Staying Adaptable and Flexible Mindsets in Global Health

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Staying Adaptable and Flexible: Mindsets in Global Health

Miruna Rosu’s journey into global health is not defined by a single turning point, but by a series of deliberate pivots each guided by curiosity, openness, and a willingness to evolve.

Originally from Romania, she has studied and worked in Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and now Singapore, experiences that shaped her adaptability and broadened her perspective on people and healthcare systems alike.

Moving across countries teaches you to adapt. It makes you more open-minded. You learn to understand rather than judge,” she reflected. “Everywhere I’ve lived has shaped me in some way. You become a complex puzzle.”

Learning DNA extraction during a practical session as part of the BSc in Genetics at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).

Learning DNA extraction during a practical session for the BSc in Genetics at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).

Now a Senior Research Fellow at the Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness (COP) and the Duke-NUS Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme, Miruna’s role reflects this evolution.

Over time, this constant movement shaped not just her worldview, but her approach to work and life. Rather than anchoring herself to a single definition of “home” or career path, Miruna embraced the idea that both could evolve. This mindset of adaptability and self-awareness would later underpin her journey through science and into global health.With a background in molecular virology, Miruna first began her career in influenza virus evolution and vaccine development. Over time, her interests evolved beyond the laboratory and into the wider systems that shape health outcomes. Through fellowships with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, she gained exposure to epidemiology, outbreak investigation, and pandemic preparedness.

“Outbreak investigation is like being a detective,” she said. “You’re trying to trace the source, understand what’s happening, and bring together many different people, from epidemiologists to microbiologists, program directors, communication officers and even government officials, to solve a problem.”

The fast-paced, collaborative nature of the work and its tangible impact resonated deeply. As an epidemiologist in the Global Outbreak and Alert Response Network (GOARN), Miruna played a crucial role in supporting cholera response efforts in Myanmar. Through her work in GOARN, a global technical network coordinated by the WHO, she she gained firsthand insight into the critical importance of workforce capacity and capability in enabling effective responses to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.

Her work now focuses on strengthening regional capacity in pathogen genomics through the Asia Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Asia PGI) Academy. This involves developing and delivering training programmes across Asia, equipping public health professionals with the tools to detect, monitor, and respond to infectious disease threats.

From conducting bioinformatics training in Nepal to supporting wastewater surveillance initiatives in Pakistan and collaborating with partners across Indonesia and Cambodia, her work is as regional as it is interdisciplinary.

At the heart of this is a philosophy she strongly identifies with: being a “T-shaped” individual.

“You need depth in a specific area. That’s your expertise,” she explained. “But you also need breadth, which is the ability to apply that knowledge across different domains to solve complex problems.”

For Miruna, that depth lies in virology and genomics. The breadth comes from applying these skills across epidemiology, surveillance, and outbreak preparedness and response, generating evidence that improves decision making in both peace or crisis contexts and contributes to stronger global health systems.

“Doing a PhD is like pushing the boundary of knowledge in a very narrow space,” she said. “But for me, the next step is using that knowledge to create impact in the world. That’s where public and global health come in.”

This ability to move between depth and breadth is particularly critical in global health, which is an inherently complex and interconnected field.

“Global health is really about people and relationships,” she said. “You’re working across countries, institutions, and disciplines. Building trust and communicating clearly is just as important as technical expertise.”

At the same time, Miruna finds that it is this complexity that makes the work meaningful. For her, the importance of global health lies not in the lack of tools or knowledge, but in inequities in access.

Miruna with an in-house designed magnetic rack used for sequencing library preparation during her first week at the Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness.

“Most of the time, it’s not that we don’t have the diagnostics or the expertise,” she said. “It’s about whether those resources are available where and when they’re needed.”

Having lived across countries with varying healthcare systems, she has seen these disparities firsthand.

“Where you’re born shouldn’t determine your access to healthcare or your chances of living a healthy life,” she said. “Global health is about trying to level that playing field.”

Where you’re born shouldn’t determine your access to healthcare or your chances of living a healthy life.

Miruna Rosu

Senior Research Fellow, Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness

Wastewater surveillance training session by Institute Pasteur du Cambodge and the Wastewater Surveillance for Pandemic Prevention network

Miruna at a training session on wastewater surveillance organised by two of Asia PGI's key collaborators: Institut Pasteur du Cambodge and the Wastewater Surveillance for Pandemic Prevention network (WaSPP), held in Cambodia" (WaSPP is based in the UK)

The journey into global health has not been linear, but it has been intentional. Now, Miruna advocates for a more reflective approach in both career and personal trajectories, one that balances foresightedness, provident planning, and self-awareness.

Outside of work, Miruna finds grounding in movement and exploration. An avid cyclist and nature enthusiast, she enjoys outdoor activities that allow her to slow down and reconnect with the world around her. She is also a keen reader of history and geopolitics, driven by a desire to better understand the forces and systems that shape societies beyond the realm of science.

It is perhaps fitting for someone whose life has taken her across countries, disciplines, and cultures. Just as each move has added another piece to the puzzle of who she is, Miruna continues to seek new perspectives, guided by the belief that growth comes from remaining curious, adaptable, and open to change.

Where you’re born shouldn’t determine your access to healthcare or your chances of living a healthy life.

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