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Intro/Outro (00:00:01):
Welcome to Flow Stars candid conversations between Dr. Peter O'Toole and the big hitters of Flow Cytometry brought to you by Beckman Coulter at Bitesize Bio.

Peter O'Toole (00:00:12):
Today on Flow Stars, I'm joined by Kylie Price, head of research technology, the Madigan Institute of medical research in New Zealand. And we discuss her instrumental role in developing philanthropic partnerships

Kylie Price (00:00:25):
Often, and people, you know, give money and you buy something. People go well, great, thanks. Here's a photo of your machines sitting in the lab, but you want to keep them engaged, you know, show them what it's doing.

Peter O'Toole (00:00:35):
Being a major core facility in New Zealand means she gets some really interesting samples

Kylie Price (00:00:42):
Fish sperm, send it to the Malaghan. They'll be able to do it. So we get all sorts of random samples,

Peter O'Toole (00:00:47):
How she finds time to relax.

Kylie Price (00:00:50):
We did get a dive and, um, 25 meters away from us. We're humpback whales, and they were calling

Peter O'Toole (00:00:57):
and why she doesn't mind making mistakes.

Kylie Price (00:01:00):
And so I don't mind making mistakes. And, and I think if you, if you set the bar too high that you think you have to be perfect and you have to know everything, then you're, you'll stop yourself

Peter O'Toole (00:01:10):
All in this episode of Flow Stars. Hi, I'm Peter O'Toole from University of York and on Flow Stars today, I'm joined by Kylie Rrice and the Malaghan Institute of medical research, Kylie Good evening.

Kylie Price (00:01:27):
Good evening nice to, Nice to see you.

Peter O'Toole (00:01:29):
Yeah, no, thank you very much for joining me today, Kylie in Flow cytometry. What, what got you interested in flow cytometry to start with?

Kylie Price (00:01:38):
Uh, well, um, I got a job at the Malaghan Institute about 18 years ago and, uh, when I was having my interview, um, I was going for a research officer position and the multiple sclerosis group. And, uh, during the interview it was, you know, sort of bog standard interview. And then the guy that I ended up working for asked me, he's like, do you know how to use fax machines? And I was like, I know how to use FACS machines. I worked at a petrol station before. I didn't tell him that. And so I was like, yeah, sure. And then he walked me past as we were going for the walk around the Institute. And he was like, oh, and by the way, here are the FACS machines. And it was a vantage at the time of FACS vantage and a FACS sort. And I was like, ah, that's not what I thought, but of course I didn't say anything and I got the job. And then I befriended, very quickly, befriended the person who did know something about flow cytometry. Who's one of my best friends, still Joanna Roberts. And, uh, yeah. And she taught me flow cytometry. So that was my interface with flow cytometry, my introduction to flow cytometry. Uh, and I guess I started to appreciate the power of the technology over time. I didn't love it to start with I'm a molecular biologist and biochemist. And so I didn't really understand why we weren't looking inside the cells, it seemed to all be about the outside of the cells predominantly. And so, um, yeah, it took me a while to warm up to flow cytometry. And then I guess the, the big moment with me and flow came when my friend Joanna two years after I'd been at the, Malaghan got a job at EPFL in Switzerland. And so she was leaving and I was looking for a new opportunity and she was like, have you thought about doing my job? And I said, no, you look like you run a spaceship, to be honest, I'm not quite sure I could do that. The vantage, you know? Um, and so I asked her to list all the pros and cons of what she thought the job was and could be. And I could see a space for myself. I could see a way that I could build a career. Um, and I mean, I'm passionate about science and I love technology. And so, um, yeah, I went for it and I guess that's how I came to flow cytometry.

Peter O'Toole (00:03:53):
I love your terminology there, like a spaceship. And I actually, I don't think this is a vantage, is it?

Kylie Price (00:03:59):
No, that's an epics ultra. That was when I was in Spain. They, um, they had one of those knocking about, and they didn't really know how to, how to run it. And so, uh, neither did I, but having had a background experience on a vantage, I read the manual and got them to be able to sort, uh, neutrophils from zebrafish on it. So that was my big achievement in one month when I was in Murcia in Spain,

Peter O'Toole (00:04:22):
Epics, I never feel what was epic about it, but there you are. I was, I was brought in on Moflow to start, we'd say last, you know, FACS caliber with the sort was my first,

Kylie Price (00:04:37):
Uh, um,

Peter O'Toole (00:04:41):
Yeah, the one that you must remember that and when it starts to get blocked, it gets

Kylie Price (00:04:48):
Yeah.

Peter O'Toole (00:04:49):
And then nothing it's like, oh no.

Kylie Price (00:04:53):
Yeah,

Peter O'Toole (00:04:57):
Really similar story. I, I knew nothing about facts when a university got a new confocal and a new FACS caliber at the time and they needed someone to run it. It was a postdoctoral position to operate it. So you could do research, which is brilliant. I remember going back and doing a lot of reading really fast because I had a new competition had experience of these. And I did, is that the naivety, but you also did confocal. So I think this is, looks like a look, it's looking at the knobs in front. It looks like a Leica SP one.

Kylie Price (00:05:37):
Mm. An SP something so thought it's probably an overstatement to day I do confocal, that's me visiting, um, a confocal, a core facility when I was working at the senol. So I did my sabbatical in Spain in 2012 in the flow cytometry suite with Lola Martinez. And while I was there, I wanted to visit the different cool facilities. So I spent time with, with, um, with the core facility manager and had a look at confocal and what it could do and decided when I left Spain that there was something that Malaghan should have. So we, that was one of the things that take that I took home, not literally that confocal, but, um, we got some funding and we've got our own confocal now. And I've got somebody who, who runs it brilliant microscopist, Alfonzo Schmidt. So he's doing really well. So I think, um, microscopy and flow cytometry have to be together. I think they're just so powerful, but yeah, it would be completely remiss of me to pretend that I know how to run that thing.

Peter O'Toole (00:06:36):
And it looks like converlerian area on the, on the side of it. That's interesting so, because there's some places, obviously the flow cores are independent to the microscopy cores, you have some microscopy cores that merge with the flow. I want to say microscopy you're on referring to light microscopy at this point. And then you have some light microscopy cores that are merged with electron microscopy. Which do you think of the best marriage?

