From Hairdresser to Researcher: Kjell-Rune's Journey
Kjell-Rune Jensen, once a creative and award-winning hairdresser, has transitioned into the world of scientific research. Leveraging his social skills from his previous career, he now collaborates daily with researchers both nationally and internationally. Today, he is part of Professor Jan Terje Andersen's team at the University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, where he designs antibodies with enhanced properties. Recently, he returned from a research stay in the USA.
Harnessing Antibodies for Better Health
Natural antibodies protect us from infections, but in the lab, they can be designed to perform even better. The goal is to neutralize invaders like viruses and bacteria, preventing serious diseases. Additionally, research is focused on engineering antibodies to bind to cancer cells and recruit the immune system to eliminate them. Deep biological insight is essential for this work, and Kjell-Rune is on the case with his teammates.
A Hairdresser's Dream of a Research Career
Kjell-Rune worked for several years at Adam & Eva on Bislett, where his energetic approach attracted many clients and allowed him to express his creativity. He received several awards, including "Teacher of the Year 2011" and "Creative of the Year 2013." Despite his love for his profession, he never let go of the possibility of studying biology. His curiosity about understanding human biology at a detailed level led him to the University of Oslo, where he combined studies with his hairdressing career for several years.
Biotechnological Opportunities
During his master's degree, Kjell-Rune connected with many students and researchers at the Radium Hospital and the Clinic for Laboratory Medicine. He became known for his vision and collaboration skills, leading to a three-year research technician position at the Laboratory for Adaptive Immunity and Homeostasis, led by Jan Terje Andersen. This position, part of PRIMA, a center of excellence funded by the Research Council, allowed him to transition from studies to a research team member.
International Collaboration and Teamwork
Kjell-Rune is a team player. In addition to leading his own project, he participates in various projects and has acquired specialized methods that permeate much of the group's research activities. He enjoys collaborating, planning, and conducting research tasks, then analyzing the findings. When the opportunity arose to join a collaborative project with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) in the USA, Kjell-Rune quickly volunteered. He spent an intense period in San Diego, analyzing numerous samples at the Neutralizing Antibody Center (NAC), in collaboration with the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) in India.
Exploring and Learning Together
Kjell-Rune's research stay in the USA was a fantastic opportunity to work in a renowned international research environment. Despite the hard work, there was also time for relaxation and outings with colleagues between intense lab sessions. "Exploring and learning with other researchers makes this job diverse, motivating, and meaningful," says Kjell-Rune.
This story was first published in Norwegian at the Oslo University hospital webpage and translated to English with the help of Microsoft copilot. Read the original story