Three candidates - Prof. Sonata Jarmalaitė, Dr. Arvydas Lubys, and Dr. Vytautas Smirnovas - met in the 2024 debate for the Director of the Life Sciences Center (LSC) position.
Each of them presented their vision and ideas on improving the LSC's performance, highlighting their experience and approach to community building, scientific activities, and management processes. While all candidates shared the same vision of building a strong and globally competitive Center, they had different views on priorities and proposed solutions.
Who are the candidates for the Director of the Life Sciences Center position?
Democratic, empowering, socially responsible, empathetic - this is how Prof. Sonata Jarmalaitė appeared in the debate. Prof. Sonata Jarmalaitė, a leading scientist at Vilnius University and specialist in oncogenetics, with experience as Deputy Director and Director (during the pandemic-quarantine period) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), emphasized the strengthening of scientific production and internationalization, with an emphasis on mobilizing the community and ensuring moral stability. Prof. Sonata Jarmalaitė seeks to foster women's leadership and promote an inclusive, collaborative leadership culture.
Dr. Arvydas Lubys presented himself during the debate as a strategic, pragmatic, effective leader with an entrepreneurial approach to science. Dr. Arvydas Lubys, who has extensive experience in the biotechnology sector and is a former Director of Fermentas, emphasized the importance of strategy development, precise goal setting, and implementation methods during the debate. The vision of Dr. Lubys is based on creating synergies between academia and business, as well as clearly defined processes and their management. Dr. Lubys suggested integrating the institutes' activities for more efficient resource management and innovation development but stressed that he is sensitive to change and understands the subtleties of its implementation.
Dr. Vytautas Smirnovas came across during the debate as a collegial, open-minded member of the community who values academic freedom. He is a scientist working on protein aggregations, an active member of the LSC Council, and currently the Director of the Institute of Biotechnology. Dr. Smirnovas emphasized the importance of academic freedom and community strengthening through regular events and discussions. The vision of Dr. Smirnovas is based on openness, trust, and creating a strong collegial atmosphere.
The main similarities between the candidates as reflected in the debates
All candidates agreed that the LSC needs a stronger focus on community engagement and well-being. They emphasized:
- Strengthening international cooperation for more collaborative projects and funding.
- The importance of community events in promoting networking and knowledge sharing.
- Improving the quality of science, with a focus on international standards.
- The necessary attention to the needs of students and postgraduates, including the accessibility of psychological support.
The main differences between the candidates that emerged during the debates
The candidates' priorities and proposals differed:
- Prof. Sonata Jarmalaitė stressed the importance of communication and institutional stability. She stressed the importance of preventing mobbing and measures for the emotional well-being of employees. Prof. Jarmalaitė also saw the need to strengthen the production of international projects.
- Dr. Arvydas Lubys focused on management effectiveness, clear strategic plans and resource mobilisation. He stressed the structural integration of the 3 Institutes and the application of best business management practices in the LSC.
- Dr. Vytautas Smirnovas focused on strengthening the community through traditional events and networking. Maintaining academic freedom and promoting the autonomy of researchers were central to his vision.
Future directions for the Life Sciences Center
The candidates discussed key priorities for the future of the LSC, such as the development of interdisciplinary studies, a greater focus on the quality of PhD studies and the streamlining of administrative processes. All three agreed on the need for strong leadership, clear strategic goals and close collaboration between different members of the LSC community.
The debate revealed not only the strengths of the candidates, but also the challenges the future Director of the LSC will face. The support of the team and the whole community will be crucial for the newly elected LSC leader to ensure the continued success of the Life Sciences Center in a national and international context.