Kylie Price (00:07:03):
Well, I don't have an electron microscope, so I don't, I can't really talk about that. So I think, I mean light microscopy and flow cytometry, um, might make sense to me, but because, uh, but yeah, I mean that, that's just what I've got. So I don't know the other ones that I think there's a, there's a depends what you're trying to look at, I suppose, and what resolution you need. Um, but for what we need the confocal microscopes doing fine. And maybe one day there'll be a push to, uh, want to look at like single cell transcriptomics or something like that and, and dig a bit deeper. But yeah, but, uh, but honestly microscopy is not even though, uh, you know, I've got this core facility, the Hugh Green Cytometry Center, and we have, um, kind of many core facilities within them. I am not the expert in all of the, um, umbrella, uh, all of the areas under the umbrella. So I've got the experts in place. Um, but I guess that's the way that we've, we've had to build it. We're a small Institute. We've got like 80 scientists, 120 people. Um, and you know, you kind of, we're down here at the bottom of the world and you've got to try and, uh, work within the systems that you've gotten the size that you've got. So we don't have enough to have big core facilities. We don't have enough people. So we've got me and a lot of my ideas and then bringing in the technology and trying to find, trying to match the needs of the scientists, really what do they need and how can that help advance their science? So that's the technology approach I take. I guess

Peter O'Toole (00:08:35):
You mentioned the single cell, uh, transcript techniques, single cell phenotyping with the really high Plex now with the NanoString type technologies or 10 X, Codex chips, cytometry, uh, all sorts of different technologies out there. They are not necessarily to, to purchase in some cases, but it does need a fair degree of, uh, optimization. So expertise support, how well connected is the country as a whole. So if one of your users wanting to get into single cell, can you outsource, do you have, do you have those networks to enable you to go elsewhere to take the academics? well go we can't do it. You know, it doesn't matter how UK is a pretty big country, lots of very strong research institutes, even the UK, can't say, well, we'll have it ourselves. You know, some things we have to say, yes, we can do this, but other bits we'll outsource, we collaborate over here. Yeah. What's it like down in New Zealand.

Kylie Price (00:09:36):
Well, I mean, you know, we have to, we collaborate a lot, you know, because it depends what it is and what the need is. I mean, I don't know that I can speak for the whole country, but, uh, I can speak for Wellington and the Malaghan Institute. Um, but you know, w we've got a, um, the BD Rhapsody, for example, so where we can do single cell RNA sake, but for us, you know, if we're lucky, we might do six to ten experiments a year at the moment and that data rich and that's fine. That's what I expect for the size of our Institute. We've got six research groups. If they all did one experiment a year, that'd be great. Um, and it's not a very, it's not a high cost experiment, but it means that we can generate the libraries but to buy in all of the sequence and stuff would make absolutely no sense. So you can see that to once it's cDNA, we can send it to China, to Ozzie, to wherever, to get a sequence to Dunedin. There is a place. So I think you've, you know, you've got to look at what the user base and the user need is. So it's not about getting every single technology, but just the ones, particularly we you've got models or tissues, samples that don't travel, you know, where you're not going to be able to, um, to fix them and seen them in any way. So with some of the animal models, then you want to have that technology in house, but they are all decisions that you make that you would make as well. You know?

Peter O'Toole (00:10:54):
So you've got a Rhapsody. Yep. How many cytometers do you have?

Kylie Price (00:10:59):
We've got, um, six cytometers. We've got four auroras we've got an LSR two, a 40, sir. Uh, so that's on the benchtop analyzer, and then we've got an influx and we've just purchased the Aurora CS, the cell sorter. So that's winging its way to New Zealand.

Peter O'Toole (00:11:19):
Yeah. That, okay. So that that's a lot. Yeah. You just say, you got six research groups. You got 80 groups. It was 120 people. That's a lot of cytometers for that number of people.

Kylie Price (00:11:34):
Well, yeah, we have external clients. So we have a lot of people who realize that we've got, I mean, we we've got the most advanced core facility in the country, so we have people from industry come and use our cytometers. We get, I get some really cool samples. You know, we run the scars of the spoon, chromatin structure essay. So where the, the only place that can run there and New Zealand, you know, so we run that for the fertility, associates and others. Um, and then somehow, you know, kind of get out there that, oh, this person runs sperm. So then we often get someone to be like, Hey, I've got some high pucker fish, fish sperm. They send it to the Malaghan, they'll be able to do it. So we get all sorts of random samples. Um, and you know, there'll be, get what of, some of the fun ones are like bacteria from Antarctic sea ice wanting to see going back through time through the ice columns and looking at the, um, the activity and matching, matching the metabolic activity to the CO2 in the ice and, and that, you know, micro algae and phytoplankton and all sorts of stuff. So it's not just us.

Peter O'Toole (00:12:39):
So I said, I, I, we did a fair bit of sperm research, uh, for primarily one of the local companies, actually, not so local, but one of the companies in the UK, I just loved the fact that some people will go, oh, I really want a daughter, or I really want to son can you help? It's like,

Kylie Price (00:13:03):
Not that kind of help. Yeah.

Peter O'Toole (00:13:05):
Yeah. Do you wonder if that ever happens anywhere in the world? Probably best to God. So when you took over this role, yes. I don't think the facility is anywhere near as big as it is today. So have you just surfed that wave really well and brought all the users with you and got a SAC team because it's a good service. How is it, how has it been so successful? Because that is a huge number of analysers.

Kylie Price (00:13:38):
They, they success, I guess in the number of cytometers also has to do with, um, my relationship with philanthropy. And, um, I guess I've got a pretty good track record of, um, working with what, so the Malaghan's a publicly funded charity, uh, which means that we, you know, we often have people through tour groups through, and we can tell them what we're doing. Uh, and you can form relationships with foundations or families or trusts or things like that. And I've been really fortunate. I've um, uh, in 2009, I met an incredible family and, uh, the Hugh Green found family with green foundation and they are amazing, like they are, um, the such beautiful people, humble people, um, who, you know, Hugh Green made a phenomenal amount of money in his lifetime, um, and engineering. Yep. Yep. That's all you've got to move, not me.

Peter O'Toole (00:14:35):
Which ones Hugh Green in this picture,

Kylie Price (00:14:37):
Hugh is a, I can't point, I guess he's the, um, the elderly gentleman there and next to him, uh, and red is his wife Moira and their son, John. Um, and that's the director in the sharply, the jacket, that's the director of the Malaghan and I, and so that was the first donation that we got from them. Um, we got, you know, a hundred thousand dollars, um, uh, back in 2010. So we had a hundred thousand dollars every year for three years and we built our relationship slowly over time. And I mean, they, um, you know, their passion is, um, medical research and health equity and education equity, um, and helping people out of poverty. And when, when I met them, you know, they came through and, uh, with a big entourage of their family and they were looking to donate and we heard that there's a family coming through. They might donate to anywhere between, I don't know, it was like $5,000 to $500,000. And so, um, you know, staff at the Malaghan, um, were asked to put together proposals. So I put together a proposal and I'm in the cool thing about cytometry or technology is we've got the stuff that can, well, people, you know, so I was like, oh, pop the lid, look at these lasers, you know, and get everyone excited. Um, and then it turns out, you know, they, they did the, how did you get into this? And we've got a connection, a farming connection, you know, we're, we're kind of farm people, um, and, uh, sort of the earth types, I guess. And so, and so, um, you know, we, we, we both worked with horses and cattle and stuff like that. And so they really liked, um, the technology and the good thing is I asked to go last, because then after they'd seen all of the amazing research that we do at the Malaghan, which has really cool stuff, you know, or helping, you know, people were trying to find cures for diseases that fit the immune system and cancer and allergy and asthma and all of these cool things. Um, so trying to find those cures when they got to me, it was like, well, if you liked anything that you saw, I support it all, you know? And so that worked out well. Um, and so if you count the side, just support cytometry, and it supports everything. Uh, so when we started our relationship and they have, um, they've, um, purchased most of the technology and then I've negotiated some pretty good deals as well. I have to say along the way. So I'm getting pretty good at negotiating.

