Marja Makarow's early interest in linguistics soon gave way to an interest in the sciences after she fell in love with the word 'biochemistry'. But her ability to speak several languages and understand multiple fields will serve the Finnish biochemist well in her new role as chief executive of the European Science Foundation (ESF). See CV

Makarow is charged with finding new ways to encourage cooperation across borders (both political and scientific) to support pan-European and interdisciplinary programmes. The ESF is not a funding agency, although its 77 member bodies include major funding agencies and research institutions from 30 countries. Rather, it facilitates networking, runs conferences and publishes position papers.

The University of Copenhagen's Liselotte Højgaard, who was on the search committee that selected Makarow, cites her strong academic background, international experience and leadership roles. She recalls seeing Makarow present strategies in a new white paper from the ESF's European Medical Research Councils. “She was very good at facilitating it, in a friendly, kind, polite and still firm way,” says Højgaard. “She doesn't come across as a bulldozer. She listens.”

Makarow studied biochemistry at the University of Helsinki, where she did postdoctoral work in virology, and went on to the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg. She was a group leader at the University of Helsinki's Institute of Biotechnology before becoming the institute's research director, an ascent interrupted only by a stint at the University of Kuopio.

Ten years ago, Makarow ventured into policy, serving on the Academy of Finland's Research Council for Health, the main funding agency for biomedical research. Next, she served on the governing body of EMBL and its multinational funding organization, a window on the European grant funding system. As vice-rector at the University of Helsinki, she oversaw research in many scientific disciplines. “When you give the little finger, the hand often goes,” says Makarow, recounting the many positions she has held in addition to running her own lab.

Højgaard uses the word sisu to describe Makarow. “It means the ability to go through stone,” she says, noting that the word often refers to a personality trait that Finns have developed during centuries of surviving cold, dark winters and holding Russian incursions at bay. “It's a tough job to be the chief executive of the ESF, but she can do it. She really has sisu.”