight is a regular INFORM magazine column that features members who play critical roles in AOCS.
| Name | Selvi Seçil Şahin |
| Joined AOCS | 2021 |
| Education | M.Sc. in food engineering, Ankara University (Ankara, Turkey) |
| Current AOCS involvement | Student e-poster presenter, 2021 AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo |
Professional
What’s a typical day like for you?
I believe that starting a day well will affect the rest of that day. For me, that means having had enough sleep and sharing a nice breakfast with my family. Since I am used to being organized, I plan in advance. I prefer to finish my work (preparing for my next course of study as a Ph.D. candidate) early in the morning and then devote my time to a quality book or a fun science fiction series.
Flash back to when you were 10 years old. What did you want to be when you grew up?
At that age, I wanted to be an artist. It could have been as a violinist, as a painter, or as a fashion designer.
Why did you decide to do the work you plan to do?
I completed a master’s degree in food engineering in 2021 and was then honored with a scholarship from the Republic of Turkey for my Ph.D. work, which began in February 2022 at the University of Leeds (U.K.) Department of Food Science and Nutrition. Working in academia has always been my dream. I have always enjoyed learning new information as well as being in the laboratory, presenting an idea, witnessing the stages of this idea being tested, and getting good, concrete results.
Is there an achievement or contribution you are most proud of? Why?
I presented my master’s thesis as an e-poster at the 2021 AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo. This presentation was my first experience of such a significant platform. I am proud to have placed first in the AOCS Student E-poster Pitch Competition, for which I won $200.
Is there an achievement or contribution you are most proud of? Why?
Every five years, I invite former PhD students and postdocs to celebrate in Greifswald. I am proud that so many previous group members make the trip to this remote city for the reunion.
What event, person, or life experience has had the most influ- ence on the direction of your life?
Although several individuals have influenced my career steps, I am especially grateful to Mike Haas (formerly at USDA, and a past president of AOCS) for promoting my interest in the field of fats, oils, and lipids.
Personal
How do you relax after a hard day of work?
After a hard day I really need to chat and spend time with my close friends in nature.
What is the most impressive thing you know how to do?
I can analyze and get to know people very easily. When I meet someone new, I can sense what kind of person they are from the first conversation, and my guesses about someone are usually correct. I believe this has made my life easier because I can decide in a very short time whether a person will be around in my future or not.
What skill would you like to master?
Playing the violin has been a dream since I was little. I would love to be very successful in this.
What are some small things that make your day better?
Life is too short to watch bad movies, to chat with people with bad senses of humor, or to eat bad food. Eating a great meal and laughing at a clever joke are the little things that make my day.
