{"id":6291,"date":"2026-07-01T09:34:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T09:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fka.mta.hu\/?post_type=interju&p=6291"},"modified":"2026-07-02T14:56:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T14:56:43","slug":"gabriella-b-kiss-efficient-time-management-is-the-key-to-many-things","status":"publish","type":"interju","link":"https:\/\/fka.mta.hu\/en\/interju\/gabriella-b-kiss-efficient-time-management-is-the-key-to-many-things\/","title":{"rendered":"Gabriella B. Kiss: “Efficient time management is the key to many things\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gabriella B. Kiss earned her PhD in Earth Sciences in 2012. Her research focuses on ore-forming processes, hydrothermal fluid\u2013rock interactions, and fluid inclusion studies. In connection with these topics, she has participated in numerous domestic and international projects as a project leader, thesis advisor, or researcher. Her work has been recognized with several prestigious awards and research grants, including the National Excellence Programme Postdoctoral Fellowship (\u00daNKP), the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) J\u00e1nos Bolyai Research Fellowship, the MTA Academic Youth Award, and the ELTE Promising Researcher Award. She is a member of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) and the Hungarian Geological Society; she serves as secretary of the latter\u2019s Mineral Resources Geology Section and is the academic mentor of the ELTE SEG Student Chapter. Since 2008, she has been teaching in both Hungarian and English at the Department of Mineralogy at ELTE; she has served as a visiting lecturer at the University of Zagreb and at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, where she is currently a co-instructor for a course.<\/em><\/p>\n

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An interview by R\u00e9ka H. Luk\u00e1cs with Gabriella B. Kiss, geologist<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

In the field of earth sciences, we spoke with geologist Gabriella B. Kiss, an associate professor with habilitation at the Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences at E\u00f6tv\u00f6s Lor\u00e1nd University, about her professional and personal journey, as well as the day-to-day challenges of life as a researcher. She earned her PhD in 2012; her work was later on supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the National Excellence Programme and the J\u00e1nos Bolyai Research Fellowship, one of the most prestigious grants of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA). Recently, she received the MTA Academy Youth Award, as well as the Promising Researcher Award from E\u00f6tv\u00f6s Lor\u00e1nd University.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is your focus of interest as a researcher, and why is this area relevant from the perspective of society?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

A growing economy and a developed society require a large quantity and wide variety of raw materials, and this demand cannot be met through recycling alone. In my work, I study geological processes that have enriched raw materials critical to the economy and modern technologies. Through my findings, I thus contribute to the proper functioning of society and to sustainable development. This is an extremely broad field, within which I have gained significant experience primarily in researching metals associated with hot-water fluid flow systems forming on the seafloor of seas and oceans.<\/p>\n

Which of your professional achievements makes you the proudest?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s a tough question, but I would perhaps highlight that, within my specific field of expertise, I have achieved results thanks to which I have been asked to participate in international collaborations, I have received invitations from renowned foreign universities to share my expertise, and which have earned recognition for me in Hungary as well. Among these, I am particularly proud of the Academy Youth Award and the ELTE Promising Researcher Award. And I have managed to achieve all of this as the mother of three young children.<\/p>\n

What personal qualities have helped you the most to achieve these results?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It may sound surprising, but I believe effective time management is the key to many things. I\u2019m not just referring to striking a balance between family and research\u2014a top priority for me\u2014but also to the fact that I take extra care to allocate my time for teaching and research\u2014and I strive to stick to that schedule. I\u2019m very busy: I teach numerous courses at the university. Fortunately, I have many students ranging from TDK*<\/sup> to PhD candidates, and I also have to set aside time for research projects. I couldn\u2019t make it work any other way.<\/p>\n

Are you more of a lone wolf in your professional projects, or do you prefer working in a team?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I have practically never worked alone. Ever since I began working independently as a researcher, I have always collaborated with colleagues both in Hungary and abroad, and from the very beginning I have placed an emphasis on training the next generation of researchers, so I have involved numerous students in my research work. I have also involved undergraduate, master\u2019s, and doctoral students in the NKKP Starting project*<\/sup>*<\/sup> launched in January 2026, which I lead, and I also have a postdoctoral researcher in that team. This creates opportunities for professional discourse that advances research at every level.<\/p>\n

Was there a particular person or experience in your life that had a crucial influence on your decision to pursue an academic career?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

It was Prof. Ferenc Moln\u00e1r, my supervisor for my TDK, thesis, and doctoral research\u2014without whom I certainly would not be here today. I have learned immensely from him, not only professionally but also on a personal level. From the very beginning, I have strived to carry these values forward and incorporate them into my work with students.<\/p>\n

Have you had a chance to support others as a mentor at the beginning of their professional career<\/em>?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Throughout my career, I have supervised dozens of BSc, MSc, and TDK research projects, and I have had PhD students. I take genuine pleasure in working with students,\u00a0 especially seeing their development and how new researchers \u201care born\u201d.<\/p>\n

Is there anything in your life that you would never give up for any sort of professional success<\/em>?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

My family and my children always take priority for me.<\/p>\n

How did you manage to strike a balance between starting a family and having an academic career? What advice would you give to young researchers in this regard?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Actually, that has never been an issue for me because my priorities have always been clear. I grew up with two siblings, so I have always wanted a big family. My husband and I fully back each other up in our careers as well: if one of us needs more time or has to go on a business trip, the other adjusts their work to accommodate that. Our three children were born relatively close in time, so I could have suffered a longer career break as a researcher, but in reality, I always stayed active to some extent. For example, during their afternoon naps, I organized my previous findings and worked on manuscripts; that\u2019s how I completed my habilitation thesis as well. This also helped me maintain a sense of balance, since I didn\u2019t completely lose touch with my professional work that I otherwise love to do. The time I spend at home with my children is a gift that enriches me with experiences that are irreplaceable. They are little only once; they are growing up and discovering the world around them now\u2026 I wouldn\u2019t miss a single moment of it.<\/p>\n

To what extent do you think your own field of research is appreciated by society?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

People know very little about geology and mineral exploration, even though these fields have tremendous social relevance. That\u2019s why I invest a lot of energy into science popularization: I regularly hold interactive programmes in primary and secondary schools\u2014even in kindergartens\u2014and I also write popular science articles. Fortunately, I am not alone in this; several of my colleagues share my mentality. I am confident that, in the long run, this will help increase my field\u2019s standing in society.<\/p>\n

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* TDK, or Student Scientific Research Conference, is a university programme in Hungary where students can conduct independent research or work with an advisor on a scientific topic that interests them, and then present their findings at a TDK conference.<\/p>\n

** The NKKP Starting Grant is a research funding opportunity established by the National Research Excellence Programme for young researchers who have earned their PhDs within the past few years, announced by the National Research, Development, and Innovation Office since 2024. The programme replaced the former PD (postdoctoral) and FK (young researcher) grants, and its goal is to support excellent basic research that is competitive on an international level.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":6290,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"class_list":["post-6291","interju","type-interju","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fka.mta.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/interju\/6291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fka.mta.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/interju"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fka.mta.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/interju"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fka.mta.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fka.mta.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}