Peju Sokunle

• University: Cote D’Azur
• From: Nigeria
• Research Focus:Master’s in Biocontrol solutions for plant health (Msc BOOST).

Why did you decide to attend the summer school?

The topics of the summer school, namely the connections between biotechnology, the economy and sustainability, are interesting to me and compatible with the focus of my Master’s degree.

What was your favourite talk so far?

Kristjan Plaetzer’s New Horizons for Treatment of Resistant Microorganisms: Application of Photodynamic Inactivation in Plant Protection and Food Safety.

What are your future plans?

I am presently looking for an internship in labs and companies focused on biocontrol solutions, with a strong intent pursue a Ph.D in the future. I would like to focus on biosanitization of soils. Chemicals and pesticides are negative for the environment, bad for the plants themselves, as well as the humans who consume them. I strongly believe that using complementary plants to sanitize soils, and insects to control other insects, can be the solution in managing undesired infections and infestations. I want to use nature to help nature, especially in the protection of cash crops we rely on.

Tomas Breskovic

• University: Technical University of Kosice
• From: Slovakia
• Research focus: PhD - Development of devices to cultivate artificial tissue, including cells, skin and muscles

Why did you decide to attend the summer school?

I wanted to meet students and researchers from other countries and share experiences and ideas with them.

What was your favourite talk so far?

Jack Rohrer’s 3D skin model with reporter system for quantitative analysis of stress factors.

What are your future plans?

I am the founder of a start-up company (that is not related to my PhD). The company is called Arttege Ortho3D, we are in the medical devices space we are developing advanced scoliosis braces that could be used in active life. We are focused on the three basic requirements: efficiency, user comfort and aesthetic design. I want to focus on my start-up and of course I hope we will be successful. In parallel I might start working as a professor at a university.

Idris Johnson

• University: Management Centre Innsbruck (MCI)
• From: Germany
• Research Focus: Master’s – Bi-specific antibody development for immuno cancer therapy

Why did you decide to attend the summer school?

It’s a nice opportunity to represent our university, which is hosting the summer school this year, and get in contact with students from other Ulysseus universities.

What was your favourite talk so far:

The ones by Markus Haindl (The transformative potential of Cell and Gene Therapies - an industry perspective) and Michael Ragunath (Sauron’s Ring: the forgotten ability of cells tovmake their own microenvironments in vitro).

What are your future plans?

After my Master’s, I would like to work in industry for a few years, and then return to school to do an industry PhD. I have been working at Roche during my Master’s and would like to explore working at another Roche location, or potentially another company, to further broaden my perspective.

Alina Thoma

• University: Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaft (ZHAW)
• From: Germany
• Research focus: Bachelor’s in biotechnology focusing on cell biology, development of new therapies and cell culture

Why did you decide to attend the summer school?

A professor from ZHAW Jack Rohrer encouraged us to participate. When I saw the breadth of the program with so many interesting talks, I knew I wanted to take part. Naturally it’s also about making connections to new people, both in terms of discovering Master’s programs at different schools or for my future career path.

What was your favourite talk so far?

The diversity in subjects and styles of presentations from all these different professors is really super. In terms of topic, the most interesting talk so far was by Gabriela Baerlocher, titled Telomer Biology: Live at the end of the chromosomes. Seeing the research from ZHAW presented differently than during our lectures at school was also a highlight because it united many concepts we covered throughout the year.

What are your future plans?

I have one more year left in my Bachelor’s and would like to do a Masters afterward at a different school, to get another perspective. I am considering a Master’s in cell biology at the FHNW, or a working Master’s at the FHNW that takes 3 years to complete, where the time is split between industry and the classroom. It’s very important to me to acquire experience in industry, figure out what is a good fit and where I want to go in my career. Another possibility I want to explore is Innsbruck – MCI.

Kevin Peytermann

• University: Haute Ecole Specialisée du Sud Ouest (HES-SO)
• From: Switzerland
• Research focus: Bachelor’s with an interest in molecular biology

Why did you decide to attend the summer school?

I haven’t decided the topic of my Bachelor’s thesis yet, and I thought that attending the summer school could give me a really broad overview of current topics and potentially guide me in my choice of research focus. It’s also an opportunity to see what our professors do when they are not giving lectures at HES-SO, to see their research under a different light.

What was your favourite talk so far?

It would be hard to pick just one. What I really appreciated was the diversity of the talks, subjects, and speakers.

What are your future plans?

After my Bachelor’s I would like to be active on the job market. Maybe later consider a Master’s, but first, go to work!