6 December 2021 – EMBO Postdoctoral Fellow Yilin Kang says passion, positivity and a life-long ambition to work in both fundamental and translational research guided her decision to move from Australia to Finland. “My research always focused on mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells – I became interested in their role in innate immune defense,” says Kang, who is a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Anu Suomalainen-Wartiovaara, an EMBO Member. “Mitochondrial disease manifests in different ways and life stages, we still do not completely understand how and why. When I met Anu at a conference, I heard how her group is exploring and translating fundamental research into diagnoses, therapies, and counselling for patients. I leapt at the chance to come here.”
Kang’s fellowship provides skills and connections that will benefit her science long into the future. “The EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship enabled me to move across continents, follow my passions, and expand my network,” Kang says. “It was also important to find a group leader who is an inspiring mentor. Anu has a constant positive energy that keeps her students motivated, and my group is really supportive and diverse. In Finland, I see many women in leadership roles. The country has a superb scientific environment and social welfare system. It’s great to be here.”
