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Get to know our members | Peter Doherty

Friday October 04, 2019

Introducing our brand new series
"Get to know our members"

 

 

Peter Doherty
   
Tea or coffee?
 Black coffee till 1PM, then black tea.
Sweet or savoury?
 Both: eat just about everything: savoury first, generally.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
 Walk, listen to opera, read, take uninspired photographs, watch Scandinavian noir murders on TV. Much of my “working life” is currently taken up with writing books for “lay” audiences. 
Which immune cell is your favourite?
 The killer T cell, of course.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
 As a very young child, I wanted to own a bait cart.
If you weren’t an Immunologist, what would you be?
 After having been involved for a while in the public communication of, and advocacy for, science, it could be useful to train in psychology / psychiatry, then focus on trying to understand collective brain dysfunction and delusion.
What was the first thing you did after finding out the news of your Nobel Prize?
 Called family to warn them.
Who inspires you the most? 
 Not sure I would name an individual but, in general, I find that people who think clearly, tell it as it is and make a significant effort to deal with real problems are admirable.
What is your life motto?
 When you’re going through hell, keep going!
What words of wisdom do you want to share with young and emerging Immunologists?
 Be very skeptical.
What is the best thing about being an ASI Member?
 Hearing good science is always fun, and it’s great to see bright young people gaining confidence, then emerging as substantial investigators.
One of the major highlights of our annual conferences are of course the great Lafferty Debates!  Which debate topic has been your favourite?
 Haven’t heard enough of them but remember Lafferty as a good friend who was always up for an argument and, right or wrong, would fight to the end.

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