Lisa's Lab Book

Dr Gunjan Katyal!!  

At the end of June we  (Nial, Brad and I) attended Bioblast 2022 in Innsbruck Austria. It was a fabulous meeting where I got to re-connect with collaborators and friends after the pause in the past few years. I also found some new science friends and generally the science and conversation were well worth the delayed flights and general travel chaos of the summer.  Many of the presentations are available at the meeting   website  

We had a visit from Martin Rumsby and some of the East Midland's research interest group a couple of weeks ago. I have to say it is interesting trying to do so many different things online rather than in person, a virtual lab visit was a new experience for me! I was helpfully guided to the potential structure and so we started with a seminar style talk from me about our work on Parkinson's disease followed by some questions. We then moved to the lab where Nial and Eve gave us a quick tour and a general demo  of some of the experimental set ups we typically use.  The whole thing was recorded and can (I believe) be found at the link below https://pemrig.org.uk/research/

  On board RV Polarstern in the Weddell Sea So many photos, so many impressions, penguins, whales, fish, seals, albatross, petrels. Respirometry and cell work on board. helicopters, ice, sea and icebergs, the Antarctic shelf. Two months onboard and away from home. Unforgettable!

  On my way to the Weddell Sea and Antarctica Flying into Cape Town Exactly nine days ago I left Nottingham and flew to Frankfurt to catch the 'group flight' from there to Cape Town S.A. About 75 of us, scientists and crew have been in strict hotel solitary isolation since. We have watched the glorious weather from inside our hotel rooms, catching up on work and getting ready for the adventure. The view from my hotel room - the mountains were ever changing. Four PCR tests down and one more day to go until we board RV Polarstern. The ship is already in port and will soon be ready for us, we are definitely ready here! Once we are aboard I'm looking forward to eight weeks of research and fabulous scenery with great 'sciencey' conversation. You can follow the expedition at  https://follow-polarstern.awi.de/?lang=en#main-menu/ 

  Just over three years after joining us, despite a global pandemic and all the other curve balls that life can throw at you - Gunjan Katyal defended her PhD thesis in a 'live' in person viva voce exam. Her examiners Richard Porter from Trinity College Dublin and our very own Catrin Rutland carefully discussed Gunjan's research with her on the 3rd February 2022 and were satisfied that she meets the requirements for a PhD! What a great day it was and we celebrated all evening. Gunjan is going on to a Senior Bioinformation position with Cancer Research UK in Cambridge. They are lucky to have her!