Peter O'Toole (00:17:01):
Good, good, good advertising board for the companies that go in there as well. So could you not. Company can give you something, but unless it's good, you're not going to use it and you're not going to publicize it. So it's a very strong endorsement to have it there. So I think it's amazing. And I think it's really good to hear how you've been agile in finding funding. And, uh, I will plug core facilities at this point because you're right. You know, all those people were bidding against each other. Suddenly you got people fighting internally against each other, even though these are colleagues and you won, but they all won as well. All could enable it. So actually that investment has helped many, many different groups wouldn't have been possible. Otherwise, I wonder how many people watching or listening have thoughts about really Aggressively going after it? Isn't the right sort of word, but, you know, people do want to donate. They do want to make a difference. They do want to support research and science. Why, what a way to hedge your bets know?

Kylie Price (00:18:13):
No, I mean, I, I, I joke, but you know, genuinely it's true. Like, because we, we can end them with each to funding and our time we can help people with applications, you know? So if somebody, you know, wants to look at human skin and they don't have the time to develop the, the essay, then my staff can do that, you know, and I can do that. We can help. Um, and, and so then you get to see the power of the technology edits. I think what I'm really interested is maximizing the capability so that there's no stone left unturned. Like what can it do? What else can it do? You know? So really pushing it, but then feeding that back. If you have got a philanthropic relationship, I think, you know, I've got, I've kind of been asked to give these types of talks about, um, you know, developing stakeholder relationships and maintaining them, but feeding that information back to them and showing them what a difference they're making. You know, often people give money and you buy something and people go, wow, great, thanks. Here's a photo of your machine sitting in the lab, but you want to keep them engaged, you know, show them what it's doing even, and find the way in a science communicator, kind way, um, find the way to explain, to lay people what it means, because some of the findings, they're not all groundbreaking, but they're important. You know, someone finds a new receptor or a new cell type, and we don't know what that means, but let them share in the excitement that, that brings that like, well, what could it be? And here are the cool ways that we're going to try and address that. And I think that's the, the passion that you, you can bring. Um, and, and the experience that you can bring to your supporters.

Peter O'Toole (00:19:45):
Yeah. I guess that reflects blue sky research as well, because you never know where it will help. Ultimately, maybe the best thing is the MRnA vaccines. Uh, so the Pfizer, Moderna vaccnines, they weren't developing this for COVID. They developed the concepts and then how quickly they rolled it out successfully. Uh it's it's quite mindblowing , but it was never about COVID though that research cause certainly benefited the whole world in a big way. The whole world

Kylie Price (00:20:16):
There's a research. Yeah. I mean, like they did a lot of work and the incremental, what I like about the MRnA story is it's, it's a weaving of, um, strands coming together because they're the, you know, the base modifications, the little pieces, like the widgets and the changes that they made to the RNA that made it more stable. And then there's the ionizable lipids for the nanoparticles. And then there's the technology, there's the microfluidic devices, you know, and all of that merging together at the perfect moment in a perfect storm where people needed a fast solution because MRnA and I, you know, it had been around or what, SRnA And I have been around, um, the, the, on patrol was, um, what, uh, patents are not patented. Um, but FDA approved it in like 2018. So it was the first, um, RNA kind of product on the market. Um, but you know, you've got this, it was starting to happen and you just needed something like this to really catalyze it and that's it. And so I agree, you don't know what the technology could be useful for, but if it's, if it's there and it's being used and being explored, then that's when the fun stuff happens.

Peter O'Toole (00:21:24):
You mentioned you're from a farming background and you sent me some pictures and I was a beekeeper, but no, A bee suit. I don't, I know that's not the right term for it to

Kylie Price (00:21:38):
Yeah. Yep. That's right. We, um, we had bees, we had them for like five years and, um, they died of Varroamite, which has really said, you know, this, this colonic laps is a real thing. Um, and, um, and then, then I was pregnant as well. So then we decided to like, just, you know, let the bees go for it, but we'll get them back. Um, my son's three at the moment, so I kind of want to wait for him to be able to be just stand still. You know, I don't mind him being around the bees, but instead if he's going to run away while we're trying to lift the hives and stuff, I'd rather that I can trust them to like, not run on the road or something. So as soon as, as soon as he's trustworthy enough to listen and stay still, then we'll get our bees back. But having bees is incredible. Like, I think from a ecological point of view, that really important, you know, I'm a bit of a greenie and, um, and I think it's, it's really important that people do everything they can to help bees. And I mean, we got like 45 kgs of honey and our first year it was absurd.

Peter O'Toole (00:22:39):
How many hives?

Kylie Price (00:22:41):
We had two, two hives, and then

Peter O'Toole (00:22:43):
We put them 40 kilos out of

Kylie Price (00:22:47):
2 45. Um, but stacks, we had, we had sex supers, they call them, or we have five supers and then the, the brood box at the bottom, it was a bumper year.

Peter O'Toole (00:22:59):
That's it? Well, that's why you don't need to have them at the moment. You're still eating off that.

Speaker 3 (00:23:04):
Yeah, no, no go find way to get rid of my honey and all my friends benefit from when we had these that's for sure

Peter O'Toole (00:23:09):
Uh, so this, This other picture I presume also from the farm is

Kylie Price (00:23:13):
Yeah, that's me riding a horse in um, Canada. So my, my dad was originally from Canada and, uh, I went and had a white Christmas with my aunties and uncles on my way back from Europe after my sabbatical. And so, uh, I did grow up on a horse farm. And so, but I'd never ridden a horse in snow. That's new to me. That's not New Zealand.

Peter O'Toole (00:23:34):
And you mentioned your conservation work and I think this is one of your conservation pictures.

Kylie Price (00:23:38):
Yeah, that's right. That's my husband and I Federico, uh, and this was where we were, we were trapping. So we, we did, uh, we tracked like rats and stoats and the rainbow Tucker forest pack. And they've got Kiwis that released, you know, our flightless bird as opposed to the people, um, of the, of, um, released Kiwis into the park. But Kiwis are really endangered. And, um, there are bunch of predators that eat them and all the eggs. And so what we do is you go, um, into the end of the park and then off, um, off the track. And then every, every, so often you replace the eggs there, you know, traps every so many meters. Um, and then you put an egg into the trap and get rid of the kill if there was any, if you were lucky enough to get a stoat or possum sometimes, but possums weren't supposed to go in there or rats. So yeah, I did that until I was five months pregnant. And then I handed over the reigns to the director of the Institute, him and his wife franca, who are also greenie. So they've got our route in one day. We want it back.

Peter O'Toole (00:24:47):
Which, which explains the egg carten in that.

Kylie Price (00:24:50):
Yeah, that's right.

Peter O'Toole (00:24:55):
So you have your farm. What else do you have on your farm besides bees?

Kylie Price (00:24:58):
Um, well, so, there there's the farm that I grew up in and then almost like an. So, I mean, we've got chickens, um, we've had chickens in the past and bees, but you can have those and sort of what I mean, not complete city, you know, not city, like maybe, I don't know, my husband's from Buenos Aries, so not city like that, you know, not, not concrete block. We've got a, we've got a forest around us and, you know, a fair amount of land, but I wouldn't call it a farm having grown up on a real farm.

Peter O'Toole (00:25:26):
Okay. And your husband if from Buenos Aries, which explains

Kylie Price (00:25:31):
Yeah, that's right.

Peter O'Toole (00:25:34):
Football match soccer.

Kylie Price (00:25:35):
And it was, that was football. I think we went and watched, um, yeah, there was a football match we're watching, um, the RGS play the all whites, which is just a terrible thing to watch from a Kiwi's perspective because we're terrible at football and they were amazing. So, but yeah, no, that's a new, a new flag that I support. It's an, it, it's an incredible country.

Peter O'Toole (00:26:00):
Never been, so it does sound South America is just very attractive. Southern south America sounds very attractive to go to see Lionel Messi as well. And then, okay.

Kylie Price (00:26:10):
I actually, when I saw, um, I did see him, not at that game where, for our first wedding anniversary, when we were in Spain, I got us tickets to, um, the what's it called? The one in Barcelona, the camp El Campo or camposina or something like that. I can't remember that one. We went to the big one in Barcelona and we sort of see the,

Peter O'Toole (00:26:32):
So the new camp, that one, yeah. Right back to work. Yeah. What's been your ins who, who has been your inspirational inspirations, Uh, in the work environment?

Kylie Price (00:26:47):
Um, you know, I think I, I get inspired by aspects of people. I don't know if I've got a, like a whole package, no offense to anybody. Um, but you know, I think I I'm one of the first people that I met in cytometry was Bill Telford and Bill's incredible, you know, he's an incredible cytometry, he's an incredible teacher. Um, he's so generous with his time and his knowledge. And I mean, I've definitely been inspired by him and, and I love watching him tinker in the lab, you know, with his lasers and, you know, he's, he's just such an amazing, um, human being and, uh, I've done it. I've done a lot of travel with them. I, he got me into the live education taskforce with ISAC, uh, which was, which has been amazing. I stopped that to have my family, but I got to go up to sort of five different places. And, and that was all through Bill and I, I really love, you know, his, I think that's a big part of, you know, being in a cool facility. It's what we do we teach. And when you see people who, who are not only really good at teaching, but also just generous, you know, generous with their knowledge and not, they're not keeping it to themselves, or they're not trying to put up that wall, that they are the only ones who know, you know, just really sharing. And so I really admire that. Um, and yeah, I mean, just I've, I see lots of different people doing great things everywhere, you know?

Peter O'Toole (00:28:16):
So you say it's not just about sharing, not keeping the knowledge to yourself. And one of the vital things in science is to actually publish what you do, because you can talk about it until you publish it. It doesn't get widely adopted, widely known, accepted, and you'll probably ka, you know, for a core facility, your publication track record is exceptional.

Kylie Price (00:28:37):
Thank you.

Peter O'Toole (00:28:41):
A lot of people run cores don't get to publish that much. And you've done quite a lot of innovative stuff. I guess the Aurora's landed on your lap beautifully to really exploit, uh, and then develop applications around it.

Kylie Price (00:28:53):
Yeah. Yeah. We, I mean, you know, that was, uh, that was part of, uh, I mean, I had to sell the auroras, you know, like I had to sell it to the senior leadership team. It was a risk, you know, we're isolated, it was a risk on both parts, I think. So I take head to say, okay, what are we going to, are we going to send a cytometer to New Zealand? Like who's is going to be one in New Zealand? You know, who's going to support it. How many are going to go to Australia? We were early adopters. So, you know, did a good job. I think of convincing Ryan Lanigan and co, um, that we, we would be able to look after them, you know, that we're competent enough to service them. If they help us, we can do some of the stuff ourselves, um, which they were really good with. Um, and so there's that, you know, there's that two way street. So there was an opportunity to, to try the technology. It wasn't known at the time wasn't known whether it would be as good as what it sounded. So there was, there was the risk element, but a part of it was, if it is as good as what it sounds, then we've got, there's some low hanging fruit. If you like, like, there's a way to be like, look, you can do this with an Aurora and you can do that with an Aurora. Um, but what I, what I, and our team and Laura Ferrer Font who's in my team, she's a post-doc and a senior scientist, um, and the team, and, you know, what I really encourage her to do is to, to set the standards for our, for our, for all of our scientists, you know, and then publish. So that it's the standard for, for everyone, if you like, but, you know, what does it take to get top quality data? How do you use these things correctly to really make them sing if you like? And so, um, that's something that, that she's worked incredibly hard on and Sci-Tech had been really supportive. Um, and yeah, and, but when I think the other aspect is, um, finding if you're going to be bringing in a new piece of technology, finding the internal early adopters, so getting the post-docs or the somebody and selling it to them. So this is where I think science communication is really important. So saying to them, I mean, I said to one of, one of the guys who's published using, uh, using the, um, auroras said, you know, you're about to leave, you're finishing your postdoc, you're going to go back to Europe. Um, this could be a way that you've got an edge, you know, as long as where you're going is going to get an aurora, but we can, you know, I can say if we can help make that happen somehow, but you know, what if, what if you, what if you've got this expertise that people want? And so why don't you invest your time and really see what you can do? And some of the people who've got really complex samples, you know, highly autofluorescent that lend themselves well to this type of technology. So I've gut, for example, or lung or brain or looking for, um, really recell types. And we're the, the quietness, um, of the detectors and the red actually really helps the signal to noise ratio and, you know, those kinds of things. So I think selling it and getting people to really adopt it and show everyone else what it can do is really important.

Peter O'Toole (00:32:03):
Yeah. I think that applies to most technologies, each new it's always going to be a niche for each system, a unique selling points for each one that comes out and it does have to be maximized and watch your favorite publication then that you've authored, or co-authored Not necessarily your most successful, but just what is your favorite one?

Kylie Price (00:32:24):
Um, gosh, um, my favorite publication. Hmm. Well, gosh, I wrote one about, I can't remember the name of it now, but I wrote one about, uh, light laser light and the history of lasers. And I enjoyed that because it was, uh, it was a chance to do the reading. I probably should have done the in-depth reading, you know, how sometimes papers like really make you focus. Um, and I was like, yeah, see, I can tell a joke without knowing. So, um, so yeah, basically I think it was, it was really good. And I got to work with a PI at, at the Institute who I admire. Um, and it was a kind of project that put us together and I got to spend time with somebody who's, you know, just brilliant Mike Berridge. And, uh, so you know, those, those kinds of things, I like that about papers that collaboration and the collaborative nature, where you get to, you know, talk to other people and learn from them. I think that's something I really like as learning from people.

