Organized by research school participants Sara Gonzalez Anton, Valentina Cesaroni and Myriam Cerezo-Magaña, the retreat marked the conclusion of the current WCMM Research School cohort. The annual retreat, planned and led by the students themselves, is a long-standing tradition that provides participants with an opportunity to reflect on their experiences, strengthen their networks and develop skills that will support their future careers.
The WCMM Research School is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists in molecular and regenerative medicine. Through an interdisciplinary programme that combines lectures, workshops and networking activities, participants gain insights into regeneration, replacement and repair biology while developing expertise in advanced research methods, communication and innovation.
From Sleep Research to Scientific Storytelling
The retreat opened with a lecture by Jonathan Cedernaes, Assistant Professor and Resident Fellow at Uppsala University. Cedernaes shared insights from his research on the metabolic and neurocognitive consequences of disrupted sleep and circadian rhythms, highlighting the growing importance of sleep research for human health.
A major focus of this year's retreat was scientific communication. Participants attended a workshop on graphical abstracts led by Lisa Karlsson, Science Communicator and illustrator at WCMM Lund, exploring what makes a graphical abstract effective and how researchers can communicate complex findings in a clear and engaging way. During a hands-on session, students refined graphical abstracts based on their own research projects and received feedback.
The programme also included a career development workshop led by Dimitra Manou, Event Manager at Medicon Village Innovation, who discussed the differences between academic and industry CVs and provided practical advice for researchers considering different career paths.
Leadership, Wellbeing and Brain Research
The second day focused on personal development and scientific inspiration. Ella Nyberg, social anthropologist, and Malin Gutestam, specialist in neuroscience leadership, introduced participants to the Healthy Mind Platter framework and discussed strategies for achieving work-life balance in research careers.
Participants also heard from Daniela Calvigioni, WCMM Fellow and Assistant Professor at Linköping University, whose lecture explored how the hormone estradiol influences emotional processing and vulnerability to stress.
The retreat concluded with closing remarks by the Research School coordinators and WCMM Fellows Anja Meissner and Joao Duarte and the announcement of student awards. Elisabeth Bankell and Jessica Santiago received the prize for Best Layman Summary, while Derek Clarke was awarded Best Graphical Abstract. Congratulations!
Applications Now Open for the Next WCMM Research School
Looking ahead, registration is now open for the next round of the WCMM Research School, running from October 2026 to June 2027. PhD students and postdocs interested in joining the next cohort are encouraged to apply no later then September 7.
