I head the Immunoregulation research group at the Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried (Germany), and my group works on the complex intersection between immune regulation and metabolism. Out of the lab, I like cooking, and I spend a lot of time perfecting dishes. I also travel a lot, I love visiting France, Japan, China and Brazil (as well as my native Australia).
Please tell us your name, degree, where you currently work, and position.
Peter J. Murray PhD. I head the Immunoregulation research group at the Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, which is a suburb of Munich to the south-west of the city. I’m also a professor in the medical faculty at the Technical University of Munich, one of the two big universities here. It’s really important to have a professorial position in a German university so I can be the “Doktorvater” to my students.
Where did you do your training?
I did my PhD at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne (where I grew up) and my post-doc at the Whitehead Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Briefly, what is your research about?
My group works on the complex intersection between immune regulation and metabolism. At the moment, we work a lot on aromatic amino acid metabolism. We also work on snake venom enzymes, parasite enzymes and other cool projects that keep me from getting bored.
Tell us your thoughts about the Cytokines Society: how has being involved in the Cytokine Society helped your career?
I like the focus and consistency of the society. In my opinion, we really know very little about what happens after JAK-STAT activation, for example.
Are there any particular friendships or collaborations that came specifically out of Cytokines meetings?
To be honest, no.
What Cytokines meeting(s) have been your favorites? Tell us about any special memories or anecdotes.
I’ve only ever been to one meeting (I don’t get invited, which is fine for me) in San Francisco. It was great. I got very drunk one night with Luke O’Neill at the JEM “party”, where there were lots of interesting people and very good cocktails.
What do you like to do when not in the lab?
I’m the cook in the house and I spend a lot of time perfecting dishes, some complex, some simple. I travel a lot. I love visiting France, Japan, China and Brazil (as well as my native Australia).
What is the best life/career advice you’ve ever received?
My postdoc advisor, Richard Young, told me (and everyone else in the lab) to never, ever fall in love with a technique or technology because it will soon be redundant or out of date. Use whatever technology or tool you have to answer the question. Boy, was he right! If you think about key tools and techniques, few have survived more than a couple of years (exception: PCR, which can’t be superseded due to its perfection of logic)
What book or TV show are you reading/watching right now that you recommend?
Books: “Lavoisier in the Year One”, “Ether Day”, both recommendations from great friend Dan Finley (Harvard MS), “Three Body Problem”/”The Dark Forest”. I also re-read Swann’s Way but in English not French. TV: Three Body Problem, The Makanai: cooking for the Maiko house (a show where nothing happens – its great), The Leopard (but the novel is deeper).
What is your favorite cytokine?
IL10
Connect with Peter: @pjmurray_lab (X)
Lab website: www.biochem.mpg.de/murray