Meet our Early Career Scientist Grant Winner Larissa Socrier
We’re delighted to introduce another of our Early Career Scientist Grant winners! Larissa Socrier of the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization is the latest recipient of our monthly $500 grant awarded to a PhD or postdoc life scientist to help support their career.
Larissa is a post-doctoral scientist working in Prof. Dr. Claudia Steinem’s lab in Göttingen, Germany. She plans to use the grant to help fund her trip to the 22nd congress of the French Membrane Group (GEM) in Autrans, France, where she will present the latest findings of her research in the field of membrane biophysics.
Larissa told us how she felt about receiving the grant:
I am very grateful about the award and I would like to thank Hello Bio for the support provided to scientists. I will use it to participate in the 22nd congress of the French Membrane Group (GEM). It is a great opportunity for me to network and get feedback on my research from experts in membrane biophysics in France. Larissa Socrier, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Germany, Hello Bio Early Career Scientist Grant winner
Congratulations Larissa! First, can you tell us a bit more about what you're working on at the moment?
Shiga Toxin, which is mainly produced by Shigella dysenteriae, is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths each year worldwide. Although vaccines are being developed, there is no treatment available to prevent the diseases induced by this pathogenic agent. My aim is to better understand the mechanisms leading to the internalization of the toxin into cells. Using various artificial lipid systems to mimic eukaryotic cell membranes, I investigate membrane domain organization as well as the interactions of Shiga Toxin with Gb3 glycolipids, which are its natural receptors.
What is it about your field of research that gets you most excited?
I like the approach which consists in combining biomolecules such as lipids and proteins to build systems that mimic cells organelles. Increasing the complexity of these systems to study biological processes is challenging but exciting.
Which scientists working today do you most admire, and why?
Knowing the dedication, patience and resilience required to do science, I have consideration and esteem for all my peers.
What do you think are the biggest challenges currently facing life scientists and their work?
I would say that securing a tenured position as well as funding to regularly pursue research are the biggest challenges scientists have to deal with.
And finally… what’s your favourite science quote?
“Whatever we learn from models should be tempered by the fact that the cells are always right.” by Michael Edidin.
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Thank you so much Larissa! We wish you all the very best with the presentation of your research in France.
Connect with Larissa:
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