Ivaska Lab looking forward to exciting 8 years with the BarrierForce Center of Excellence. The CoE, directed by Johanna Ivaska, was selected as one of the new Aacdemy of Finland Centers of Excellence. The Academy of Finland selected eleven Centres of Excellence (CoE) for the period 2022‒2029.
The call for Finnish Centres of Excellence attracted a total of 184 letters of intent. Of these, 34 applications were invited to the second call stage. The full applications were reviewed by international expert panels. The reviewers also interviewed representatives of the research teams invited to the second stage. In selecting the CoEs for the new programme, focus was placed on the international review, the interviews and the objectives of the programme. The decision-makers in particular examined that the research team applying for CoE status conducts excellent science and breakthrough research and contributes to scientific renewal. To find out more please visit the dedicated website !
Successful funding of ERKKO grant application !
Excited to receive a 990 000 eur grant to study Cancer metastasis – new biological paradigms as drug targets from Jane and Aatod Erkko -foundation for 2022-2025
Hanna is joining the lab !
We are delighted to have Hanna Parkkola in the lab! She is back to her roots in cell culture after momentarily venturing into the wild world of protein chemistry. Welcome back!
Mitro Miikhinen defended his PhD thesis in September !
Thanks to Staffan Strömblad, the opponent of Mitro from University of Stockholm for the visit. It was a great time. Now Mitro is going to be fine, studying hardcore statistics! The best of luck!
Paulina’s paper is accepted !!
Celebrating our recent publication in Nature Cell Biology and the associated Highlight written by Pat Caswell ! Thanks Pat !
Martina Lerche defended her PhD thesis in September – such a RUSH !
Warm thank to Patrick Caswell, her opponent from University of Manchester, for joining us in person. It was an amazing scientific discussion. Now Martina is fighting border guards to enter the US and join the lab of Clare Waterman! Good luck !
Mathilde is joining the lab !
Mathilde has joined us as a postdoc from Institut Curie, FR. She is leaving the world of extracellular vesicules to study biomechanics ! How intense ?!
Mathilde arrived in Turku during winter time, when there was snow everywhere and ice on the ground. It required a few days to adapt and not fall sliping on ice on the way to the lab ! Warm Welcome !
Megan joins us as a postdoc!
Megan has joined us as a postdoc from Manchester, UK. She spent 10 days in quarantine when she arrived in Turku. A tough thing to do in a new place. Hopefully, the rest of your postdoc will be easier! Welcome to the lab!
Siiri Salomaa defended her PhD thesis in September – it was awesome!
A big thanks to Siiri’s opponent Pirta Hotulainen from the Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, University of Helsinki for joining us in person. It was a great discussion and now Siiri is off to the UK for her first postdoc! Good luck Siiri, you are going to be dearly missed!
Johanna Lilja defended her PhD thesis in June and did a fantastic job!
It was the first time we did this over zoom. After a few small techincal hiccups, everything went smoothly! So proud of you Johanna and thanks for the after party in sunny Ruissalo! Also a big thanks to her opponent Tuomas Tammela from the Weill Cornell Medical College, NY, USA for the lively debate.
