You recently received a GAUK grant. What is your research goal, what will you be focusing on?

I applied for the GAUK grant for the second year in a row, and this year it finally worked out. The project we committed to focuses on further exploring the relationship between redox homeostasis and the treatment response of leukemic cells, and it has two main objectives:

The first is to monitor clonal evolution and the development of drug resistance in acute myeloid leukemia using clonal barcoding. That means observing how a treatment-resistant clone emerges and how the overall representation of individual subpopulations changes over time in response to the drug. The exact mechanism through which a resistant clone arises or is selected during the development of resistance is still not entirely understood, but understanding it is absolutely crucial for the successful treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.

The second goal of the project is to monitor the impact of disrupted redox homeostasis on the cellular proteome and oxidative protein modifications during the process of resistance formation. In this part, we’ll observe how leukemic cells respond to the inhibition of key antioxidant defense pathways, and also how combining these inhibitors with conventionally used drugs modulates treatment response and the emergence of resistance.

What motivated you to go abroad, and why Sweden in particular?

From the beginning of my PhD, I knew I definitely wanted to do  an internship abroad. But I also knew that I didn’t want or rather couldn’t go away for a long time, because I have my fiancée here and a life back home that I can’t just leave behind. I found the position at Lund University in Sweden through a recommendation from my supervisor, who did her postdoc at the same department.

A six-month internship in the lab of proteomic hematology, where I’m currently working, was an ideal choice, since they deal with a very related topic and I could build on previous results and publications, while also working on partial projects relevant to my future dissertation. Another benefit was the project’s design, which allowed me to use both techniques I was already familiar with and innovative approaches, particularly in the field of proteomics, which is the specialty of the lab.

Personal preferences also played a big role in my decision. Even though it’s my first time in Scandinavia, I’ve always been drawn to it and wanted to experience its atmosphere. And last but not least, accessibility to the Czech Republic was also a factor. Being able to travel relatively cheaply between Lund and Prague in under four hours seemed like a huge plus.

What was the experience like? Did anything surprise you? For example, is science done differently in Sweden than in the Czech Republic?

Overall, I’d say that both the scientific level and the standard of living in Sweden are very high, which probably surprises no one. Lund is definitely an education and science hub, at least in southern Sweden. I wouldn’t say I noticed any major differences in how science is done here compared to the Czech Republic.

It’s true that the Swedish education system is quite different, which I mostly noticed among undergraduates. I think master’s students in Sweden have it quite a bit tougher than ours do. They have a lot less time to complete (rather demanding) projects and are often expected to be much more self-reliant than students back home. But that could just be my personal impression.

The one thing that really stood out to me is the work-life balance. Swedes put a lot of emphasis on having time for themselves and their families. They generally stick to a 9-to-5 schedule and focus more on work efficiency than on working overtime. Their free time and time with family are a priority. There’s this general culture of balance here, and I have to say, I really like it.

Would you recommend going abroad to other students as well? Even those just starting their master’s or PhD studies?

Definitely. I was tied to Prague during both my bachelor’s and master’s, so I couldn’t just go abroad. But if my situation had been different, I would’ve actively sought out internships.

Judging by the fact that I worked on my bachelor’s, master’s, and now dissertation at completely different institutes, in different labs, and on completely different topics, I think it’s very valuable to gain experience in a variety of settings. So I definitely recommend doing an international internship as early as possible. Of course, not at the expense of your own studies, but I think it’s great to have that experience already during your master’s if the opportunity is there.

Completing an internship can also be a key requirement for successfully finishing your PhD. Our field committee for molecular biology doesn’t strictly require internships, but they strongly recommend them. International collaboration is mandatory. It doesn’t have to be an internship, it can be a joint publication or some other form of collaboration, but that’s harder to pull off without personal contact. And of course, there’s the added value of how much international experience benefits your future career.

 

What originally drew you to science? And how did you choose your field?

I went to a medical lyceum in high school, so after graduation I was already a bit directed, toward medicine and the natural sciences. But I knew medicine wasn’t really for me. The style of learning required for medical school just didn’t suit me. I always preferred gaining knowledge not passively, but more practically rather than memorizing tons of theory. I always liked biology and it came naturally to me. I didn’t have to try hard, it just clicked. So I figured that was the right direction.

During my bachelor’s, things kept changing. At one point I wanted to be a parasitologist, then an entomologist, but none of that really panned out. Later I found that I most enjoy “pure” biology, so cellular and molecular biology. Although I studied immunology in my master’s, which is basically molecular and cellular biology focused on immune system cells, I ended up studying leukemia, which connects both fields. It was a gradual path that brought me to where I am now.

And one last question - what do you enjoy outside of science? What are your hobbies?

I think pretty normal stuff. I like going outside into nature with our dog and I love the Czech mountains, especially the Krkonoše. Lately I’ve enjoyed working out, I like being active. I used to swim a lot, though I’ve put that aside a bit recently, so I need to get back to it soon. I really love food, I love eating and cooking, especially for others. Otherwise, the usual things like watching movies and shows, sometimes playing a game or a board game, ideally with the people I care about most.

Thank you very much for the interview, and I wish you lots of success!

Author: Marie Sára Stejskalová, student of the Gymnasium Na Pražačce and intern of the Open Science Project of the Czech Academy of Sciences at the BIOCEV Centre