Salah Elias is Associate Professor in Developmental Biology at The University of Southampton, UK. His research aims to understand the mechanisms underlying oriented cell divisions in the mammary gland, focusing on how these divisions influence epithelial differentiation and architecture, and how their dysregulation can lead to malignant transformation. Salah set up his research group back in 2017 and has since been involved in various initiatives, including the `New PIs in Cell and Developmental Biology' forum and activities relating to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. We chatted with Salah over Zoom to find out more about his career and his transition to becoming an independent group leader.