Peter O'Toole (00:33:36):
So, Um, your favorite publication, if you ever had any darker periods in real difficult times junior career, uh, that you found most challenging?

Kylie Price (00:33:48):
Oh, I think, um, you know, I think every career has its, has its ups and downs. Um, I think in my cytometry career, probably I had a hard moment doing my masters. I had a, I had a rough, a rough supervisor and a rough relationship. And so that was, that was really difficult, you know, that was difficult to come out of. And it was difficult to move on from, and those things, you know, happen and you just got to ante up, uh, and carry on. But I think, you know, what happens, I guess for me is I, I feel like a bit of a have visions of what we could do, you know, great things that we can do, and then I can find funding to do them, you know, and then I can maybe sell them. And sometimes, um, you know, the, the wind will change and something that you might have invested in quite heavily an idea at that looked like it was all gonna happen, you know, gets moved away. But, uh, I'm a pretty positive person. And I think you just learn your lessons, you know, as that, well, I nothing's in vain. I think there's always something to be taken away and learned from whatever you do. So I don't really, I don't really feel like I have that many hardships,

Peter O'Toole (00:35:02):
I'd say on a brighter note, then this is your, this is your family. So your two children, how old are they now?

Kylie Price (00:35:11):
Sienna is five, uh, five and a half. And Santiago is three and four months. And they are amazing. They're like the best things ever, ever. Uh, and my husband, uh, Federico he's seven years younger than me scandalous. And, um, now, and that, that just amazing. They, the, the brightest lights, cutest, little people I've ever met of every, parent's going to say that and think that, but, uh, no, I just, I live for them. I love it. I love being a mum and I wasn't sure, you know, it's like one of those things, I'm a geriatric. I was a geriatric mum, as they say, um, and which is, you know, over 35. Um, and you know, I just, but I was, I'm happy. I did a lot of travel and, uh, and I was really ready to, to have them, but yeah, it wasn't really sure, you know, what kind of mum would be, and it turns out, I think I'm pretty good.

Peter O'Toole (00:36:07):
Now, were you worried about your career when you started a family?

Kylie Price (00:36:13):
Yeah. No, that's a good, good question. Um, I I'm kind of strategic. And so I, my, my involvement was societies and everything was all kind of planned around my family because I was like, well, if I'm not going to work, I would take nine months maternity leave. Um, and you know, which is, um, amazing in some countries and not that amazing and others depends where you're from, but, um, but it felt right. It felt like a nice amount of time. And I really wanted to, to be there and give myself to that. But, um, you know, I didn't wanna lose complete momentum. So what I decided to do was get involved in societies. So, um, but I have to say actually at one point, uh, Adrian Smith, who you might know, um, w w I was involved in hosting a conference here in Wellington, so, um, an ACS conference and, um, it had gone really well. And at the end of the conference, he was like, Hey, he was the president of the Australasian cytometry society, the ACS. And he was like, Hey, you should, you know, you should really think about putting it, thrown your hat in the ring to be president. And I was like, I don't, I don't, I'm not sure I can even do that. Like, I don't, I'm not sure, you know, and he was like, oh, you should really give it a go. And I was like, well, actually between you and me, I want to start a family and that's not going to work. There's it doesn't matter just do it. So I can't claim full, you know, um, ownership of idea, but I was like, actually he planted the seed. So I was like, well, I'll see. And then it turned out that, that worked. I got voted in as president. And so I was president while I was on maternity leave. Um, came back just in time for the conference. And, you know, when you're, I could do all of these things from home, I could advertise for the society. I organized all sorts of things. I had workshops right up until two weeks before I gave birth, you know, like, uh, international proliferation workshops and stuff. And so before we gave birth, but okay. Yeah. I know, you know, getting right into it, taking personal ownership of proliferating. Um, so yeah, I, I think, um, I merged it, uh, but I also think, you know, New Zealand, um, we've got a culture that appreciates and understands work-life balance. I think I work hard. I think I work when I come to work, I work hard and I get everything done that I can, but I drop the X. When I go home on, on my work, I'm like, see you later work. The only person that I've grabbed the director rings and want something, then I'll, I'll do it. And he knows that. Um, and he doesn't abuse that, thankfully. Um, but, but otherwise it's when I'm at home, I'm with my family and, and I, and family means a lot to me. So, um, I think you can, you can do it. Um, and you know, if you look at my CV, there's no gap from me having been away, there's president of the ACS. And there was something else for the, when I was away with my, my son. So you know that you can, you can do it seamlessly, but now you'll know my secret.

Peter O'Toole (00:39:22):
So you say that your family means everything to you. Now, this is a picture of your two children, really young on a climbing wall.

Kylie Price (00:39:30):
Yeah, it's great. Isn't it?

Peter O'Toole (00:39:33):
It is, but then, so, so they're just on a small bouldering wall at the end. And then this is you on a insanely high bit of rock climbing yourself. And another picture of you just about to go into the abyss. Now you say you love your family, and yet you're training them to jump off mountains or climb up,

Kylie Price (00:39:56):
Finding them to be strong, to hold onto the mountain and not let go do it. It's amazing why wouldn't, you know, I love climbing. I love being, I mean, I love outdoors and mountaineering and hiking and biking and whatever yoga diving, you name it. I'm a hugely outdoorsy person and our kids, uh, have come along for the journey. So that it's amazing what they can do. I'm well impressed with how long, how far they can hike already. Um, there might be a few, you know, treats left on the path to get them there, but they can still do it. Uh, no. And, and I mean, climbing's, uh, it's just such a, such a joy and that one, the, the one where you see the crazy scary one, what's scary about that. That's called an, a rich. So when you're climbing on the corner, I dunno. Yeah. That one, when you're climbing on the, on the corner and that feels more exposed, that feels scary because actually from your perspective, when you're on the corner, then you just feel like it goes out to nowhere. So it's even more amazing,

Peter O'Toole (00:40:56):
But yeah, on the corner though, that'd be grippier on the corner.

Kylie Price (00:41:03):
No, no, it's all about finding the place holds. It's all about looking, look, look, look, and try and then maybe fail, but try again

Peter O'Toole (00:41:12):
My youngest climbs rather well, and he's trading by youngest to climb at the moment bits of it, but I guess film goes wrong. You can just get you say you like go to Crossland and adventure and you also scuba dive.

Kylie Price (00:41:25):
Yes. Yes. I love to scuba dive that. One's a weird one. That was a, um, uh, that was a, a wreck dive and new Caledonia, uh, and on the mast of the wreck. So there's mess ship about 28 meters down. Um, there was a bike hanging from the mast of the ship, so yeah, I mean, thought it would be pretty funny to get on the chain doesn't work. I found out

(00:41:56):
What was riding climbing, beekeeping, uh, tracking, cycling, raising your family, running a core facility, present societies. You do a load with ISAC, which we'll touch on in a minute. So in New Zealand you have more to hide more hours in the day than you do up here.

