University of Helsinki
Hi everyone,
I am Linda, a second-year Master’s student in the program of Genetics and Molecular Biosciences at the University of Helsinki. As one of the 2022 HiLIFE Research Trainees, I am very happy to be able to follow my scientific curiosities in the upcoming months. I applied for the HiLIFE Research Trainee scholarship to gain experience in the field of stem cell biology and cell culture, and I am excited to have found a suitable opportunity for this in the Raivio lab at Biomedicum. I have recently started working on my thesis project. Within the following months, I will learn more about the genetic and hormonal regulation of puberty initiation. The Raivio group is specialized in the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into GnRH-releasing neurons, which are crucial for puberty induction.
My study background is in Genetics and Genomics and during my thesis project, I will gain more practical experience in related methods such as cloning, gRNA design, and using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology. My general goal is to activate the expression of target genes associated with puberty. However, I am also thrilled to learn about new techniques and expand my skill set in the upcoming months. Especially, stem cell biology, cell culture, and neurobiology are fields I am excited to get in touch with. Also, during my first weeks working in the lab, I was able to attend the STEMM Research Program Retreat which has been a new and exciting experience for me. It helped to find out what the current hot topics in stem cell research are and to learn more about ongoing projects of different labs. Additionally, it was also a great opportunity to socialize with colleagues.
After working in bioinformatics from home during the past year, I am highly excited to be able to visit the campus and lab on a daily basis now. Despite the pandemic, I can conduct experiments and exchange ideas with other members of the team. I am very thankful for the support I was awarded with by HiLIFE, as well as for the position I received in the research lab. I am hoping to learn and develop skills for my future career, but also to enjoy my time at Biomedicum. You’ll hear from me again soon.