Global Science and Norwich Research Park: Why Hassan and Aileen Chose Norwich

When world-class scientists choose where to build the next chapter of their work, they are choosing more than a laboratory. They are choosing a home; its pace, its people, its potential.

For Dr Hassan Salem and Dr Aileen Berasategui, that choice led them to Norwich.

 

Arriving from an international academic journey spanning the United States, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands, Hassan and Aileen have recently established their research groups at two of the UK’s most respected scientific institutions: the John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, both part of Norwich Research Park.

Together, their story speaks to what Norwich does best: attracting global talent and offering a way of life where ambition and balance go hand in hand.

Hassan and Aileen’s story began long before Norwich, in shared curiosity.

Hassan’s early scientific training took him through botany, microbiology and ecology, an openness that became a defining feature of his research career.

Aileen, originally from Spain, followed a similarly international path, studying biology across Europe before developing deep expertise in insect–fungal interactions.

They met during their PhDs in Germany, where a shared fascination emerged: the invisible relationships shaping life; between insects, microbes and plants.

“That early breadth,” Hassan explains, “meant we didn’t specialise too soon. It gave us a way of thinking across boundaries.”

Those boundaries, between disciplines, institutions and even countries, would continue to dissolve as their careers developed.

 

After postdoctoral research in the United States, the couple found themselves separated by opportunity: Aileen in Amsterdam as an Assistant Professor, Hassan preparing to launch his own research group in Germany.

Then, two doors opened at once.

Norwich offered something rare: two world‑leading institutions willing to invest, at the same time, in complementary research.

Aileen joined The Sainsbury Laboratory, gaining access to exceptional expertise in plant pathogenicity. Hassan was awarded a prestigious UK Global Talent-funded position to establish an independent research group at the John Innes Centre, allowing his entire team to relocate and begin work immediately.

“It meant we weren’t just moving jobs,” Hassan says. “We were moving our science – our people, our momentum – all at once.”

For Norwich, it meant welcoming not just two researchers, but a growing scientific community already embedded in collaboration.

Internationally, Norwich holds weight.

What surprised Hassan and Aileen most wasn’t just the depth of scientific excellence, but the scale of connection.

“It feels personal,” Aileen says. “The science is world‑class, but the environment is human-sized. You know your colleagues. You collaborate naturally.”

That balance, ambitious but grounded, reflects Norwich itself.

Only a couple weeks after moving to the city, Norwich already felt familiar.

For Hassan and Aileen, mornings often start with a walk along the river. Weekends bring brunch at Olive’s, where they’re already recognised by name. Evenings might mean theatre, art or simply exploring streets shaped by 900 years of history.’

“There’s a rhythm here,” Hassan notes. “People work incredibly hard but they also pursue their interests properly.”

Swimming, cycling, coastal trips, music, and paddleboarding plans are already woven into their routine. For two academics accustomed to intense research cultures, this balance feels not like compromise, but progress.

“It’s the first place where we’ve seen people genuinely protect time for life,” Hassan says. “That matters.”

Norwich doesn’t ask people to choose between career ambition and quality of life. It offers both.

With globally recognised institutions, a collaborative research ecosystem, walkable streets, creative energy and a welcoming community, Norwich continues to draw people not just for a role but for a future.

As Aileen puts it:

“Everyone we spoke to before moving here said the same thing: I never wanted to leave. Now we understand why.”

Explore opportunities on Norwich Research Park

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