Grant success to end the academic year

As the year comes to a close, I am very happy to share some wonderful news: we have received continuing support from the Konung Gustaf V:s och Drottning Victorias Stiftelse! This generous contribution will be used to perform some great high-throughput screens next year, propelling our project forward.

Securing funding in the academic world is no easy feat. The process of applying for grants can be incredibly challenging and often comes with its fair share of rejections. Each “no” can feel like a setback, but it’s important to remember that every rejection is a step closer to success. Persistence is key. Every application, whether successful or not, is an opportunity to refine your ideas and strengthen your resolve.

This recent support is a testament to the importance of pushing through those challenges. It’s a reminder that perseverance pays off, and that the hard work and dedication we put into our research do not go unnoticed.

As we look ahead to the new year, I am filled with optimism and gratitude. This support not only fuels our immediate goals but also reinforces the belief that our efforts are making a difference. It’s a positive way to end this academic year and a motivating start to the next.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. Let’s continue to push boundaries, embrace challenges, and celebrate our achievements, big and small.

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.

First publication of the lab

Better Together: Interorganellar Communication in the Regulation of Proteostasis

I’m thrilled to announce the publication of our latest review, “Better Together: Interorganellar Communication in the Regulation of Proteostasis,” in the journal Contact CTC. This marks the first publication from our lab and my first corresponding review, making it a significant milestone for us.

In this review, we explore the intricate network of chaperones and folding factors that maintain a functional proteome, which is essential for cellular life. Unlike traditional views that isolate proteostatic mechanisms within individual organelles, our review highlights how these processes are interconnected across organellar borders. This interorganellar communication occurs through signaling processes or direct associations via contact sites.

For those interested in the detailed mechanisms and the broader implications of our findings, you can read the full article here

“The Lab Turns 1” Potluck

Last weekend, Andreas and I had the pleasure of inviting current and former lab members for a small potluck and birthday party to celebrate our lab’s first anniversary. It was a wonderful occasion filled with great food, happy times, and a sense of camaraderie that made the time fly by.

I absolutely love hosting events like this. They provide a fantastic opportunity for our team members to come together and simply enjoy each other’s company. These gatherings play a crucial role in fostering happy and healthy group dynamics, which in turn helps create a positive lab environment.

It feels surreal that the lab is already one year old. The time has flown by, and while I’m thrilled with the journey, it hasn’t been without its challenges. Some parts were much harder than I had ever anticipated, while others were very manageable – but nothing was easy. I’m proud of the many things that have worked out as planned. We successfully built up the lab, welcomed our first students in March, and got our main methods up and running. However, some tasks were definitely harder and slower than I expected. Starting a group comes with a myriad of tasks, making it difficult to balance my time effectively. Securing funding to get the lab running was a significant achievement, but not all grant applications were successful. The lab is functioning well, but we still face challenges.

Reflecting on my own expectations and immediate goals often makes me nervous, especially when considering to-do lists and things I could or should have done differently. Relaxing after a day of doing my best, yet not completing everything I planned, is challenging. I tend to focus on the negatives, which is something I’m actively working on.

As a group leader, I strive to be a role model and demonstrate how science can thrive with kindness in academia. Despite setbacks and hurdles, academic kindness remains a central aim for me. On this Sunday, I was simply happy to see our team members working together, performing well, and I am excited to continue our scientific journey with them. I also look forward to welcoming new members who bring fresh perspectives.

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