Postcard: Science in Vienna
Posted on: 8 March 2024 by Dr Emily Clarke, Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Peffers Lab, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences in March posts 2024
Dr Emily Clarke, recently visited Vienna to take part in a four week long training programme on Orthopaedic Microsystems. Dr Clarke has shared her experiences of the trip and how the training will benefit her research in the future.
I started my academic journey by completing a BSc Bioveterinary Science degree, followed by a Master of Research, specifically exploring prospective metabolomic biomarkers of equine osteoarthritis using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy metabolomics. Following this I started a PhD supervised by Professor Mandy Peffers investigating the role of extracellular vesicles in equine musculoskeletal pathologies and associated regenerative therapies. During this time, I gained experience in a range of omic techniques and visited a number of laboratories including the Wauben Lab at Utrecht University. I have a keen interest in cell-free regenerative therapeutics and one medicine approaches to research. Now, I am focussing on the development of suitable in vitro models for veterinary orthopaedic research
During February 2024 I travelled to Vienna (Austria) for four weeks to undertake a training placement in the Orthopaedic Microsystems Group, at the Medical University of Vienna, based at Vienna General Hospital. This placement provided laboratory training in microfluidic devices and co culture methods, under the supervisor of Dr Mario Rothbauer. This placement was undertaken as part of a small grant awarded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, looking to use such techniques to answer a specific research question, with the main project being conducted at the University of Liverpool in collaboration with the group in Vienna.
While in Vienna I had the pleasure to learn a range of lab-based techniques to add to my toolkit of skills, and had the opportunity to present my current research to academics based at the hospital. During my trip I also had the opportunity to visit Czech Republic, where I was able to observe a PhD viva and meet researchers from Masarykova Univerzita. It was interesting to see the similarities and differences in the awarding process of a PhD internationally. Followed by a traditional meal to celebrate the success of the candidate.
During my weekends I had the privilege to explore the beautiful city and country. This including sightseeing in the ‘innere stadt’; visiting the Hofburg Palace, Parliament Building, Rathausplatz, Natural History Museum, Central Café and Schonbrun Palace. The architecture and imperial history of the city were fascinating. I also had the pleasure of going on a day trip to the Alps, and visited Halstatt. It was a truly beautiful country I would recommend to anyone to visit.
The experience provided me with a plethora of new skills, and enabled me to collaborate and develop my professional network internationally, the value of which cannot be underestimated. I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to my colleagues in Vienna and to our funding body without whom this experience would not have been possible.