A blend of science, fun and nature scenery when postdocs meet

In the front: Gabriel Torrens Ribot, Fredrik Almqvist, Joram Kiriga Waititu, and Suvam Roy. In the back: Samuel Agyei Nyantakyi, Túlio Yoshinaga, Antonio Blasquez, Jagadish Mangu, Harshit Malhotra, Dhruv Agrawal, Baptiste Bogard, Ben Johns, and Marta Bally.

ImageIngrid Söderbergh

It was inspiring to see how different areas of expertise can complement each other

“The highlight of the retreat was realizing just how diverse and dynamic the research within our community truly is," says Joram Kiriga Waititu, postdoc in Kemal Avican, Johan Henriksson and Maria Fällman labs at the Department of Molecular Biology at Umeå University.

He continues:

"It was inspiring to see how different areas of expertise can complement each other, and it reinforced the idea that meaningful collaboration has the potential to drive real science breakthroughs.” 

Kronlund kursgård is a nature lodge that specialises in offering a quiet, beautiful and relaxing atmosphere.

ImageIngrid Söderbergh

It was an enthusiastic group of eleven postdoctoral fellows who arrived in a minibus at Kronlund kursgård.

“The venue was super nice! I like peaceful places in the middle of nature like Kronlund. I hope to get back here another time”, says Túlio Yoshinaga, postdoc in Constantin Urban lab at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Umeå University, Lo Persson’s group at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and Henrik Jeute at the Umeå County administrative board.

The uniqueness with the ‘Excellence by Choice' postdoctoral programme in life science is that it aims to cross traditional discipline boundaries. Thus, each postdoc has created and lead a collaborative project under the supervision of at least two principal investigators with different areas of expertise.

The first ‘EC’ postdoc started in 2022, and the number has summed up to 15 after four international calls. Some postdocs are in the initial stages and some are ready to take the next step in the career, all with different experiences and subjects.

Harshit Malhotra is one of the newest postdoc on board and he explained his research to come.

ImageIngrid Söderbergh

At the retreat everyone presented their project and how they have evolved. The subjects showed a fantastic variety in the field of life science: chemo-optogenetic tools to control cellular processes in bacteria, search for potential drug against the parasite Cryptospodirium, new method to prevent fungi disease in salmonids, the role of protein complexes in regulation of growth and development in plants, the regulation of the host cell epitranscriptome in salmonella infection – to mention a few.

For sure, a few postdocs could discover potential areas for new collaboration.

Through games and other activities, the postdocs spend some relaxing time in the afternoon and evening with valuable conversations about life in general and of course about research.

An exciting pentathlon took place in the afternoon with a lot of laughter.

ImageIngrid Söderbergh

In a final session before going home the next day, UCMR directors Fredrik Almqvist and Marta Bally led a group discussion on future career steps. What opportunities are there after a postdoc? What are my needs in career support? Ho can I navigate to pursue my career in academia or industry?

It might be important to position yourself for a competitive academic or professional future. The postdocs found this session urgent and were engaged.

“I learned that I should focus on becoming more independent already after my first postdoc position, says Suvam Roy, postdoc in Eric Libby lab at the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, and Peter Lind lab at the Department of Molecular Biology at Umeå University.

“This topic is very important for us, and it could have had an even more prominent place in the schedule to ensure everyone has the time and space to share experiences, ask questions, and explore different career paths more deeply,” says Joram Kiriga Waititu.

Perhaps it is right there at the edge of the forest by the Vindel River, with a cup of coffee in hand and a new colleague by your side, that the next major scientific breakthrough begins to take shape.

ImageIngrid Söderbergh