This year, the third week of the MITGEST training was held from 6th to 13th July 2025 in the beautiful city of Warsaw, Poland. Hosted by the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IBB PAN), the week-long event brought together doctoral candidates (DCs), principal investigators (PIs), and partners from the consortium. The meeting was a vibrant blend of science, knowledge exchange, warm reunions and networking.
Opening with updates from Doctoral Candidates
The training week commenced with presentations by DCs showcasing the progress in their research projects. These sessions offered a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas and receive feedback from peers as well as mitochondrial experts. It was inspiring to witness the growth and development of the DCs’ projects since the first MITGEST meeting two years ago. To complement these updates, the participants attended lectures delivered by invited external speakers. These included talks on mitochondrial gene expression maintenance and a session by a representative from Baseclick on how to establish a biotech company.
A new addition to this year’s program was a session focused on career transitions, where speakers shared personal experiences and advice on moving from academia to industry, and on launching start-ups.On the third day, accelopment hosted a hands-on grant writing workshop, guiding participants through the process of identifying funding opportunities and building strong, competitive proposals. The session also covered science communication and outreach, emphasising how to convey research ideas in grant applications effectively.
Bioinformatics Summer School
The second half of the week was devoted to the Bioinformatics Summer School, led by experts from IChB PAN. This intensive training focused on RNA sequencing data analysis, where participants worked on real datasets and were guided through the process of answering specific biological questions using bioinformatics tools. The goal was not only to develop technical skills, but also to understand how to interpret outputs and generate meaningful conclusions.
Transferable Skills: Business for Science
To wrap up the week, a workshop on transferable skills was delivered by CRAC/Vitae, focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation in science. This session explored how researchers can translate scientific knowledge into business ideas, start a company, and navigate the world of science-based entrepreneurship. It was a motivating and practical conclusion to a week filled with learning and professional growth.
Stay tuned...
The third MITGEST Training Week was a great success, combining high-level scientific training with career development, collaboration and community building. The energy and engagement of all participants made it a memorable event. We look forward to the fourth and final training week in 2026. MITGEST weeks are not only a chance to advance academically but also to grow personally and professionally. Stay tuned for more detailed information and highlights from the project!
The news item was written by MITGEST DC6 Daria Kovalchuk.
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