Stockholm university
Department of Public Health Sciences

Our alumna Lea Stark was in the final of the Swedish Researchers’ Grand Prix

Lea Stark, you studied the Master's programme in Public Health Science at Stockholm University and now you are working as a nurse and you are also a researcher at Karolinska Institutet. You were one of the finalists at the Swedish Researchers’ Grand Prix (Forskar Grand Prix) 26 November, where you presented your research in four minutes. A challenge for you I take it, you not being a native speaker of Swedish. How was it?

Lea Stark
Photo: Private

“It was very unexpected to get ahead to the finals. To begin with, I thought I would enter the competition to challenge myself to speak Swedish. I am from Germany and German is my mother tongue. My biggest challenge today is to present in Swedish – a language I learnt later in life. Speaking Swedish is something I'm still working on, but I saw this as a great opportunity to develop and challenge myself."

 

What did you talk about in the final?

“I talked about my research on physical resilience in older people. As a nurse, I have always been fascinated by how some people can maintain functions such as going to the shop and living an independent or near-independent life, even if they suffer from illnesses and other problems. I think this an interesting group, and we can learn a lot from them."

The Master's programme in Public Health has really given me a broad toolbox. I have learned to think outside the box, use different theories and work with statistics, which allows me to approach both research and clinical work in a deeper way.

 
Lea Stark presenting in the final of the Swedish Researchers’ Grand Prix
 

You studied the Master's Programme in Public Health Sciences at Stockholm University. Could you tell us a bit about it? What was the programme like?

“I have completed several different programmes – as a nurse and as a health economist, among others. Although they are difficult to compare, the Master's programme in Public Health at Stockholm University was special. It allowed me to build on everything I had learnt before and apply it to a broader societal perspective. I met many inspiring teachers who were really passionate about the subject, and it rubbed off on me. It's fascinating how factors in the outside world leave their marks on our health, and how health is affected on a so-called social gradient, where one's social and economic conditions play an important role in health.”.”

 

What are you doing today and how do you think you benefit from your Master's studies in Public Health Sciences?

“In the past year I have been working as a research assistant and I plan to apply for a PhD position to be able to immerse myself in the concept of physical resilience. Until then, I will be working as a nurse in a ward for spinal cord injured patients. My personal dream is to be able to switch between research and clinical work. I believe that both perspectives enrich each other. The Master's Programme in Public Health Sciences has really given me a broad toolbox. I have learned to think outside the box, use different theories and work with statistics, which allows me to approach both research and clinical work on a deeper level.”

 

You are also a mentor for one of the current Master's students in Public Health Sciences at Stockholm University. Could you tell us a bit about that?

“It was a bit of a surprise to be asked to that, especially as I sometimes feel that I have not yet fully made use of my education or gained experience enough here in Sweden. But looking back at it, I realise that I have a lot to share. Moving to a new country, learning the language fluently while studying full-time, as well as working and having a social life, all these things have given me a wealth of insights. As a nurse with a foreign degree, I have also gone through the process of obtaining a Swedish professional licence, and I am happy to share those experiences to help others in similar situations. It can be valuable to have a mentor who has made the same journey recently.”

Read more about this year's final of the Swedish Researchers’ Grand Prix.

Are you interested in our Master's Programme in Public Health Sciences? Find out more about it here.

Håkan Soold

Lea Stark
Age: 32 years
Education: Nursing, Economics, Public Health Sciences
Occupation: Nurse
Grew up: in Germany
Lives: in Stockholm
Family: My partner and many relatives in Germany
Hobbies: Climbing
Tips for those who are thinking about studying Public Health Sciences: “It is an advantage to have a natural interest in health and community projects; public health is very much about thinking outside the box and understanding the big picture of community health issues. Network and get involved in projects early; the contacts and experiences you make can open doors.”

The Swedish Researchers’ Grand Prix (Forskar Grand Prix)

The Swedish Researchers’ Grand Prix is Sweden's largest competition in presentation techniques for researchers. Contestants must present their research in the simplest, most inspiring and educational way possible – in four minutes. The Swedish Researchers’ Grand Prix has been coordinated by the association Vetenskap & Allmänhet since 2012 and is organised in collaboration with the research councils Formas, Forte, Vinnova and the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet). The 2024 final of the Swedish Researchers’ Grand Prix will be held on 26 November at the Filadelfia Convention Centre in Stockholm.  

 

Theme
Health and Living Conditions - Theme page

Last updated: January 10, 2025

Source: Department of Public Health Sciences

eventNewsArticle

standard-article

false

{
  "dimensions": [
    {
      "id": "department.categorydimension.subject",
      "name": "Global categories",
      "enumerable": true,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "department.categorydimension.tag.Keywords",
      "name": "Keywords",
      "enumerable": false,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "department.categorydimension.tag.Person",
      "name": "Person",
      "enumerable": false,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "department.categorydimension.tag.Tag",
      "name": "Tag",
      "enumerable": false,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "Folkhalsovetenskap.eng.lokala.kat",
      "name": "Lokala kategorier Folkhälsovetenskap Eng",
      "enumerable": true,
      "entities": [
        {
          "id": "Folkhalsovetenskap.eng.lokala.kat.nyh",
          "name": "Local news",
          "entities": [
            {
              "id": "Folkhalsovetenskap.eng.lokala.kat.nyh.om",
              "name": "About the department",
              "entities": [],
              "attributes": [],
              "childrenOmitted": false,
              "localizations": {}
            }
          ],
          "attributes": [],
          "childrenOmitted": false,
          "localizations": {}
        },
        {
          "id": "Folkhalsovetenskap.eng.lokala.kat.nyh",
          "name": "Local news",
          "entities": [
            {
              "id": "Folkhalsovetenskap.eng.lokala.kat.nyh.utb",
              "name": "Education",
              "entities": [],
              "attributes": [],
              "childrenOmitted": false,
              "localizations": {}
            }
          ],
          "attributes": [],
          "childrenOmitted": false,
          "localizations": {}
        }
      ],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Category",
      "name": "Globala kategorier Nyheter (Webb 2021)",
      "enumerable": true,
      "entities": [
        {
          "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Category.about_us.news",
          "name": "About the university",
          "entities": [],
          "attributes": [],
          "childrenOmitted": false,
          "localizations": {}
        },
        {
          "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Category.education.news",
          "name": "Education",
          "entities": [],
          "attributes": [],
          "childrenOmitted": false,
          "localizations": {}
        }
      ],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Label",
      "name": "Tema (Webb 2021)",
      "enumerable": true,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Label.en",
      "name": "Themes (Webb 2021)",
      "enumerable": true,
      "entities": [
        {
          "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Label.en.health",
          "name": "Health and Living Conditions",
          "entities": [],
          "attributes": [],
          "childrenOmitted": false,
          "localizations": {}
        }
      ],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Keyword",
      "name": "Keywords (Webb 2021)",
      "enumerable": false,
      "entities": [
        {
          "id": "research competition ",
          "name": "research competition ",
          "entities": [],
          "attributes": [],
          "childrenOmitted": false,
          "localizations": {}
        },
        {
          "id": "Forskar Grand Prix",
          "name": "Forskar Grand Prix",
          "entities": [],
          "attributes": [],
          "childrenOmitted": false,
          "localizations": {}
        },
        {
          "id": "Researchers’ Grand Prix",
          "name": "Researchers’ Grand Prix",
          "entities": [],
          "attributes": [],
          "childrenOmitted": false,
          "localizations": {}
        }
      ],
      "localizations": {}
    }
  ]
}
On this page

departmentPageLayout