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In Their Own Words: Interviews with Recent PhD Graduates

Welcome to our interview series, "In Their Own Words: Interviews with Recent PhD Graduates." Here, you will find a collection of insightful interviews with PhD graduates from various fields within stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, each sharing their personal experiences and perspectives on their academic journey.

From the challenges of conducting research to the joys of discovery, these interviews offer a unique glimpse into the world of academia and the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

Whether you are a current PhD student, considering pursuing a PhD, or simply interested in learning more about the academic world, we hope these interviews will inspire and inform you. So sit back, relax, and enjoy reading the stories of our recent PhD graduates, in their own words.


Deciphering Age-Related Decline in Neurogenesis: A Ph.D. Interview with Jonas Fritze

PhD Defense Interview Collage with Jonas Fritze (right) and the cover of his PhD thesis (left).

Jonas' research explores how inflammation affects the formation of new neurons in the brain as we age to find therapeutic targets for maintaining cognitive health. In this interview, he talks about his research and reflects on his Ph.D. journey.

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Elucidating the Blood Group Regulome: A Ph.D. Interview with Gloria Wu

Image collage with a photo portrait of Gloria (right) and the cover of her thesis (left).

Gloria's research dives into the regulation of genes that determine human blood groups with the aim to provide insights that could minimize risks linked to blood transfusions. In this interview, she discusses her research and offers valuable advice for those considering pursuing a Ph.D. in Lund.

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Transposable elements in the healthy and diseased human brain: A Ph.D. Interview with Raquel Garza Gómez

Image collage of Raquel Garza (right) and her thesis cover (left)

Raquel has studied the role of transposable elements in the human brain for a better understanding of their impact on brain development. In this interview, she tells about her research, her experience as a Ph.D. student, and the rewarding aspects of her work as a bioinformatician.

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Blood stem cell dynamics during regenerative stress: A Ph.D. Interview with Anna Rydström

Image collage of Anna Rydström (right) and her thesis cover (left)

Anna has explored the regenerative dynamics of hematopoietic stem cells, also known as blood stem cells. In this interview, she discusses her research and tells about her research journey, offering valuable advice to aspiring students looking to follow a similar path.

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Understanding Blood Cell Development During Aging and Exploring Rejuvenation Possibilities: A Ph.D. Interview with Anna Konturek-Ciesla

Portrait of Anna Konturek-Ciesla (right) and the cover of her thesis (left).

Anna's research focused on the mechanisms involved in age-related decline in hematopoietic system function and interventions, such as stem cell transplantation, for blood rejuvenation. In this interview, she discusses her research and future aspirations in academia.

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Alveolar Progenitor Cells in Lung Damage and Regeneration: a Ph.D. Interview with Victoria Ptasinski

Photo of Victoria (right) and an image of her thesis cover (left).

In collaboration with AstraZeneca, Victoria’s research has aimed to uncover the underlying causes of IPF, developing innovative stem cell-based technologies along the way. In this interview, she discusses her findings and offers advice to students with an interest in industry.

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Restoring antitumor immunity with dendritic cell reprogramming strategies: a Ph.D. Interview with Alexandra Gabriela Barros Ferreira

Photo collage of Alexandra (right) and the cover of her thesis (left).

Alexandra’s research involves direct reprogramming approaches, which function like a Trojan horse, enabling cancer cells to be targeted by the immune system. In this interview, she shares her favorite discoveries, the highlights of her Ph.D. journey, and her future aspirations.

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CRISPR Screens Identify Candidate Therapeutic Targets in Leukemia: a Ph.D. Interview with Maria Rodriguez Zabala

Photo collage with a portrait of Maria on the right and the cover of her PhD thesis on the left.

Maria Rodriguez Zabala has focused her studies on human genetics and cancer research, using CRISPR/Cas9 screening to identify potential targets for developing new leukemia treatments. In this interview, she shares her research findings and advice for aspiring Ph.D. students.

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Generating GABAergic interneurons: a Ph.D. Interview with Andreas Bruzelius

Photo collage of Andres (right) and his thesis cover (left)

Combining cell biology and electrophysiology, Andreas' research focuses on generating brain cells, interneurons, in the lab to study neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. In this interview, he tells about his research and aspirations for the future.

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Mechanisms of Initiation and Suppression in Pediatric Leukemia: a Ph.D. Interview with Mohamed Eldeeb

Image collage with Mohamed Eldeeb (right) and his PhD thesis cover (left).

Passionate about scientific discovery with clinical impact, Mohamed Eldeeb investigated the mechanisms that prevent and suppress pediatric leukemia initiation. In this interview, he shares his findings, research journey, aspirations, and Ph.D. experience in Sweden. 

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Investigating a cell replacement therapy for Parkinson's Disease: a Ph.D. Interview with Fredrik Nilsson

Image collage with a portrait of Fredrik Nilsson (right) and his PhD Thesis cover (left).

Fredrik Nilsson explored the use of patient-specific cells in cell replacement therapy for Parkinson's disease, identifying strategies to safeguard these cells from degeneration. This interview covers his findings, potential implications for future therapies, and his time at Lund University,

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New methods for phenotypic antibody discovery: a Ph.D. Interview with Jenny Mattsson

Image collage with a photo of Jenny Mattsson (right) and her PhD thesis cover (left).

Jenny Mattsson focused on developing new methods to identify antibodies and targets for cancer and other diseases. In this interview, she shares her research journey, managing a Ph.D. alongside an industry career, and her most enjoyable moments in academia. 

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Exploring the role of YAP and TAZ in the lung epithelium: a Ph.D. Interview with Hani Alsafadi

Photo collage of Hani Alsafadi (right) and his PhD thesis cover (left).

With a passion for biomedical research and understanding the lung's regenerative abilities, Hani Alsafadi investigated the mechanisms driving idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In this interview, he shares key findings, state-of-the-art techniques, and unexpected joys from his Ph.D. journey. 

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Generating human astrocytes for disease modeling: a Ph.D. Interview with Ella Quist

Photo collage of Ella Quist (right) and her PhD thesis cover (left).

Ella Quist dedicated the last several years to developing more efficient methods to generate functional and mature astrocytes for disease modeling of neurological disorders. This interview explores her efforts in advancing astrocyte research for potential brain disease treatments. 

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Bioengineering and Cell-derived Strategies for Salivary Gland Regeneration: a Ph.D. Interview with Jiao Dong

Photo collage of Jiao Dong (right) and her PhD thesis cover (left).

Jiao Dong researched a regenerative medicine strategy that can be used to repair the function of the salivary gland. In this interview, we learn more about her innovative research efforts, the inspiration behind them, and her experience as a Ph.D. student. 

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