Interview with Sehajpreet Gill, doctoral candidate at the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology (BIPS) in Bremen and participant in the YoungNAKO graduate program.
When Sehajpreet Gill looks out of her office window at the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology (BIPS) in Bremen in the morning, she often pulls out her smartphone. She captures sunrises. But when she turns her gaze back from the window to her screen, she is dealing with a different kind of radiation. One that cannot be seen, but whose effects can be crucial to our health.
Sehajpreet is a doctoral researcher in radiation epidemiology. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Public Health and her Master’s in Epidemiology at the University of Bremen
Which aspects are most important to you in your work?
“The meaningfulness and usefulness of science in improving the health of others, especially in the field of radiation protection. It’s important that we communicate our scientific results to the public in an accessible and understandable way. After all, the public should benefit from the findings and be able to participate in the discussion.”
From the art of photography to data analysis
That Sehajpreet now works on complex exposure matrices has a lot to do with her eye for detail. “Nature is one of my favorite subjects,” she says. The patience required to wait for the perfect moment also helps her in research. Inspired by her parents and sister, who taught her early on about the value of education, and supported by her supervisor Hajo Zeeb, she chose the field of radiation epidemiology. “It’s an interdisciplinary field. We provide the scientific basis for decision-making in radiation protection.”
Research in detail: How reliable are our data?
In her current work, Sehajpreet focuses on two main areas: her doctoral project and the European HARMONIC Study (HARMONIC = Health effects of cArdiac Radiofrequency ablation and Medical radiatION in paediatriC populations – a European research project investigating the health effects of medical radiation exposure).
Her PhD centers on low-dose ionizing radiation and its impact on health. She works with data from a so-called Level-3 project of the German National Cohort (NAKO) Health Study (MedExpo: assessment of medical radiation exposure). As study coordinator, she oversaw data collection in the study centers of Bremen, Greifswald and Essen. A crucial part of her work is validating these data. “We compare self-reported information from the questionnaires with secondary data,” she explains. This is essential for evaluating the reliability of self-reported information in research.
She is also preparing a feasibility study for a radiation exposure table. The goal is to develop a model that captures total exposure to ionizing radiation – from environmental, occupational and medical sources. In parallel, she is actively involved in the European HARMONIC consortium, which includes 24 institutions and is led by Isabelle Thierry-Chef. The project investigates the long-term effects of ionizing radiation in children undergoing procedures such as cardiac catheterization or receiving radiation therapy.
Why are your research findings relevant for everyone?
“We are all exposed to ionizing radiation – through natural environmental sources such as radon gas or through medical applications like CT scans. Although ionizing radiation in medicine has greatly advanced diagnostics and therapy, uncertainties remain regarding potential long-term risks in the low-dose range.”
Why German National Cohort (NAKO) data are indispensable
For her radiation epidemiology analyses, data from the German National Cohort (NAKO) Health Study are particularly valuable. “Large cohort studies like German National Cohort (NAKO) help address the research gap in the low-dose range and provide evidence-based foundations for improved radiation protection,” Sehajpreet says. Because the study reflects a cross-section of the general population and collects highly detailed information, she can account for important confounders such as smoking or alcohol consumption. The longitudinal design also allows her to observe changes over time and investigate potential causal relationships.
YoungNAKO: A look behind the scenes
Although Sehajpreet became familiar with German National Cohort (NAKO) procedures through her coordination work, the YoungNAKO graduate program offers her a new perspective. “Data management is one thing—but seeing how the data are actually generated is something entirely different,” she says. Through YoungNAKO, she gained insights into the perspectives of both study nurses and participants. “That helps enormously in understanding the structure of individual modules.” She particularly values the exchange with other YoungNAKO participants and German National Cohort (NAKO) researchers. The expert groups (see: NAKO Expert Groups) are open to questions—and it quickly becomes clear that science is a team effort.
Young NAKO
With the “YoungNAKO” program, NAKO e.V. promotes junior researchers in the field of epidemiology.
The YoungNAKO Graduate Program is a training program for junior researchers who work with data from population-based cohort studies, such as the NAKO Health Study (NAKO). Graduates of the program are trained to design and analyze their own studies based on NAKO data and to apply for funding for future NAKO-related projects.
The course has a hybrid structure and is divided into in-person and online events. In addition, annual WinterSchools on various thematic topics are organized to promote exchange and networking with other students, professors, and researchers.
Cooperation Partners:
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Epidemiologie (DGEpi)
Gesellschaft für Medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie (GMDS)
Science is not a solo project
This insight is also her core message to fellow early-career researchers. To Sehajpreet, the study nurses in the centers, staff responsible for data documentation, and programmers are just as important as the scientific leadership. “We can learn a lot from the experience of senior scientists,” she emphasizes, “but as early-career researchers we bring fresh ideas and new perspectives.”
Looking ahead
In the future, Sehajpreet hopes that German National Cohort (NAKO) data will be used even more extensively in radiation research—for example, through household radon measurements or systematic documentation of UV exposure. Her personal goal remains clear: to generate robust scientific evidence and communicate it in a way that people can understand and that contributes to protecting public health.
And after a long day of data analysis? You will probably find Sehajpreet in a café, enjoying a good cappuccino and a book, recharging for whatever comes next.
Apply Now: Second Cohort Starts May 2026 !
The application phase for the second cohort of the YoungNAKO Graduate Program has begun.
Application Deadline: March 15, 2026
Apply via email to: YoungNAKO.grad@uni-muenster.de
Apply now and join us in researching the health questions of tomorrow!