Interview with Alexandra Lecours

Could you briefly describe your academic career?académique ?
I’d describe my academic career as varied and rich in experience! I’ve been lucky enough to attend 4 different universities from undergraduate to post-doctoral level, which has given me exposure to different research cultures. While maintaining a clear focus and orienting my work towards worker health, I explored the perspective of health sciences, rehabilitation, management and even physical activity! My university studies undoubtedly represent one of the finest periods of my life.

When did you realize you wanted to be a researcher?
I had a love-hate relationship with research for a long time before I realized that we were made for each other! At the end of my undergraduate studies, my fellow students called me “the future teacher”. Maybe they saw something I didn’t see clearly at the time? Before embarking on my academic career, I needed to fulfill myself as a clinical occupational therapist, as an occupational therapy teacher and, above all……as a mom! Although I had always been involved in research since the beginning of my university studies in occupational therapy, it was in my late twenties that I decided I really wanted a career in research.

What part of your job do you enjoy most?
Definitely scientific writing! I love writing scientific and professional articles, grant applications, research reports, conference abstracts and so on. When the idea of a new research project germinates in my head and I take the time to put it down on paper, it’s truly a moment of pure happiness for me! And it’s a good thing I like writing, since it’s a recurring activity in the daily life of a researcher!

What’s your domain’s main strength?
I’m interested in the health, safety and well-being of workers. Work is part of most people’s daily lives, and everyone knows someone who works. My research topic touches people and rarely leaves them indifferent. When I talk about my research, people feel concerned and interested. My subject is accessible to the public, which makes it much easier to spread the word. That’s one of its great strengths, in my opinion.

What tool, application or other tip helps you in your day-to-day work?
The work of a researcher is very demanding….. It’s always bubbling away in your head! I have a good ability to switch off. Every day, I go outside before dinner……. Whether it’s jogging or taking a walk with music in my ears, this “just for me” time allows me to fill up with positive energy and I’m all the more productive when I get back. It makes my everyday life so much more pleasant!

What has challenged you most over the past 5 years?
Being at the beginning of my career, I have to prove myself on all fronts at once: I have to develop research and teaching, build a network of collaborations and a team to carry out my projects…… all while having a busy family life! Balancing all this is a challenge for me, but also for other early-career researchers. But I see it in a positive light. As I’m often pushed out of my comfort zone, I discover unexpected skills and that pushes me to show the best of myself.

What advice would you have liked to have received at the start of your career?
I consider myself to be in the early stages of my career and still looking for sound advice…. I’d say it’s important to respect and indulge yourself. It’s true that, as a researcher, you’re operating in a hyper-performing environment; the pressure to succeed and stand out is high. However, I quickly learned that this pressure is often self-imposed, with demands that are often much higher than those coming from the environment. I’d say it’s important to reflect on this perspective: our work is exhilarating, nourishing and gratifying, but it can also easily become a source of stress and anxiety, and thus detrimental to our health. It’s important to keep things in perspective and keep a balance!

Alexandra Lecours