With the pandemic over and my baby big enough to not mind mom being out of town for a few days, I’ve been lucky enough to get back to traveling for work. I have really enjoyed getting to hear exciting, cutting-edge science and network with new and old colleagues.
In April, Mattie attended the British Society for Parasitology’s meeting in Liverpool.
She was asked to give a talk about the lab’s work on organoids as a part of session on using organoid technology to study parasites. It was fun to share the stage with David Smith, our collaborator from Moredun, and Maria Duque-Correa, who I had early conversations with about setting up organoids.
There were also sessions on antigenic variation and cool parasite cell biology. Jim Collins from UTSW talked about sensing of male and female schistosomes. We were lucky enough to have him come up to Scotland after the meeting and give a seminar in Dundee. I remember hearing him give a seminar when I was at the University of Georgia and also last year the Gordon Research Conference in Galveston. Impressive biology and always great to welcome another Texan to Scotland.
In early May, Mattie attended the first of the series of Wellcome Trust Researcher meetings held in London across the street from the Wellcome Trust.
I was thrilled to be asked to participate by giving a short presentation about our group’s discovery research, funded by my Sir Henry Dale Fellowship. The other ECRs invited to talk in this session were so fascinating. I learned a lot over the 2 days and appreciate the opportunity to get to hear more from the Wellcome Trust about their future vision, and also meet other researchers.
The meeting was 2 days before the cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Devon, UK. Highlighting the need for continued research into Cryptosporidium, as this pathogen is far from tackled.
In May, Mattie attended the 17th International Congress on Toxoplasmosis:
It was great to catch up with old friends, colleagues, and hear what is new in the Toxoplasma field. Plus it was held in Berlin, which was an amazing place to explore during free time.
I also got a chance to catch up with Frank Seeber, who was my lab buddy when he did a sabbatical in Boris’ lab back in Athens.
He invited me and Kami for a traditional German dinner of schnitzel. We also got to enjoy the seasonal white asparagus. It was delicious! And fun to catch up!
In June I was back in Europe, this time to give a long-awaited seminar the Pasteur Institute. Lucy Glover invited me a long time ago, but a pandemic and then a baby delayed my trip until this year. I had a wonderful time meeting the parasitology groups there, discussing all things Cryptosporidium transmission, and enjoying Paris before the upcoming olympics. Thanks very much for having me and thanks for all your ideas and feedback!
Directly after my trip to Pasteur, I quickly travelled to the USA for the weekend to attend the wedding of Jennie Dumaine, of eLife MEDLE2 fame.
We had a small Striepen Lab reunion, featuring Maid-of-Honor and HHMI Hannah Gray Fellow Alexis Gibson, Boris, Jennie, Mattie, and Elise (who is the lead author on the life cycle revision paper). It was so fun to reunite with friends to celebrate Jennie!
Mattie Christine Pawlowic Lab 