sulsa blogs
Hear from the researchers directly involved in SULSA’s projects, training activities and funding calls
rheinland-pfalz life sciences fund
A Physico-Chemical Journey: Cross-Border from Biomolecules to Hydrogel
In October 2025, I had the opportunity to visit the University of Edinburgh through the Rheinland-Pfalz & Scotland x Life Sciences Fund to collaborate with PhD student Tobias Humphrey-Evans on functional biomaterials with a physico-chemical perspective on digital light processed hydrogels in the context of simulated in-vivo degradation…
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Expanding Diagnostic Biomarkers for Predicting Frailty in Breast Cancer Surgery Patients
In November 2024, during the first year of my PhD, I attended an online seminar delivered through SULSA that highlighted the Rheinland Pfalz and Scotland × Life Sciences Fund. The seminar showcased how the fund supports early career researchers to undertake short research exchanges between institutions in Scotland and Rheinland Pfalz, Germany. I was particularly interested in this opportunity and discussed it with my supervisor, Professor Nicholas Rattray…
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Exploring the Roles of Myosin VI in Mechanotransduction
In September 2025, I had the opportunity to participate in a PhD student research exchange supported by the Rhineland-Pfalz & Scotland x Life Sciences Fund. The exchange took place between the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde and the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) at Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz…
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Electrospinning: Between Science and Witchcraft
In the lab of Hans-Peter Wollscheid, I study the role of actin in the nucleus, with a particular focus on the motor protein myosin VI (Myo6). After observing differences in cellular shape between Myo6 knockout and wild-type cells, we wanted to explore whether it plays a role in mechanotransduction. Thanks to the generous Rheinland-Pfalz & Scotland X Life Sciences funding, I spent two weeks at the University of Strathclyde in the lab of Carsten Schulte to investigate this question from a new, interdisciplinary perspective…
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forging futures scheme
Life Sciences Skills and Opportunities in NE Scotland
A Forging Futures Event
With the ever-shifting environment in both academia and industry, as well the increasing job uncertainty, many early career researchers (ECRs) feel the pressure to move to have a flourishing career. While the freedom to move at this career stage may be a benefit to some, it is not for everyone. We ran the ‘Life Sciences Skills and Opportunities in NE Scotland’ Event to show ECRs that they do not need to move to e.g., the Golden Triangle or Scotland’s Central Belt in order to have a successful career in life sciences…
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SULSA’s Forging Futures Scheme
PESTEL Analysis
As a science student it can be difficult to know where to start to engage with industry. PhD students rarely dip their toe outside the academic waters, because we are so focussed on getting our experiments to work, and finishing our paper, and (deep down) we are frightened of what is out there. Thankfully, SULSA sees our trepidation, and has begun preparing a cohort of PhD students and postdoctoral…
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SULSA’s Forging Futures Scheme
Flowing Between Academy & Industry
Academic scientists are experts in building strong collaborations with other peers. But when establishing connections with industry, there is sometimes a sense of being lost in the middle of nowhere. For PhD students and postdocs, effectively collaborating and connecting with industry can be a game-changer in our career path…
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SULSA’s Forging Futures Scheme
Overcoming my fear of LinkedIn
The transition from academia to industry or simply trying to form new collaborations with companies can sometimes feel like a very big ask. Young career researchers are faced with this during or at the end of their PhDs and postdocs, and are not always equipped with the skills, know-how and language needed to make fruitful connections with industry. SULAS has recognised the gap in knowledge…
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early career committee
SULSA’s Rheinland-Pfalz Delegation
From Addressing the Haggis to Addressing Oral Health
In January 2024, SULSA led a delegation of academics from across its 13 members to the Rheinland-Pfalz Lände. During this trip, the delegation visited universities, industry and the Ministry for Science and Health which strengthened the budding relationship between Rheinland-Pfalz and Scotland across all areas of life sciences. The visit concluded with a Burns Supper and Ceilidh…
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SULSA’s Early Career Committee
Perspectives from the SULSA Early Career Committee on re-joining Horizon Europe
Announced as a breakthrough settlement in September, the UK and EU formally signed an agreement confirming the UK’s re-association to the Horizon Europe funding scheme in December, 2023. As an Early Career Researcher (ECR) in the life sciences, this announcement arrived as an excellent gift, and just in time for the holidays, to boot!…
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other sulsa activities
Building the Future: Skills Frameworks
in the Life Sciences
On 5th June 2025, the University of Glasgow played host to the Future Skills Frameworks in the Life Sciences event. With support from Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA) and the School of Infection and Immunity at the University of Glasgow, the event brought together a mix…
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graduate employability masterclasses
SULSA’s Graduate Employability Masterclasses
Asking Questions Helped with Networking
The Masterclasses were pitched to me by my academic year tutor as a great opportunity to gain an insight into the real world, industry side of Life Sciences. Seeing the range of companies that were attending, from Roche to Omega Diagnostics, I was curious about how I might be able to apply my degree post-graduation with these companies. The industry-recognized badge for completion…
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SULSA’s Graduate Employability Masterclasses
Realising my Dream Career Path
In January of 2021 an email dropped into my university email telling me there was an employability masterclass series that would take place virtually over 3 weeks and give insight into employment opportunities within life sciences. As I was in my 3rd year, I knew it was time to think outside of the university bubble to my next steps in forging a career in life sciences…
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SULSA’s Graduate Employability Masterclasses
Student Development Through GEM
I have attended the Concept to Consumer Graduate Employability Masterclasses since my last year in high school and continue to attend them now in my third year at the University of Edinburgh where I’m studying biomedical sciences. Through attending these masterclasses, I have gained a lot of experience and an amazing insight into many different fields of work in industry…
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SULSA’s Graduate Employability Masterclasses
Developing Industry Ready Graduates
Despite the challenges from COVID-19, technology and a great organisation has ensured that students, universities, and businesses have continued to collaborate and stay connected. The Graduate Employability Masterclasses have been developed by the industry for the industry and offers a great development opportunity for highly promising students throughout 12 universities this year in Scotland…
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SULSA’s Graduate Employability Masterclasses
Developing Meta Skills
University is great at teaching theory. Teaching so-called “hard” skills. And, in the words of one of my professors, teaching students how to be good students. On the other hand, when it comes to practical – in the sense of useful, rather than hands-on – knowledge to help us succeed in an ever- changing, fast-paced, competitive industry, academia often falls short…
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