Three students doing their PhD at the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) have been recognised in the seventh edition of the Rin4′ competition. In this initiative, organised by the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), participants have to explain their research project to a non-specialist audience in a maximum time of 4 minutes. The aim is to encourage the incorporation of communication skills in the training of doctoral students, to emphasize science popularisation and to bring science, knowledge and research closer to a non-specialist audience.
Ivan Milenkovic, from the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), was the winner of the first prize, worth €900. In his presentation “The dynamic life of ribosomes” he explained how his research focuses on studying ribosomes as dynamic elements that can change in response to physiological or pathological stimuli.
The second prize, worth €600, was for Natàlia Carreras, from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) with her presentation “What do your cells think about you smoking marijuana?”. She talked about how her research focuses on the long-term effects of this drug, mainly studying DNA methylation.
Júlia Urgel, from the Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS-UPF) and the CRG, received the special audience prize of €200. Her presentation “Lung cancer, what could you not live without?” explained how her laboratory uses the CRISPR technique to try to find out which genes are involved in the appearance of lung cancer and to use them as therapeutic targets.
Congratulations to the three of you and good luck with your PhDs!