(00:42:19):
No, no, I don't know how I do it. I have, um, I have some good support. I have good wraparound support. Um, maybe I'm efficient and I delegate lots.

Peter O'Toole (00:42:31):
Do you ever have any, You ever have any downtime where you just sort of,

Kylie Price (00:42:35):
I'm an active relaxer? So they though that was my downtime, you know, diving is the most relaxing thing. I mean, you just like E

Peter O'Toole (00:42:44):
Yeah, but you have to get there. You have to set yourself up, close up, go down and you got the back and the cleanup. It's, it's still a lot of work for that short period of time.

Kylie Price (00:42:56):
So worth it. Do you know, I was just in Tonga a couple of weeks ago. Lucky me. Um, and we went for a dive first time. I do like to dive in warmer waters cause it's pretty, pretty cold diving in New Zealand. So I often wait until I get a moment. So we, we did get a dive and, um, 25 meters away from us were humpback whales and they were calling. So I've never done dove with whales before. Um, I'll blame that on my son. I'm picking up all his endings at the moment. It's gonna be funny. Um, but, um, yeah, so they were 25 meters away and you could hear them as if they were right next to you as a mum and her calf. That was incredible. That was just, yeah. Sorry

Peter O'Toole (00:43:42):
That, that is quite something. So I said, we touch on ISAC You also do a load for ISAC itself.

Kylie Price (00:43:53):
Six to six. What? Yeah, that's right. What minutes that's, that's made the minute taker. Nope. Uh, no, no, it's um, it's incredible. You know, like it's, uh, I did, uh, I did a long stint with the Australasian cytometry society and I think, um, I left that in better shape than what I found it. And, um, and so other two other key people in my life besides Bill Telford, uh, um, uh, Paul Wallace and Kathy Muirhead so that my proliferation people, that's how I met them, actually Bill my look like, um, and so we, that sets the dream team together. Uh, so I'll just put myself, just replace me. So, yeah. So what happened was when I was working with Bill he's, obviously he does a lot of with apoptosis and at some point he was very generous with his, um, with his space. And he'd been asked to give a workshop at a cyto and said, you know, why don't you come along and do proliferation? Like you be life, then I'll be death and we can do this talk. And so he like held a little bit of space for me and I was really junior and I'd done a couple of, you know, CFUs, proliferation essays for CPC. So I was like, oh, okay. I'm not really an expert, but of course, if somebody says that you're going to teach on it, then you become, you read a lot. So I read a lot and I did those, um, couple of sessions with him. And then when I was in Spain, he introduced me to Kathy and Paul and said, you know, look, these guys are the proliferation guru's. Like they've got this long history of proliferation and teaching and they know everything. And they were talking about doing a module for cyto U and they needed, they were interested in the fact that I might be willing to help. So I got involved and it was incredible, you know, because the one thing that we don't have here in New Zealand while we can collaborate, um, and it's easier nowadays, you know, I don't have, I can't walk across town or drive across town or many other places where I can find, you know, the type of cytometry, experts and expertise that you have around, you know, I came to see you in York, as you remember once, uh, and you know, like you've got London, it's close, you know, there's so much going on in Europe, you've got, there's so much there. And so for me, having people like that, like mentors who can really, who are willing to share the knowledge and I mean, I feel like I, I work for it as well, you know, sing for my supper and, um, you know, put in the hours that I need. And so those two, obviously Paul Wallace went on to be president of ISAC. Um, and he's a dear friend and colleague now I've known him for, you know, I don't know, 12 years or something. And, um, Hey, and Kathy were like, you, you should think about getting involved with ISAC, you know? And so, um, I did, I started with the SRL imaging leader task force, um, with Adrian and co. And I guess I, um, got recognized, uh, actually I think I got recognized a little bit by other people in ISAC when I, um, co-hosted the cyto Asia and Singapore. So that was a conference that was held between the Australasian cytometry society, ISAC and, um, immunology network. Um, and yeah, I don't, I made a bit of a name for myself as somebody who does stuff, get stuff done. Um, and, um, you know, put my head in the ring to be secretary and I got voted onto council first, actually I was on council two years before someone said that the role of secretary was coming up. And did you want to look at it? And of course, I think you'd really need if you're going to be the volunteer societies, but if you want to do justice, then you need to put in some time. So I did talk to the director and say, you know, is this something you think I can do? Excuse me, time-wise is there enough time for me to actually, are you willing to let me do this? And he said, yes. And so, yeah, I do spend quite a bit of time, at least a day awake being secretary of, ISAC

Peter O'Toole (00:48:09):
I think it's an important point, actually. So you you've obviously with the ACS and ISAC and it's helped promote your name onto the international arena. You know, it's not easy to do that and it doesn't come, it doesn't come. It's not given to anyone. You don't just get there have to earn it. And you have to, you have to give in, you had to put in effort and say, you know, you've put the effort in you fortuitous. Maybe the Adrian said, go for it. Uh, you know, so he had to, he could see in you to start with, so we encouraged you to take that step. You took that step, you then took the ISAC step, which would put you straight bang bang on the international scene. You're up there in front of thousand people at cyto, but that's important to the Malaghan as well. It's important. They have the profile and you will be search has have the profile. It makes them surely easier for them to get their grants accepted because they know if they ask for a really complicated experiment to review is going to go, ah, yes, but it's a Malaghan. They can do it.

Kylie Price (00:49:16):
Yeah. You know, that's right. I think it's really lifted out our profile and our brand, if you like. Um, and uh, we just put in for some IRO funding and out for, um, uh, independent research organization funding with the health research council. And I mean, we won't find out till next year, but I got approach. Um, you know, they went to the, the PIs got approached to say, let's get letters of support, um, from your colleagues to say, you know, if the Malaghan didn't exist, you know, what would that do to our collaborators? And because we don't have international collaborators and because I, I am, you know, no one, I could reach out to a lot of amazing people. I mean, we have incredible people in our society and ask them for letters of support. And they were really generous and they gave them and the director was like, oh my gosh, this is amazing. You know, like it was really, really thankful. And so I think it's a, it's a two way street. I think, you know, you, you invest the time and you can do it. There are a number of reasons, you know, you could be for personal reasons or professional reasons, or, um, you know, for a challenge like personally, one of the reasons that I like this is because I like to grow and challenge and, um, I kind of have a philosophy. It's not mine. It's, Brenae Brown's, but it's that I'm here to get it right. And not be right. And so I don't mind making mistakes. And, and I think if you, if you set the bar too high that you think you have to be perfect and you have to know everything, then you're, you'll stop yourself. You know, the bar will be so high that you won't be able to get the momentum to get over it. But I feel like I'm a good enabler of people and I can pull groups together. And I've Al and all my school reports and all my life has it all. She's a natural leader, you know, whatever that means, but I think I listen and, um, and I don't feel like I'm, it's a Spanish thing, but the owner of the truth, I don't think I have the one way, and I know the way, in fact, I'm pretty certain, I don't know the way, but I can find the people who do, and I think networking and the international society is the perfect place to, to get the, get that knowledge. And in my role, uh, like, so for the secretary of ISAC, I'm the chair of the governance committee. And so, you know, I assembled this committee with, um, with people that I thought could get the job done, who can help me, um, and it's about airing and their opinions around what we're doing and finding the way forward and then galvanizing everybody towards one goal. And I think a big part of it, a big part of what I do in general is just organized. I seem to be a good organizer, so I can organize thoughts and I can organize people and I can crack the whip and make sure stuff gets done. Um, and I, and I guess the other skills that, um, that ISAC enjoys from me maybe would see the fruits of my labor. Um, but, uh, you know, I think, I think, um, a lot of people think that it's only for a certain type of people or only for certain career stages, but I don't think so. I think if anyone wants to actually do the work, then, you know, come on in, there's a society, there's a, there's a spot in the society. And there's a place on so many committees that need people who are dedicated, willing to give it a go. Yeah.

