Exciting Times Ahead: A Major Milestone for Our Lab!

🌟 I am beyond excited to share some fantastic news with you all! This week marks a significant milestone for our lab as we finally install the biggest, most expensive, and most central piece of equipment we’ve ever acquired. After months of procurement, planning, and construction, it has arrived in its (huge) box from overseas! 📦

The Journey to This Moment

When things take longer than expected, it can be hard to stay patient. But the wait is finally over, and I couldn’t be more thrilled! This journey has been a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved. From the initial stages of procurement to the meticulous planning and construction, every step has brought us closer to this moment.

Gratitude and Support

A huge thank you to #Kempestiftelserna for funding this equipment and supporting our lab’s #ResearchVision! As a #NewPI, it’s challenging to convince our academic community of a new idea, and this support is incredibly helpful and encouraging. Receiving grant money for a new application idea, especially when starting out, means so much. This support not only validates our vision but also empowers us to push the boundaries of our research.

What’s Next?

We have an exciting week ahead with a two-day installation followed by three days of intensive training. This new robotic power will significantly enhance our capabilities and open up new avenues for exploration and discovery. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to advance our research with such cutting-edge technology.

Stay Tuned!

Stay tuned for some cool (and crazy) results! 🤖✨ Visit us to see how this thing looks after being unboxed. We can’t wait to share the amazing outcomes and breakthroughs that this new equipment will help us achieve.

Taking on New Challenges and Celebrating Small Wins

Taking on new challenges is an essential part of personal and professional growth. Recently, I embarked on a journey that pushed me beyond my comfort zone: I enrolled in and successfully completed my first all-Swedish supervision course. While I can read and speak Swedish for everyday use, this course required me to engage in group discussions about pedagogy and how to supervise PhD students, prepare presentations, and write reports—all in Swedish. This was definitely a new level of difficulty for me.

Each course day brought a mix of excitement and nervousness. The thought of discussing complex topics in a language that I was still learning was daunting. However, I was determined to push through. With each session, I felt a bit more confident, and by the end of the course, I was both happy and relieved to have completed it successfully.

This experience reinforced my belief in the importance of celebrating every small success and positive step along the way. It’s easy to wait for big milestones to celebrate, but recognizing smaller achievements can be incredibly motivating. I try to encourage my team members to do the same. Celebrating these moments helps build morale and keeps us motivated to continue pushing forward.

Personally, I have always found it challenging to focus on my successes. I tend to dwell on the negatives and overlook the positives. However, I am actively working on changing this mindset. Completing this course is a step in the right direction for me, both in terms of my language skills and my personal development.

I want to inspire my team to take on new challenges and step out of their comfort zones. Growth happens when we push our boundaries and embrace the unknown. Whether it’s learning a new skill, taking on a new project, or simply trying something different, these experiences shape us and help us grow.

So, let’s celebrate every step forward, no matter how small it may seem. Each success is a building block towards our larger goals. Here’s to embracing challenges and celebrating our progress along the way.

Celebrating Success

Today was a super special day as we celebrated one of our amazing students graduating with her Bachelor’s degree! 🎓 To make it even more memorable, we crafted a fun DIY graduation hat in her favorite color, pink. 🎀

A Special DIY Graduation Hat

We wanted to do something unique to celebrate her big achievement, so we got creative and made a pink graduation hat. It was a fun project that showed just how much we appreciate her hard work and dedication.

The Journey to Graduation

She joined us in March and quickly became a key part of our team. Her passion for science and her determination have been truly inspiring. During the celebration, we shared so many funny and crazy stories from our time together. It’s amazing how many great memories we’ve made in such a short time!

The Celebration

The celebration was a team effort with my husband’s lab, and it was heartwarming to see everyone come together. The pink graduation hat was a hit and added a festive touch to the day. We laughed, we smiled, and we felt so proud of her accomplishments.

Looking Forward

This graduation is just the beginning. We’re looking forward to many more graduations and successes in the future. Each one will be special, but this first one will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Best Wishes

To our wonderful graduate, we wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Your hard work has paid off, and we can’t wait to see what amazing things you’ll do next. Congratulations again! 🌟

Celebrating Our First Student’s Success

We are thrilled to announce that our first student, Samantha Weindel, has successfully completed her project. This is a significant milestone for our lab as Samantha is the first student to graduate from our group.

Samantha has learned remarkable independence throughout her project, which is very unusual at her educational level as a Bachelor’s student. She quickly learned how to plan her experiments and made significant improvements during her time in the lab. Her positive attitude and genuine interest in the topic have greatly contributed to a positive group climate.

As her supervisor, I had the pleasure of witnessing her growth firsthand. Providing her with feedback was an enjoyable process, and I am proud to have been part of her journey.

Recently, Samantha defended her thesis, marking the end of her time as a bachelor's student. In a LinkedIn post, she expressed her gratitude:

“I am thrilled to say that my thesis has successfully been defended. With this, my time as a bachelor student has come to an end. I want to thank Verena Kohler for her patience, guidance and for putting her trust in me. This time has taught me a lot about science and myself, and I consider myself lucky for having such a positive experience. Major thanks also to Zhwan Karim and Mostafa Basiony for being amazing Lab mates.”

This might not be the main reason why I love to supervise young talents, but it definitely is the cherry on top and this post made my day.

