8 January 2022 – As a mother of three young children, EMBO Young Investigator Elif Nur Fırat-Karalar hails the impact of EMBO’s childcare support grants. “They have been amazing and removed the limitations of me attending scientific conferences,” says Fırat-Karalar, who is a group leader in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Koç University, Istanbul. “Being part of the Young Investigator Programme puts me amongst a great network of scientists, provides great opportunities for mentorship and collaborations, and facilitates access to some of the best research infrastructures in the world for me and my team.”
Fırat-Karalar’s group study the centrosome-cilium complex – the main microtubule-organizing and signaling center of animal cells. “Through this work we want to uncover the mechanisms by which cells divide and communicate with each other,” she explains. “When these processes go awry, it leads to many diseases, such as cancer and multisystemic developmental disorders.” She hopes that scientific outputs from her lab will ultimately have a direct impact in the clinic. “For me, it’s not just about scientific passion, we get to see the challenges from the patient’s perspective,” adds Fırat-Karalar. “In Turkey, if you are a successful scientist, it is possible to play a major role in furthering the careers of talented young scientists, as well as contributing to areas such as policymaking and public dissemination of science. Turkey is a beautiful country, is culturally diverse, the people are friendly, and it has a long, fascinating history: it is home.”
