15 September 2022 – For Zoi Lygerou, collaborating, locally and internationally, is crucial. “We are a small but well-connected scientific community here in Greece. This has allowed us to establish a network of complementary research infrastructures,” she says. International networks complement what is possible at home. Asked what she loves most about Greece, she does not hesitate: “The sea! Seeing the view from my office and home just makes my day!”
Government investment in research in Greece has improved recently. “There is now a realization that you cannot have innovation without a good level of investment in basic research and training,” Lygerou comments. Thanks to strong ties, the Greek scientific community advocated for a new national agency for more efficient access to funding; government campaigns promote opportunities for international students. “There is a real momentum right now. We hope it continues!”
Lygerou uses a combination of imaging, modelling, and molecular biology techniques to study the mechanisms of genome stability. Being an EMBO Young Investigator helped her establish her group. “EMBO has been instrumental,” she says, both in enabling her to pursue her own research, and affording her students unique opportunities, such as access to training at core facilities – knowledge later shared with the group. “Progress in the field is fast.”
