Attracting talented junior scientists to FIMM has always been central to our research training activities. The aim of the FIMM-EMBL International PhD programme is to recruit outstanding, international and Finnish doctoral researchers, and provide them with diverse research training early in their academic careers. With 2010 as the inaugural year, the FIMM-EMBL PhD program is currently in its 12th consecutive year of recruitment.
Doctoral researchers in the rotation programme will work with 2-3 different research groups during a 6-9 month period prior to selecting a research group in which to remain for their complete PhD studies. The 2022 call was the second one organized with the Doctoral School in Health Sciences at the University of Helsinki, with the aim of creating new collaborations between the Viikki life sciences and Meilahti biomedical sciences campuses.
“We received over 100 applications in the call and the quality of especially the top candidates was impressive. This was our second year collaborating the call with DSHealth and their group leaders who also span to the Viikki campus. Thus, the call covered a wide range of research fields. It was great to see the continued investment from FIMM group leaders as well as the enthusiasm for the rotation program idea from the DSHealth group leaders”, says Dr. Alyce Whipp who coordinated the 2022 application process at FIMM.
Meet the five bright and passionate junior scientists who joined us in August and learn how they reflect on our training programme!
Education: MSc in Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Primary scientific interest(s): Bioinformatics, drug screening data analysis, cancer biology, immunology, translational medicine and machine learning.
What inspired you to choose a scientific career?
I was driven by the passion of research and the ability to carry on my academic studies into a higher level targeted towards addressing and solving current challenges in molecular medicine.
What attracted you to Finland/University of Helsinki/ this programme?
I was attracted by the excellence in human-based research and the translational focus that Finland and the programme had to offer alongside the opportunity to be involved in collaborative science.
What expectations do you have for the first year?
I aim to extend my knowledge in science, network with other researchers, and strengthen my skills in the development of new integrative and interpretable tools that may enable efficient cancer treatments for personalised medicine.
First rotation group: Esa Pitkänen, Machine Learning in Biomedicine
What was the most important outcome of the first rotation? What did you learn?
I had the opportunity to develop and train deep learning models towards better bioimage profiling and analysis, which strengthened my scientific skills. The possibility to share science through several poster and presentation sessions was also very valuable.
Hobbies: During my free time, I work out, swim, watch either TV series or movies and play the piano.
Education:
MSc in Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Primary scientific interest(s):
I would like to discover the underlying Genetic basis of Neuropsychiatric disorders, their molecular mechanisms and to get close to appropriate diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches.
What inspired you to choose a scientific career?
I believe I am built for scientific careers, since stepping into the world of unknowns attracts me the most. I trust that my daily research leading to small discoveries would someday result in a breakthrough, which would be a help to the health of society, which is my ultimate goal.
What attracted you to Finland/University of Helsinki/ this programme?
For me it was a combination of a dream country to live in, a world-class university and an elegantly designed program which helps us reach our highest scientific capacities in order to fulfill our goals.
What expectations do you have for the first year?
It would be most beneficial for me to learn how to be a prosperous PhD student, to learn the lab cultures and establish a mutual connection with my colleagues and mentors, learn some of the most important wet lab techniques and improve my computational analysis abilities.
First rotation group:
Helena Kilpinen, Cellular Genetics of Disease
What was the most important outcome of the first rotation? What did you learn?
Since I was a wet lab person during my previous studies, being able to step into dry lab was my most important outcome. Besides, I learned how to pass my comfort zone and be open to new experiences. Thanks to the wonderful group, I could reach all the goals I had for the first three months, both academically and personally.
Hobbies:
I enjoy watching movies, hanging out with my friends, sightseeing and traveling, exploring new cultures, cooking and posting in my channel.
Education:
MSc in Biomedicine, University of Turku, Finland; Master´s degree program in Drug Discovery and Development
Primary scientific interest(s):
Cancer research, immunology, precision medicine
What inspired you to choose a scientific career?
I have always been interested in how organisms really work on a cellular and molecular level, both in healthy individuals and in those having a particular disease.
What attracted you to Finland/University of Helsinki/ this programme?
Translational research at FIMM really excited me, and the possibility to do the rotations during the first year really made this program stand out from the others.
What expectations do you have for the first year?
Learn as much as possible and find the group and project I could see myself in for the next coming years.
First rotation group: Liisa Kauppi, Genome Stability Group
What was the most important outcome of the first rotation? What did you learn?
I got to work with fresh tumor samples from the Helsinki University hospital and got the see how the research could potentially have an impact on patient´s life. I learned many new things but was also able to incorporate my prior knowledge and skills, which made the first rotation very rewarding.
Hobbies:
I like to go to jogging or to the gym. I also like different handicrafts, and you can often find me knitting or sewing something. I also like to bake.
Education: B.Sc. in Biology and M.Sc. in Molecular Medicine at Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Primary scientific interest(s): Bioinformatics and computational genomics
What inspired you to choose a scientific career?
I have always been captivated by the complexity of biology and the fundamental mechanisms of life. I realized that a career in science could not only satisfy my curiosity, but also have a meaningful impact on the world around me.
What attracted you to Finland/University of Helsinki/ this programme?
I was interested in pursuing a PhD in Finland due to the highly-regarded innovative efforts in the healthcare sector. FIMM stood out to me as the ideal program due to its interdisciplinary approach to studying life science and the opportunity to rotate through three different research groups.
What expectations do you have for the first year?
As I rotate through different research groups, my goal is to gain a broad understanding of various research topics, encounter new ideas and concepts, and learn a variety of techniques and methods. I am eager to fully immerse myself in the scientific environment at FIMM and discover a subject that truly excites me, which will ultimately allow me to develop a PhD proposal that reflects my passions and interests.
First rotation group: Miina Ollikainen, Epigenetics of Complex Diseases & Traits
What was the most important outcome of the first rotation? What did you learn?
We developed a principal component-based epigenetic clock trained on methylation data from Finnish individuals. This clock was designed to minimize technical variability in DNA methylation data, which can influence age prediction accuracy.
Hobbies:
I love hiking in mountains, playing guitar, cooking, and listening to podcasts
Education: BSc in Biology, at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) Mexico. MSc in Biosciences, Molecular Systems Biology at University of Turku, Finland.
Primary scientific interest(s): Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Cancer research
What inspired you to choose a scientific career?
I have always been interested in understanding molecular complex processes not only in the human body but also in other species. Science has always made me challenge myself into learning more.
What attracted you to Finland/University of Helsinki/ this programme?
I always wanted to do my MSc abroad, and Finland has high-quality scientific research studies. What attracted me to this programme is the possibility of doing the rotations because it allows us to build new networks, develop new skills in different research areas in a very international environment. Moreover, the programme offers the possibility to work with the newest technologies! So exciting!!
What expectations do you have for the first year?
I want to be able to learn as much as possible combining cancer research and bioinformatics skills. I want to challenge myself by learning new skills!
First rotation group: Jing Tang, Network Pharmacology for Precision Medicine
What was the most important outcome of the first rotation? What did you learn?
My main goal for the first rotation was to be able to gain bioinformatic skills. I had amazing mentors who helped me to reach my goal. It was not easy, but it was definitely fun and worth it. I had the opportunity to be on a project where I combined wet lab techniques with dry lab, which I am sure will help me in the future. Overall, I think the most important outcome is that everything is possible as long as you are willing to learn.
Hobbies: Reading, baking, knitting, going out with friends, and watching movies.