20 May 2022 – As an EMBO Postdoctoral Fellow, Vanessa Linke has crossed borders and disciplines. “It’s a very exciting time to be a scientist in Poland,” says Linke, who was born in Germany and conducted her PhD research in the USA. “People are very open to collaboration, there are lots of opportunities and a very international mindset.”
Linke’s research in the laboratory of EMBO Member Agnieszka Chacinska explores the mechanisms underpinning the stress responses of mitochondria, cellular structures that power eukaryotic cells and carry out several important functions. “Because mitochondria are so important for our cells, it’s really bad when something goes wrong,” she explains. “The hope is that it will be possible to inform better treatments for inherited diseases and neurodegenerative disorders.”
A mass spectrometrist by training, Linke integrates fields such as biochemistry, biology, analytical chemistry, biotechnology, and data science. “One of the best aspects of my EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship is the opportunity for cross-disciplinary interactions: this is something that has shaped and defined me as a scientist,” Linke adds. “Thanks to EMBO, I’m part of a fantastic scientific community that extends across Poland, Europe, and the world. It’s been a terrific experience so far.”
