Ben Krinkel

Tell us a bit about who you are and where you come from.

Kia Ora! My name is Ben Krinkel; I am a PhD student in the School of Biological Science. Although I am from Auckland, I spent most of my high school years in Whangarei.

What is your PhD research about?

My research looks into some proteins upregulated in cancer's altered metabolism, called malic enzymes. They help facilitate cancer’s rapid growth, so we are looking to develop new inhibitors of these proteins. I use a variety of structural biology, biochemistry and computational biology techniques to facilitate this structural based drug design.

What motivated you to apply for ACAP?

From the minute I saw the programme, I thought it would be the perfect fit for me, given my goal to pursue a career in academia. This is because I enjoy teaching and research, and I don’t want to let either go!

What message would you give to doctoral candidates who are thinking about applying for ACAP?

Just do it! You won’t regret applying; you will meet great like-minded people and learn a lot about an academic career and how best to set yourself up for one.

What if people are concerned about committing to a year-long programme?

Schedule it into your calendar and give ACAP priority. I was worried about this at first, too, but once it is in your calendar, it takes priority, and you can work around the sessions.

What has been the best part about participating in ACAP?

The great ACAP community! It has been great to form a university-wide group with other aspiring academics and to learn and bounce ideas off them. Also, interacting with academics from various faculties across the University is something I wouldn’t have otherwise had the opportunity to do.

What skills have you learnt from ACAP?

There are so many that it’s hard to sum them up briefly! I have gained skills in communicating my research, applying for funding, and maximising student engagement, to name a few.

Have you been surprised by any aspects of the programme?

Definitely! I wasn’t expecting the sessions to be mainly student-organised, so I was surprised at how well that has worked. I have learnt many things I wouldn’t have learnt without ACAP, including building a teaching profile and getting funding, to name a few.

What are your words of wisdom for anyone just starting out on their doctoral journey?

I feel sort of unqualified to answer this, given that I haven’t finished yet! But I would say try your best to have fun! It’s a long journey with ups and downs, but take it all in your stride and enjoy it!

Do you have a favourite place in Auckland where you go to relax while doing your PhD?

After a long week of research, OGH on Fridays is definitely relaxing! On a serious note, I am a big coffee drinker, so getting a great coffee and then going to one of our amazing beaches on the North Shore, such as Orewa or Long Bay, for a walk is my happy place!

Outside of your research, what are your interests and passions?

I am into sports, especially cricket and rugby. I also enjoy my undergraduate GTA teaching, which I find to be a great break away from my research!

Where’s next on your travel bucket list?

It would have to be Greece and Italy. I studied classical studies in high school, so this has been on my bucket list for a while!

What are your plans for the future, and how has ACAP helped to prepare you for this?

I aim to seek an overseas postdoctoral position after my PhD to pursue an academic career following that. ACAP has set things up by giving me a bunch of tools that will set me up well for achieving these aims.