Peter O'Toole (00:52:30):
Yeah. I would just echo that, whether it be ISAC, whether it be ACS, whether it be the Royal microscopical society, it's easy for people of all stages of careers. Lots of societies is to enable people to develop their careers as well. And there's always role, let's say to so age, uh, status doesn't make a big difference. It's capability. That's really important. And I would just say don't, if anyone's listening, they're thinking, oh, great. So you just take everyone's ideas and put them together and know you also have your own ideas, look at your publications again, you know, you have the vision as well, so you have to have both, but also the acknowledgement. So I think these are, I do look at your CV. You thank you for sending it through how many prizes, so

Kylie Price (00:53:21):
No, no, not that many prizes that's over there. That's like one prize. The rest have just been finalists, which I think finalist is great because it raises the profile, but you don't have the works. You don't have to go into the events afterwards. So you get the,

Peter O'Toole (00:53:36):
I don't have all the pictures, but this is obviously one.

Kylie Price (00:53:39):
Yeah. So this one has me at the next magazine woman of the year. And I think there was in the science and innovation category. Well, that's, that was the category I was in. An all of those women were in the were finalists.

Peter O'Toole (00:53:53):
That's pretty amazing.

Kylie Price (00:53:55):
Yeah, no, that was, that was pretty amazing. And so there's that. And I've been, um, I was finalists, ah, there we go for the, um, high, the high-tech inspiring individual awards. Um, the IBM, uh, that was this year, uh, and that was very swanky affair and it was amazing to be, you know, nominated and, um, and, and amongst so many incredible people. And I think again, like raising our profile, because this is cytometry, you know, this is, this is putting cytometry among most of them, most of the people in the room that are startup companies, you know, they're all making mega bucks and with amazing gadgets, but this is a science tool. So I feel like whenever, um, our name is up there with me, then you get to promote cytometry and get people excited about technology and technology and science and how it can lead to innovation.

Peter O'Toole (00:54:52):
How did you even get nominated for these who's? Who do the nominations? Is this the Malaghan thinking? Look, we've got something great here that they putting you forward and promoting it with, which is how does your,

Kylie Price (00:55:04):
Some of them, well, some of it's a mixed bag. I mean, where we've got, um, uh, comms department. So sometimes comms will be like, you know, she must have done enough to get her name and one of these things and they never write something, but it has to be good, you know, because you have to get shortlisted and then you get interviewed and, you know, it's actually a rigmarole to just get to list. Um, and all the times, um, uh, one time I got a nomination from a student actually at the Malaghan who was just like, oh, she's been so helpful. And, and you know, I don't, I don't know that a lot of the staff here know what I do, you know, ISAC, not that well known at all. I would say people know that I'm the secretary, but we know we've been to cyto is we know what it means. Um, and so I think probably a lot of people don't quite know all the other hats that I wear. They see me as the core facility manager, maybe.

Peter O'Toole (00:55:59):
So I don't think you won this prize.

Kylie Price (00:56:03):
No, I know. But

Peter O'Toole (00:56:06):
Your house, and this is the,

Kylie Price (00:56:09):
This is the Web Ellis cup. Yeah. I don't know if there should be shown it. Yeah. So, well, so turns out that I know somebody who, whose job it was to take that to places, you know, to where it was supposed to be at, you know, and maybe it just detoured by my house for quick photo and then carried on to where it was supposed to go. But that is the Web Ellis cup. Yes, that was, and there was just one random night and knock at the door. I was making dinner and a friend was like, Hey, I'm sorry. Hey, what are you to go? What's in that Box? I know, I know it was there. It was a really surreal moment. Those moments you're like, I can't even believe it, but yeah, that day,

Peter O'Toole (00:56:49):
The, how good was the replica that you switched it for.

Kylie Price (00:56:52):
But again,

Peter O'Toole (00:56:54):
We were actually really close to the hour. I can't believe this some quick questions. You an early bird or night owl?

Kylie Price (00:57:03):
Uh, Ooh, bit of both.

Peter O'Toole (00:57:08):
Okay. hedging my bets, y.

(00:57:11):
Yeah. And actually, if you do all those different activities, they dovetail that at the end of the day. PCor Mac.

Kylie Price (00:57:17):
Sorry, what was that

Peter O'Toole (00:57:17):
PC or Mac?

Kylie Price (00:57:19):
Mac.

Peter O'Toole (00:57:22):
Okay. And what's your favorite food?

Kylie Price (00:57:25):
Uh, Asian fusion. Thai spicy.

Peter O'Toole (00:57:32):
I'm sure I had a picture of you cooking somewhere and I can't find it quickly not to worry What's your least favorite food?

Kylie Price (00:57:42):
Uh, I don't really like mushrooms can handle it a little bit of mushrooms, but mushrooms. Yeah, that just too much for me. No.

Peter O'Toole (00:57:53):
So you haven't got much room for fungi then, sorry. Chocolate or cheese

Kylie Price (00:58:00):
Cheese.

Peter O'Toole (00:58:01):
Cheese.

Kylie Price (00:58:02):
Yeah. Chocolate cheese. Yes.

Peter O'Toole (00:58:04):
So it says, I guess this one's a no brainer then beer or wine.

Kylie Price (00:58:08):
Ooh. Wine

Peter O'Toole (00:58:10):
with cheese. You've got to be. Red or White

Kylie Price (00:58:14):
Red

Peter O'Toole (00:58:15):
Again. Cheese kind of has to be. Tea or Coffee

Kylie Price (00:58:19):
Coffee,

Peter O'Toole (00:58:22):
Espresso, cappuccino,

Kylie Price (00:58:24):
A flat white thanks

Peter O'Toole (00:58:28):
Oh, go halfway between why don't you actually know it's close to cappuccino in all fairness. What's your favorite movie?

Kylie Price (00:58:35):
Um,

Peter O'Toole (00:58:38):
Do you get to watch movies

Kylie Price (00:58:41):
Sometimes and sometimes

Peter O'Toole (00:58:43):
On a plane to America?

