Interviews with Scientists: Nikolaos Doumpas
Nikolaos Doumpas completed his PhD in Prof. Dr Aurelio Teleman’s laboratory at the German Cancer Research (DKFZ), University of Heidelberg, Germany in 2013. His PhD research focused on identifying transcriptionally regulated target genes, promoting growth in Drosophila via the Dpp signaling pathway. Nikolaos then went on to hold a Postdoctoral Researcher position in the same lab, research the regulation of TORC1 in response to amino acid starvation via lysosomal recruitment of TSC2.
Since 2014, Nikolaos has been a Post-doctoral Researcher in Genetics and Molecular Biology in the Laboratory of Prof. Dr Konrad Basler at the Institute of Molecular Life Sciences (IMLS), University of Zurich. His research focuses on elucidating the TCF/LEF dependent and independent transcriptional regulation of Wnt/b-catenin target genes in mammalian cell lines. He also teaches courses for undergraduate students at the University of Zurich, as well as supervising master students and PhD candidates.
We spoke to Nikolaos about his current research, career to date, advice for fellow scientists and more.
It’s great to talk to you, Nikolaos. Firstly, tell us a bit more about your current research...
I currently hold a Post-doctoral Researcher position in the laboratory of Prof. Dr Basler in the Department of Molecular Life Sciences (DMLS) at the University of Zurich. My work focuses on the transcriptional regulation of gene expression and tissue differentiation. I make use of mouse and human cell lines to explore fundamental aspects of Wnt signaling. More precisely, I am researching the TCF/LEF-dependent and -independent transcriptional regulation of Wnt/beta-catenin target genes. During canonical Wnt signaling, the activity of nuclear beta-catenin is largely mediated by the TCF/LEF family of transcription factors. To test the validity of this view, I used the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing approach to generate cell lines lacking all four TCF/LEF genes. My research combines unbiased whole transcriptome sequencing analysis approaches (RNA-seq and scRNA-seq, ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq) with cutting edge molecular biology, cell biology and gene editing techniques.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your research?
I had to stop doing research because I was not allowed to enter the laboratory for five weeks.
Did you always want to be a scientist when you were younger?
I did not always want to become a scientist, but then I fell in love with biology in school and I found it fascinating how much impact small molecules, which we can neither see or feel, have upon our life. I still remember how shocked I was when I was taught how compact DNA is.
What advice would you give those just starting out in their science career?
It’s a cliché, but never ever give up. Stay hungry and stay motivated. Keep in mind that whatever your observation is, impactful or not, you are the first to ever find it out and nobody can take that feeling away from you.
What's the most important lesson you have learned in your career so far?
Listen to others. I was a bit stubborn, ignoring suggestions from others when I started my career, until the moment I realized that everyone around me is trying to help and not to judge.
What’s your biggest achievement in your career to date?
I guess I am very proud of my publications. It’s nice to be rewarded for all the hard work and the hours you are spending in the lab.
What do you think are the biggest barriers currently facing life scientists and their work?
10/10 scientists will probably give you the same reply: funding. It is very competitive and is becoming almost impossible to get funding. Another challenge is, of course, the “what next?” question. What do you do after your PhD or after your post-doc? Permanent positions almost don’t exist anymore.
What does a typical day in the lab look like for you?
First stop is the cafeteria, for the obvious reason! Then I open the laptop, warm-up the media in cell culture, talk a bit with colleagues, start experiments, go for lunch with the lab, continue the experiments and at some point in the evening, pack everything up, leave and forget all the lab-related troubles until the next morning.
What does your typical day look like at the moment while your lab is closed?
I am reading a lot of papers, attending a lot of virtual meetings, writing a review and taking care of my 3-year-old son.
Outside of your research and any related work, what do you enjoy doing most?
I am in love with basketball, playing, coaching and watching. I also play a lot of board games, mostly with my lab mates. Finally, I have always a book to read somewhere near me.
If you weren’t a scientist, what do you think you’d be doing now?
This is the toughest question so far. I cannot imagine doing anything else other than being a scientist. Maybe an engineer would be an idea.
What is it about your field of research that keeps you motivated?
Everything. The joy of discovering new things is my motor. The idea that at some point in the future one of my findings could help people overcome diseases is really powerful. OK, also genetically manipulating cells is pretty awesome.
Which fellow scientists working today do you most admire, and why?
The name that pops up is Feng Zhang. He revolutionized genome engineering. To be fair all the CRISPR-guys (Dudna, Church), because of them genome engineering is becoming almost as easy as a PCR run.
What’s your favourite science quote?
“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson
What do you think is the greatest scientific discovery of all time?
There have been so many amazing discoveries and there are so many still to come, but if I had to pick one, I would go with Penicillin.
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Thanks so much for speaking with us, Nikolaos! We wish you the best of luck with your research when you’re back in the lab.
You can connect with Nikolaos on social media at the links below:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nick.doumpas
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-doumpas-2a834717b...
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