As we celebrate Samantha’s achievement, we also feel a sense of sadness that this chapter has ended. However, we are excited to follow her future journey and are confident that she will continue to excel in her endeavours.

Congratulations, Samantha!

Constructing our first strains

In our lab, we believe in celebrating every successful step and today we have quite a big milestone:

The first strains from the very first students of this lab start populating our -80 freezer, Samantha’s strain being placed there yesterday and Zhwan’s strains about to join on Friday. Great job, team!

Looking forward to our first characterisation experiments that are now ongoing.

Exciting times ahead

Our Dual Career Journey at Umeå University

A year ago today, my now-husband and I found ourselves in an unusual situation. We were both being interviewed for the same position at Umeå University. Despite being direct competitors, we supported each other throughout the process, as we always did and still do. Little did we know at that time that the Faculty of Medicine decided to double the position, offering us both a tenure-track assistant professorship. This decision not only marked a significant milestone in our individual careers but also strengthened our bond as a couple navigating the academic world together.

Being part of a dual career couple is often seen as challenging, and rightly so. The constant juggling of professional commitments, personal life, and the uncertainties that come with it can be overwhelming. However, having a partner who understands the demands of an academic career, who shares the same passion for research and teaching, and who is there to celebrate the successes and navigate the failures, makes this journey worthwhile for me personally.

I consider myself fortunate to have had my partner with me in every town we moved to. His presence has been a constant source of support and motivation. His understanding and companionship have made the transitions smoother and the challenges more manageable.

As I reflect on our journey, I am filled with gratitude for the unexpected turns and the successes we’ve shared. Here’s to celebrating the unexpected turns in our academic journey and looking forward to many more years of shared success at Umeå University.

Embracing New Challenges

Today marked a significant milestone in my journey as a scientist here in Umeå. I embraced a new challenge by delivering my first talk in SWEDISH!

The Invitation

Back in December, I received an invitation from my funding agency to present a talk. The catch? It was to be delivered in Swedish. Initially, I was hesitant. The thought of presenting complex scientific concepts in a language I was and am still learning was daunting.

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

Despite my initial reservations, I decided to step out of my comfort zone. I accepted the challenge and began preparing for my talk. There were a few sleepless nights, hours spent practicing, and moments of self-doubt. But I was determined to make this work.

The Big Day

Finally, the day arrived. I found myself engaging with delegates from the foundation, presenting my talk, and conversing over lunch - all in Swedish. It was an enriching experience that pushed my boundaries. I’m thrilled with how it went. The sense of accomplishment I felt after successfully delivering my talk was unparalleled. It was a proud moment, a testament to the hard work and effort I had put into preparing for this day.

Celebrating our Third Grant!

I am thrilled to share some exciting news with you all. Our team at the Kohler Proteostasis Lab has secured our third research grant! This significant boost for our 2024 research is generously provided by Konung Gustaf V:s och Drottning Victorias Stiftelse.

The journey to this point has been nothing short of incredible. It began with drafting a successful pre-proposal early in May, before I even signed the contract for my position. The honour of being selected to write and submit a full proposal by the end of October was a testament to the potential seen in our work. Today’s decision feels like an early Christmas present!

Securing three grants within the first three months of starting this lab has been a humbling experience. It’s a reminder that success is often a blend of hard work, dedication, and a bit of luck.

I am deeply grateful for the support we’ve received and excited for the opportunities that lie ahead in 2024. This grant will enable us to delve deeper into our research and contribute to the scientific community in meaningful ways.

Thank you to our generous sponsors for believing in our vision and supporting our research. As we look forward to the new year, we are filled with anticipation for the exciting journey that lies ahead.

Remember, success isn’t just about hard work. It’s also about being in the right place, at the right time, and doing the right thing. Here’s to an exciting year of discovery and growth!

Celebrating our Second Grant

I am excited to announce that we, at the Kohler Proteostasis Lab, have been awarded a significant research grant from the Kempe Foundation! This grant, amounting to 2 million SEK, will enable us to acquire essential equipment and support our experimental approaches.

Securing this grant was no small feat. It involved a lot of hard work and dedication, even before I officially started my position. Amidst the chaos of moving our lives from Austria to Graz, I was writing this grant proposal. It was a challenging time, but looking back, it was definitely worth it.

This news came just before bedtime, so you can imagine how well I slept that night (Insomnia due to excitement is ok, though).

This generous grant will greatly enhance our understanding of the Ageing Chaperome. It’s an incredible opportunity that I am extremely thrilled about.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Celebrating Our First Grant

I'm absolutely thrilled to share some wonderful news – the Kohler Proteostasis Lab has been awarded its very first grant! With immense gratitude to the Faculty of Medicine at Umeå University, we've received the Strategic Research Grant for 2023.

The path to this grant was quite the journey. Back in May, before even officially starting my work here in Umeå, I submitted this application. Fast forward to October, and we've been honoured with this fantastic opportunity. It's been a collective effort, and I’m deeply appreciative of the unwavering support and encouragement I have received along the way from my colleagues and the broader scientific community.

This grant is a significant stepping stone for the lab, providing a two-year window to delve into the captivating world of proteostasis and its connections to ageing. We're excited to embark on this research endeavour with a sense of humility, knowing that we have much to learn and discover. We owe a heartfelt thank you to all who have played a part in our journey. Stay tuned for updates as we continue our mission to expand our understanding of proteostasis and aging, with the utmost dedication and passion.