Two weeks ago the last of this year’s DIGS-BB summer interns arrived in Dresden while the first is already about to leave this week. The students have been selected in a competitive application process to work on research projects in labs of DIGS-BB group leaders. For three months they are doing hands-on research but also get to know the Biopolis campus and the Dresden research community. We have asked them to tell us about their projects and why they chose to apply for a Summer Research Internship:
Astitva Aggarwal
Benjamin Friedrich Group, TUD PoL
I come from a Computer Science background with experience in ML and applied math projects. My aim has been to develop a CS and Math skill set with applications in Biological systems related to morphogenesis and regeneration for a research career in the same. The Biological Algorithms group under Dr. Benjamin Friedrich is perfect for this considering his work on the Critical point in self organized tissue growth. My DIGS-BB internship involves applying Computer Vision and Image processing methods over 3D grayscale videos of a regenerating zebrafish fin. The goal being to quantify Fibroblast migration throughout the fin, tracking individual marked geminin to calculate a proliferation rate measure and orientation of divisions. This is required to understand how the activation gradient of different morphogens allow the amputated fin to grow. High dimensional videos are noisy and are very large in memory, hence specialized Cell Segmentation and Tracking Models have to be applied over Bio-Imaging data to get reasonable predicted labels over unseen footage, estimate orientation and trajectories over migration, division.
Wandi Li
Vasileia Ismini Alexaki Group, TUD Medical Campus
During my studies at the University of Manchester, I developed a strong interest in neuroinflammation. I was captivated by the relationship between immune cell function and metabolism, and I am eager to learn new techniques and gain insight into the life of a researcher.
During my internship, I had the unique opportunity to work in two labs simultaneously. In Dr. Vasileia-Ismini Alexaki’s lab, I familiarized with the principles of metabolic reprograming of microglia. Under the guidance of Dr. Sofia Traikov in the mass spectrometry facility of the Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, I learned the basics of lipid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and conducted non-targeted LC-MS to study the metabolomics of inflammatory activated versus resting microglia. Furthermore, in the Alexaki lab I perform QPCR, western blotting, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to validate the metabolomic findings. Finally, I contribute to drafting a paper on metabolic reprograming of inflammatory activated microglia.
This internship was an invaluable experience that helped me develop the skills necessary to become an independent researcher. Working in two labs allowed me to learn a variety of cutting-edge techniques and acquire important soft skills such as time management, communication, and teamwork. I now feel more confident in my ability to conduct future research independently.
Sehasree Mohanta
Denis Corbeil Group, TUD BIOTEC
“What new insights can we gain into the communication strategies of cancer cells, specifically through the utilization of extracellular vesicles during cell division by malignant melanoma cells to influence their environment?” This summer, I am exploring these questions in the Corbeil lab, focusing on characterizing a novel type of extracellular vesicles released by these cancer cells and examining the role of PROM1 (CD133) expression in this process. These vesicles may play a crucial role in cancer progression and metastasis, representing potential targets for therapeutic intervention. My research involves using advanced cellular and molecular biology techniques and cutting-edge imaging to analyse the composition and function of these vesicles. The expression of PROM1 is particularly intriguing, as it may provide insights into how cancer stem cells communicate and sustain their growth.
I am fortunate to work at the Biotechnology Center of TU Dresden because of its vibrant research community and the opportunity to collaborate with Prof. Denis Corbeil, whose pioneering work on cell biology and vesicle trafficking inspires my scientific curiosity. The supportive and intellectually stimulating environment at BIOTEC provides the perfect setting to delve into the complexities of cancer biology and explore innovative research approaches.
Participating in the DIGS-BB Internship Program has been an amazing experience. It offers the chance to work on a research project and provides a vibrant scientific and social environment. The program allows me to connect with fellow students from around the world with the same shared passion for science, creating a dynamic community where ideas and experiences are freely exchanged. I hope to contribute meaningfully to this internship.
Zofia Olszewska
Alexander Wurm Group, TUD Medical Campus
I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Medical Biotechnology at the University of Warsaw (Poland). During my internship at the National Center for Tumor Diseases, I am deciphering the role of novel genetic dependencies in colorectal cancer utilising patient-derived cell models.
Thanks to my past internship experiences, I have a profound understanding of the immense potential for personal development that comes from being directly involved in a professional research environment. Hence my application for the DIGS-BB Summer Internship Program – I wanted to apply my existing skills and learn new ones by fully immersing myself in the thriving research community in Dresden. I chose to intern at the Department of Translational Oncology, as the topics they tackle and the methods they utilise allow me to precisely connect my scientific interests with putting the molecular biology knowledge gained during my studies into practice.
I highly recommend applying for the DIGS-BB Internships in the following years. It is truly an invaluable chance to learn and connect with like-minded students from around the world.
Ayush Panda
James Sáenz Group, TUD B CUBE
During my time in the James Sáenz Lab at B-CUBE, TU Dresden, I had the incredible opportunity to work with world-class facilities and to connect with scientists from all over the world. My research focused on exploring the role of non-bilayer-forming conical lipids in minimal cell membranes. These lipids, such as diacylglycerol (DAG) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), are known to introduce curvature stress and enhance membrane fluidity, which are critical for processes like membrane fusion and cell division. In our study, we engineered minimal cells, Syn3 and Mesoplasma fluorum, to modify their membrane lipid composition by incorporating specific exogenous lipids. Our results showed that adding conical lipids like DAG and DOPE significantly improved the cellular fitness of these minimal cells, unlike cylindrical lipids, which did not have the same effect. Overall, my experience in this lab was very enriching and I grew a lot as a researcher.
Guilherme Rondi Fernandes
Charlotte Steenblock Group, TUD Medical Campus
Krithikaa SenthilKumar
Michele Solimena Group, TUD PLID
Yağmur Yetkin
Marcus Jahnel Group, TUD PoL
Natalie Zeakes
Marius Ader Group, TUD CRTD
I'm from Austin, TX where I study biomedical engineering. This internship in the Ader lab has given me the valuable opportunity to put my laboratory skills from my courses to use. I have an interest in regenerative therapies and think that the field is incredibly promising. In the Ader lab, I was responsible for the cryosectioning, staingings, analysis, and quantification of previously conducted retinal pigment epithelial transplants into a mouse model. Specifically, I analyzed the effectiveness of these RPE transplants in forming a monolayer versus clustered cells and comparing 50k vs 100k cells transplanted. This experience has exposed me to the field of research and encouraged me to pursue an integrated masters in biomedical engineering (MSE) at UT Austin.