ABSTRACT
First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Journal of Cell Science, helping researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Neža Vadnjal is first author on ‘ Proteomic analysis of the actin cortex in interphase and mitosis’, published in JCS. Neža is a PhD student in the lab of Ewa Paluch at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, investigating the molecular control of cell mechanics.
Neža Vadnjal
How would you explain the main findings of your paper in lay terms?
Our cells have different shapes, and during many fundamental physiological processes cell shape changes dramatically, for example, during cell division. Cell shape changes are controlled by the mechanical properties of the actin cortex, specifically its tension. In this research, we identified a comprehensive list of more than 2000 proteins that are present in the actin cortex and that are likely to be important for controlling cortical tension during cell division. For a group of proteins, called septins, which we identified in this project, we also show that they indeed affect cell shape during cell division.
Were there any specific challenges associated with this project? If so, how did you overcome them?
One challenge was the amount of cells I needed to isolate enough blebs for mass spectrometry. To overcome this challenge, I had to culture a significant number of cells at the same time, as you can see in the picture. Another challenge was performing mass spectrometry and analysing the big dataset of proteins this generated for which there was not much expertise in the lab. For this, we closely collaborated with Sami Nourreddine, Geneviève Lavoie and Philippe P. Roux who helped make sense of this dataset of over 2000 proteins. This was a great experience for me. I think people from all of the world coming together trying to discover new things is one of my favourite things about science.
When doing the research, did you have a particular result or ‘eureka’ moment that has stuck with you?
Realizing that septins, when abbreviated to SEPT in Excel tables, can get automatically changed into a date in September was quite important for comparing our dataset of cortical proteins to other datasets, and finally identifying septins as regulators of mitotic cell shape.
Why did you choose Journal of Cell Science for your paper?
To justify all travel mugs and water bottles I had picked up at various conferences! More seriously, besides all the conference goodies, I really like that Journal of Cell Science and The Company and Biologists put so much effort into building a community, and that's something I want for my paper, for it to be a resource for the community. I didn't know this at the time of submission, but after going through the process of submission and revision, I would definitely choose it again also because I thought the entire process was quite smooth. Since this is my first paper, I only heard of other people's experiences of publishing a paper, and the process some seemed quite lengthy and a bit frustrating, so I wasn't exactly looking forward to my own experience. I am really happy that with Journal of Cell Science, my experience was not what I feared, but actually quite pleasant and encouraging.
Have you had any significant mentors who have helped you beyond supervision in the lab? How was their guidance special?
Almost everyone in the lab, of course Ewa who supports and creates a great environment to help me develop as a scientist. I think postdocs from the lab also deserve a special mention. I think great postdocs (such as those I've been surrounded by in the lab) can be really important for a student's experience. I think by being always very close to the students (in the same office and/or lab space) and having had their own experience of being a PhD student quite recently, they can offer invaluable help and advice for navigating a PhD.
A photo of me with flasks needed to culture the cells for one replicate of the bleb isolations used in the paper.
A photo of me with flasks needed to culture the cells for one replicate of the bleb isolations used in the paper.
What motivated you to pursue a career in science, and what have been the most interesting moments on the path that led you to where you are now?
The joy and excitement of figuring out something new, it's a bit addictive. It doesn't need to be a big important result for me, it can just be figuring out the right conditions for a new experiment to work.
Who are your role models in science? Why?
People who not only do great science but who are also great colleagues on a more personal level and put effort into showing respect, and are generally nice and supportive of people they work with.
What's next for you?
Writing up my thesis! I will stay in a lab for a few months after that to (hopefully) finish my second project on the role of actin crosslinker size in cortex tension generation.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that wouldn't be on your CV
Before moving to the UK to study, I did ballet for over 10 years. It was a great training in perseverance, which is important for science, but more importantly I made some of the closest friends through it.
Tell us something you do outside the lab
I am very active in the Association of Slovenes Educated Abroad (Društvo VTIS), an organisation connecting Slovenians who were educated or did research at an institution abroad. I volunteer on a managing board, and all our projects and incentives are managed by other volunteers. We are engaged in different activities and projects to empower Slovenian students to pursue studies or research abroad but also work with Slovenian institutions and policy makers to encourage people with experience from abroad to share their knowledge in Slovenia. I am really proud of our efforts for more international professional environments in Slovenia.
Neža Vadnjal's contact details: University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK.
E-mail: [email protected]
