Home: Montanuniversität LeobenHost: University of California, Santa Barbara I am currently a research fellow from Montanuniversität Leoben, working at the Computational Fluid Lab at the University of California, Santa Barbara. My research focuses on Particle Flow Modeling, specifically utilizing the Coupled CFD-DEM method. I have developed a novel methodology based on the CFD-DEM approach to investigate the erosion behavior of cohesive materials. This method enables a more accurate analysis of critical shear stress and erosion rates, contributing...

Home: University of ViennaHost: Harvard University LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-böhm-0b2050210/ Sebastian Böhm, an Austrian student in Jessica Whited's lab at Harvard, is dedicated to studying the extraordinary regenerative abilities of the Axolotl, an organism capable of perfectly regenerating entire limbs without scars or functional impairments. His research focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this remarkable process. By investigating the key signals and pathways that drive regeneration and development, Sebastian aims to contribute...

Home: Medizinische Universität GrazHost: University of MichiganTopic: The anti-fibrotic role of diethyl succinate in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis "My PhD dissertation aims at investigating the role of succinate, a metabolite, in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis to identify potential anti-fibrotic therapeutics. I am spending a semester abroad in Dr. Bethany Moore's laboratory at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where I hope to expand the scope of my project by investigating alterations to the immune landscape of the lung in our model.    Methods and animal models established at...

Home: Karl-Franzens Universität GrazHost: Arizona State UniversityTopic: Interactions of bacterial patatin-domain-containing lipases via dynamic regions with their inhibitors I am working on structural studies on bacterial lipase protein that causes infection in humans. My research work involves using techniques like X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM. I am doing my research stay in the group of Dr. Petra Fromme at the Arizona State University, AZ, US. I am happy that I am getting exposure to a wide variety of methods and techniques in our field. It is a very nice learning experience. I appreciate...

Home Institution: TU WienHost Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Topic: Exploring attention in artificial neural circuits I joined the Distributed Robotics Lab at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) under the supervision of Prof. Daniela Rus in September.  We’re developing methods to analyze how both traditional and novel artificial neural networks focus their attention on specific tasks. By applying these methods, we assess the explainability of these networks to identify which ones yield more interpretable solutions. This work feels...

Home: Medizinische Universität GrazHost: The University of ChicagoTopic: Interplay of gluconeogenesis and glycolysis in lung cancer cells The focus of my research project is cancer metabolism. Specifically, I am interested in how lung cancer cells utilize alternative nutrients and pathways to circumvent glucose restriction and thereby promote cancer growth. The Faubert lab at the University of Chicago has extensive experience in studying cancer metabolism in vivo using stable isotopic tracing. By learning their techniques and approaches, I want to get a better picture of lung cancer...

Home Institution: IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems/AustriaHost Institution: University of FloridaTopic: Acridine and Photocatalysis Thanks to the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation, I have the incredible opportunity to investigate organic photocatalytic systems, contributing to more sustainable organic synthesis. As part of Prof. Daniel Seidel's research group in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Florida, I am conducting cutting-edge research and gaining invaluable experience in this field. In my free time, I enjoy exploring the Sunshine State, immersing myself in the...