Explaining science – and “accepting what is”

IMC Krems alumna Sophie Imhof – graduate of the Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology programme – now works at the intersection of many disciplines: at one of the most renowned medical universities in New York. Her research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, longevity and the mechanisms of the human body.

At the same time, she is building her own platform. On Instagram and TikTok, she explains what lies behind health trends, breaks down marketing claims and makes science more accessible. More than 30,000 people follow her work.

And then there is her magazine. „Wunderwerk Leben“ (“The Wonder of Life”) is not a conventional knowledge format. It brings together biology, philosophy and societal questions. Its aim is not to provide simple answers, but to spark critical thinking. This combination is rare: solid scientific research, clear language, and a distinctive perspective on topics that concern many.

“Critical thinking should not be a privilege.”

You work at a top university and are very present on social media. Why is this approach so important to you?

I come from a working-class family myself, and the environment I grew up in isn’t particularly academic or closely connected to biology and medicine. But I’ve always been fascinated by how much knowledge already exists, how deep research goes in some areas – and how little of it actually reaches the general public.

I believe a large part of this is simply due to how science is often communicated: extremely dry, complex, and presented in a way that makes people feel as if they wouldn’t understand it anyway. I see this quite differently. With the right approach, almost anyone can understand even complex biological mechanisms. That’s exactly what I try to do with my work: make science more tangible – sometimes with a touch of Austrian humour – but without simplifying or distorting the content. Because understanding your own body and biology can change so much: not only how you view health, but often your entire perspective on life.

“I wanted a format that does more than just inform”

With Wunderwerk Leben, Sophie Imhof has created her own magazine. Each issue focuses on a specific theme – from nutrition and the brain to societal questions – combining scientific content with personal perspectives.

What was the moment when you realised: I need my own format?

When I saw social media posts claiming that a random liver detox would suddenly change our lives. I started taking a closer look at influencer health marketing and was surprised by how much marketing and how little actual scientific evidence often lies behind these claims. At the same time, I realised that real education requires more than just quick clips and buzzwords. Some mechanisms simply cannot be explained in 15 seconds without losing half of the substance.

That’s how Wunderwerk Leben came into being at the end of 2024. It’s a print magazine where we present complex biological, medical and societal topics in a way that people can truly understand – without jargon but still grounded in science. A new issue is published every two months, each with a different focus, but at its core it’s always about the same thing: understanding human beings better.

What matters most to me is that the magazine is not just technical reading. Each issue also includes personal reflections, small insights and glimpses into my own thoughts. This creates a special connection between me and the readers, one I hadn’t expected.
I also like the idea that people don’t just read our magazine for information, but that it might also help them feel a bit of gratitude – simply for being alive, for having a body that does incredible things every single day.

I also believe that our brand shows that people do want facts, knowledge and meaningful content. Right now, it’s fascinating to observe how social media is changing. Many people are starting to realise that constant headlines, endless advertising and artificial attention eventually feel empty. The fact that so many people consciously choose our magazine – the slower, more demanding but probably more sustainable path – is the greatest compliment to our work. And that credit goes entirely to our readers.

Between research, content and entrepreneurship

Her path is defined by contrasts: education in Austria, international research, life in New York. Along the way, she has been building her own brand step by step, with a clear positioning. She even describes herself as a “defluencer” in the health sector. Her aim is not to amplify trends, but to question them.

You operate at the intersection of science, media and entrepreneurship. What do you find most challenging?

The obvious answer would be that it’s a huge amount of work – and yes, it is. Of course, I no longer do this alone; I now have an incredible team. But honestly, that’s not what challenges me the most. What is far more intense is what I take from all these topics into my real life. I spend hours every day dealing with the smallest and at the same time incredibly complex biological mechanisms, with serious illnesses, tragic stories, and everything that makes us human. There are moments when I start questioning the bigger meaning.

The deeper you dive into biology, the stranger everything seems – and with that comes a certain weight. The fact that we exist at all. That we love, hate, feel, think and live on a rock flying through the universe as if it were completely normal. And then you sit there reading about a tiny molecular mechanism that can determine whether someone stays healthy or not. It puts everything into perspective.

I think that’s exactly why I’ve become more personal in my editorials and the magazine overall. At first, I only wanted to make science more understandable. But over time, it became much more than that. The magazine has almost become a way of processing everything I engage with. Knowing that other people understand these thoughts, or see themselves reflected in certain lines, sometimes takes away a bit of that heaviness – because you realise that we are all simply trying to understand why we are the way we are.

So yes, professionally it is challenging. But the real challenge lies in what these insights, stories and experiences do to you as a person over time.

A perspective that connects

What defines Sophie Imhof is not a single project, but the way she connects different elements:

• solid scientific work
• clear, accessible communication
• and a critical view of current developments.

In doing so, she reaches an audience that traditional science often fails to engage – without losing depth. For students and alumni, this offers a strong perspective: you don’t have to choose between research and the public sphere. It is possible to combine both – if you find your own approach.

About Sophie

I was born in Prinzersdorf, near St. Pölten, and I’m very proud of that. Even though I’m hardly ever there, I feel a strong connection to my home. At the same time, I love my international life. I have friends all over the world and have met many inspiring and intelligent people who have shaped how I think and live. Still, there’s hardly anything I enjoy more than traditional Austrian local festivals, a bit of humour, and good food.

I’m a huge fan of my work, I love science, and I can easily spend hours reading studies that might seem pointless to others – simply because I find them fascinating. When I’m not writing, I enjoy being active and doing sports. Long distances and anything a bit more extreme appeal to me – somehow they allow me to feel and understand my body, and myself, in a completely different way. That’s also where I process everything that happens in life – the good and the difficult. Everything is part of it, and I try to accept it all. There’s a phrase I really like: “Accept what is.” No matter what happens, I have so much in my life that allows me to do just that – and for that, I am grateful.

Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology