Marjam Saleh: My supervisors always encouraged me to explore new skills

I chose to work on my MSc thesis at the Laboratory of Nematology. This is due to my long-standing interest in plant resistance against pests and pathogens. During some of my courses, I got acquainted with the Laboratory of Nematology. From that moment, I was interested in that field. The department was incredibly welcoming; everyone was not only ready to help but genuinely enthusiastic about answering questions and sharing knowledge. It created such a great environment for my MSc thesis.

For my thesis, I focused on potato resistance against Globodera pallida, a particularly damaging pest. I had the freedom to shape my project and develop essential lab and bioinformatics skills along the way. My supervisors always encouraged me to explore new skills and gave me the flexibility to incorporate anything I wanted to learn into my project. Aside from this, the lab was a very fun place to be. Whether in the middle of an experiment or taking a break, everyone made sure we had a good time, even during the busiest of days.

So, if you ask me whether I'd spend the summer of 2024 in the lab again, my answer is an absolute yes—so long as it's at the Laboratory of Nematology.