A Dive into Structural Biology: Learning, Growth, and Gratitude
The last quarter of 2024 has truly been transformative. I was privileged to be selected for the EMBL -UNESCO Residency Program in Infection Biology and hosted by Dr. Eva Kowalinski (Kowalinski Lab) at EMBL-Grenoble.
This journey has been one of incredible growth, transitioning from a linear mindset to exploring biology in 3D. I took a deep dive into structural biology and host-pathogen interactions, learning exciting techniques in protein expression and purification, including methods like insect cell culture. From being utterly lost in the structural biology "lingua" during my first few weeks to now confidently understanding its concepts and workflows, I can see how much I have evolved.
When I wasn’t in the lab, I was doing live illustrations at structural biology conferences and collaborating with the communications team Mylène André : A truly enriching balance of science and creativity.
I am deeply grateful to:
- The EMBL-UNESCO Infection Biology Residency Team
- Dr. Eva Kowalinski for her invaluable mentorship and training
- Dr. Martin Pelosse , the Eukaryotic Expression Expert, for his guidance
- My PhD supervisors , Prof. Lydia Mosi and Dr. Charles Narh , for their continual support
- The incredible members of the Kowalinski Lab especially Laura Tengo and EMBL-Grenoble for making this experience unforgettable
- The Kiko Foundation
- My PhD host institute, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) - University of Ghana - University of Ghana
And to myself—for daring to dream and putting in the hard work to make it a reality. This experience has shown me how much I’ve grown as a scientist, and I will always remain grateful for opportunities like this.
Read more about the EMBL-UNESCO Residency Program in Infection Biology here:
1. https://lnkd.in/eKDn6bcn
2. https://lnkd.in/eiGph_Aq
Photo Credit: Jeremy Sinoir, Mylène Andre, Maame Ekua Acquah