The wriggling and writhing of worms may hold clues to the inner workings of our brains, according to scientists at the MRC\u2019s Clinical Sciences Centre (CSC). The researchers have developed a pioneering tool to analyse a worm\u2019s posture as it wriggles, and will use the tool to investigate how exactly the worm\u2019s brain controls its movements.
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\u201cThe science was great, but I think the biggest benefit is networking and getting to know the community in which we work. Finding out what people are working on so you know who to approach when you want to speak specifically about an area of research that you\u2019re unfamiliar with is invaluable,\u201d said Dr Angela Woods, a senior investigator scientist in the CSC\u2019s Cellular Stress group.<\/p>\n
Watch a video of the postdoc retreat at https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tjH_Ybjtiqc<\/strong><\/p>\n He\u2019s been running a biomathematics group in the maths department of Imperial College since 2008, and is now taking up a visiting position that teams him up with the CSC\u2019s biologists.<\/p>\n He\u2019s looking forward to bumping into biologists day-to-day, and though hasn\u2019t yet sat in a lab with the CSC\u2019s scientists, he\u2019d like to try that out too. Regular interaction with biologists, Vahid says, is an important part of the atmosphere of the CSC, and key to creative collaborations.<\/p>\n Watch Miguel-Aliaga\u2019s interview at https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0ewZtr4H7zY<\/strong><\/p>\n Miguel-Aliaga is one of four chosen so far by the journal for a series it says will \u201csupport the next generation of cell biologists.\u201d<\/p>\n Last week, the journal published a two-page article and a video interview with Miguel-Aliaga in which she discusses how a TV series about lizard aliens invading Earth inspired her to become a scientist.<\/p>\n She also talks about setbacks in science. \u201cI think sometimes the roadblocks are your own set of preconceptions,\u201d says Miguel-Aliaga. She also thinks that we can be our own worst enemy: \u201cHuman nature means that, even if we try not to be, we tend to be too hypothesis driven.”Vahid Shahrezaei is the new mathematician\u2013in-residence at the CSC. <\/em><\/h3>\n
The Journal of Cell Science<\/a> has selected Irene Miguel-Aliaga, who\u00a0leads the CSC\u2019s Gut Signalling and Metabolism<\/a> and is a Reader at Imperial College, as a \u2018Cell Scientist to Watch\u2019.<\/h3>\n
\n[youtube https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0ewZtr4H7zY?rel=0&w=500&h=281]<\/p>\nAlso this month<\/h3>\n