Kylie Price (00:58:44):
Yeah. Yeah. That was the best ones. I get really emotional on planes when I'm watching movies. It's like too much. I don't know what it is.

Peter O'Toole (00:58:50):
That would be the couple of glasses of red you had and no interruptions to.

Kylie Price (00:58:53):
Yeah, that's right. So it's the free time, it's the air up there. Um, I reckon Shawshank Redemption and Goodwill Hunting.

Peter O'Toole (00:59:02):
Okay. Do you watch it, do you ever get to watch any trashy TV?

Kylie Price (00:59:08):
No, I don't really like trashy TV. Don't like TV, you know, TV for TV's sake.

Peter O'Toole (00:59:14):
You don't watch TV at all

Kylie Price (00:59:16):
Oh, you know, watch an, oh, watch something on Netflix. I'll watch an episode, but no, not trashy that just does my head in.

Peter O'Toole (00:59:25):
So book or TV.

Kylie Price (00:59:28):
book,

Peter O'Toole (00:59:30):
what are you reading at the moment

Kylie Price (00:59:32):
I'm reading? Um, I never have one, cause it depends on my mood. So I've got three books on my night table. Um, one is, uh, When the Coffee gets cold Till the coffee gets cold, it's by a Japanese author. Um, and that's kind of my like holiday don't have to think much book. Um, and then, um, uh, one about, I like philosophy and some reading about, uh, like How to lead a good life. And it's about, um, stoicism and like the school of philosophy, the Stoics. And that's really interesting. Um, and the other one is, um, Not Without peril and that's like a story of all the misadventures of all these people that went hiking in the, um, in the presidential ranges and the New Hampshire over like the last age is 150 years of disasters hiking. It's pretty cool.

Peter O'Toole (01:00:29):
I'm still reading three books. I can't believe you actually get time to read a book and

Kylie Price (01:00:34):
I've been there for a long time. I might, you know, it depends on like, oh, I'm in the mood for this one. I read one page. We don't advance far anymore.

Peter O'Toole (01:00:42):
It's crazy. Our time is up. But you did send a couple of other pictures. You obviously got a German connections.

Kylie Price (01:00:49):
Well, yeah, so I lived in Germany when I was 16. I did a student exchange and um, they, I have this weird thing where I have these people. There's the familiar cleft that I love to bits and pieces that my mom, my PA and my host brothers and sisters. So I've got a couple of families in Germany. So if I go to Oldenburg, I actually feel like I come from Germany. This is my, the Shatguns, my other favorite family who I love to bits. And I honestly could go back there and live there as if I was German.

Peter O'Toole (01:01:21):
Yeah. Quite amazing. And this is you when you got married. I thought these deserve, I thought a quick mention at least.

Kylie Price (01:01:30):
Yeah. So I'm reading my vows in Spanish. Um, I didn't memorize them, but, uh, I, I got them. I got Freddy's brother to translate my vows that I wrote an English into Spanish and I read them. And so Freddy's blushing because erm, he hadn't heard them.

Peter O'Toole (01:01:47):
Where did you get married then?

Kylie Price (01:01:49):
Well, we got married here in Wellington, uh, low key, zero cost. Very good. Um, and, um, went to a registrar's office. Did the signing, went to an Argentinian restaurant for dinner. Um, and so we did the ceremony here and then we flew to Argentina to spend time with his family. And they, we kind of had a mini ceremony over there as well.

Peter O'Toole (01:02:13):
Can you say low cost? The photographer obviously cost a bit of money?

Kylie Price (01:02:17):
No, that was our mate, our climbing mate. And he took all the photos. I mean, honestly it was no cost. My friend made the flowers, my mum bought the dress for like 300 bucks. Um, I

Peter O'Toole (01:02:29):
Asked everyone to buy their own dinner instead of buying us a present, just pay for your own dinner. My dad bought the wine and our friend, we gave him a bottle of wine and he took our photos. Can you believe it? Love it? No. When you said your friend, I thought he might be an Adrian Smith to know he's a, quite an awesome.

Kylie Price (01:02:43):
And I remember when we were going to visit a friend in Leeds, when we came to see you, that was well, he took those photos,

Peter O'Toole (01:02:53):
Small world, small world. So he must've been in his prime when he met him. And as well when he was a photography. Yes. Yeah. Just incredible picture that you had there, but it does worry me that you did it all on the cheap and everyone was paying for their own dinner. Do they not pay you a salary at Malaghan?

Kylie Price (01:03:15):
Yeah, but I don't like waste, you know, I don't like waste. I don't want fanfare. And I, and I, you know, why buy stuff that I don't like too much stuff that needs stuff. I'd rather spend it on travel and travel and climbing and friends and food.

Peter O'Toole (01:03:30):
Yeah. And I, I didn't get through all the travel pictures throughout this, but I guess a lot of those are holidays, but some of those will be, they're not perks of the job necessarily. Cause some, you do a fair bit of traveling. This is essential and it's not necessarily a perk, but you do get to see different places.

Kylie Price (01:03:48):
Oh, I know. I mean, that's another thing about being a scientist, you know, when no one told me when, when I was thinking about science that you actually get to travel the world, like you might get paid rubbish, but you can travel the world, which is pretty amazing. So a lot of the times whenever there's a, cyto like the one in Florida as I looked around for, what can I do that, that excites me. And I went to Costa Rica by myself for, and did some hiking in the forest there, which was incredible, you know? And it costs me like $200 from Florida. I mean, imagine flying from New Zealand, Florida to Costa Rica, not $200. So yeah, that's a good field.

Peter O'Toole (01:04:26):
Okay. It said, salaries, can't be that bad. And I'll just point out to you certainly York and a lot in the UK, you know, our positions are fairly well-paid positions and very appropriate salaries, salaries, I think in the opportunities of our to grow. So these role can be really good, you know?

Kylie Price (01:04:46):
Yeah. That's like, you know, if you've got a, my husband works in the government and so, you know, like the, the government and the government pays different to what scientists do, but I think, you know, I think core facility staff do well.

Peter O'Toole (01:04:57):
Yeah. They're great careers. Ah,

Kylie Price (01:05:00):
Yeah. It's been an amazing career. And one thing that the director said that I really liked is, um, you know, if everybody at the Institute loses their job because of their funding, it's like, as long as there's one scientist still standing, then they'll need you, you know, like you've more protection and a core facility, I think from the whims of the funding world, the science funding world then, um, then outside of it. So now it's, it's been an incredible career thus far, but I feel like I'm still young, got lots to do. That's fun years.

Peter O'Toole (01:05:33):
And I think you've proven the case that to take those roles you have to have the passion and you have to have the drive and you have to do the work to make it safe. So Kylie, on that note, we are over the hour, so we need to wrap. So thank you so much for joining me today. Everyone who's watched or listened, uh, please do subscribe. Keep looking at the other flow stars. Uh, you mentioned Paul Wallace earlier, so he'll be up. So look at Paul Wallace and many of the others that we know so well, Kylie, thank you very much. Thank you

Kylie Price (01:06:05):
Thank you so much, Peter.