My background

Although I am originally from Greece, I studied biology at the University of Sheffield in the United

Kingdom - this allowed me to experience a different educational system and gain exposure to the

international scientific community - which has raised great enthusiasm and ambition within me. To

praise some aspects of my former program, I  believe it equipped me with essential skills for

conducting research, including resourcefulness, attention to detail, resilience, and adaptability. Having

been exposed to a wide variety of disciplines enabled me to find my preferences, which are cell and

molecular biology in biomedical research. During my final year in university, I participated in

molecular research exploring the role of extracellular self-DNA on plant innate immunity. During the

course of this work I helped identify the core hormone signalling pathways involved in extracellular

self-DNA recognition and immune elicitation of the model plant species A.thaliana. The project

increased my laboratory experience and enhanced my experimental design skills. My enthusiasm for

biology in synergy with methodology and hard work aided my results in my bachelor’s studies -

contributing to my earning of a 1st class degree.

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I am an advocate of learning through hands-on experience; therefore, aside from the above, I

participated in three additional internship programmes. These experiences revealed to me the impact of

biomedical research on enriching our understanding of diseases; as well as on developing new

medications and treatments. The internships expanded my knowledge and further developed my skills

by working in multiple laboratory settings. Currently, I am working at the Rockefeller University, NYC, in Dr. John LaCava’s team, where I participate in several projects related to human LINE-1 retrotransposable elements, which entail techniques such as protein purification by affinity capture, gene editing with CRISPR/Cas9, molecular DNA cloning and cell culturing.  

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Dr. LaCava encouraged me to look for master’s or PhD programs, believing I would be a strong

candidate - this of course aligned with my own ideas of my future trajectory. I found the MMIT program at the University of Groningen particularly interesting, due to its apparently comprehensive and research-focused curriculum- and, adding confidence to my likelihood of gaining top-notch training and education, I am aware that it is known as an award-winning program in its category in the Netherlands. Of key importance for my future ambitions, I understand that this program provides a broad range of specializations to choose from and prepares the student adequately for transitioning to a PhD.

 

My vision is to pursue a career as a biomedical researcher by following an academically oriented

career. I aim to deploy my expertise and knowledge in developing treatments for rare diseases, which

constitute a crucial burden to numerous people’s lives around the globe. It is my life-long dream to

become a prominent researcher in my field and use my leadership skills to share my knowledge with

the future generation of researchers.