Members' testimonies and motivations

"I grew up in Kolkata (‘City of Joy’), West Bengal, India. After my bachelors in biotechnology, I did my PhD in microalgal biotechnology and metabolomics from India. I then moved to Umeå in Feb 2021 for my first Post-Doc to work on wood cell wall chemistry at the department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, SLU, Umeå and Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC).  My goal id to understand the changes in wood cell wall chemistry in transgenic aspen with special reference to cuticle and suberin. I am currently associated with both SLU Postdoc Association (SLUPA) and Umeå Postdoc Society (UPS). I have joined these postdoc associations to connect with fellow researchers from different fields; also, to help and support my co-peers. "

- Madhusree Mitra

"I was born and raised in the extreme south part of Chile, I took my luggage to come to the other pole of the Earth, and now I'm working as a postdoc in the Plant Biology Department at SLU (Uppsala). My research's goal is to understand the molecular basis for transcriptional scaling with cell size by single-cell analysis in Arabidopsis.  Coming from a developing country has taught me that belonging to an organization is more than necessary. Representation is important, and more when we mix people from all different parts of the world, with different needs and experiences, but the same interest in research. SLUPA means to have a group that is working for us, and that is available to help postdocs in a country and work where is easy to feel lost."    

- Alejandro Fonseca Cárdenas

"I come from the French countryside, where I completed my PhD in forest ecology. Currently, I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Swedish Species Information Centre at SLU (Uppsala) since August 2022. My postdoctoral project in forest ecology focuses on studying the effects of forest and climate conditions on understory vegetation. I joined SLUPA with the intention of maintaining a network that facilitates communication and collaboration among SLU postdocs, aiming to enhance our collective conditions by fostering the exchange of experiences, whether you are an experienced postdoc or a newcomer."

-Laura Chevaux 

"I joined SLUPA because the network is a force that must be created and maintained. Multiculturalism and multidisciplinarity are undeniable strengths of the SLU. We must take advantage of this richness to forge both friendly and professional links within the institution. In addition, postdocs are largely the lifeblood of the labs, it is necessary to unify this category of researchers to give them the existence they deserve within the institution"  

- Pierre Ouvrard

“I was born and brought-up in South India and moved to Germany for my Master’s degree. I extended my stay in Germany for pursuing my PhD in Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, with a lot of frequent research stays at the University of British Colombia, Canada. I moved to Umeå in October 2020, for starting my postdoctoral career at the Department of Forest Ecology and Management, SLU, Umeå. Since then, I have been actively associated with SLU Postdoc Association (SLUPA), Umeå Postdoc Society (UPS) and Swedish Network of Postdoc Associations (SNPA) to support and connect with my other co-peers in Sweden.

I was the Chair of SLUPA during 2022. Together with my wonderful SLUPA team, I was trying to reach out to every postdoc at SLU, integrate them and form a strong SLU postdoc community. Currently, I am the SNPA representative and my role involves in voicing the opinions/concerns of SLU postdocs at the national level in SNPA.” 

- Kishore Vishwanathan

“I come from a country where people strike every second day and unions are the norm. Because there is always something (if not many things) to improve in our working places, starting from welcoming new comers. That is why I joined the SLU postdoc association. SLUPA is essentially a place to share knowledge about postdoc life and rights, and raise postdocs voices to the authorities to improve life and rights. Being part of this network is essential, Information is power! ” 

- Kevin Sartori

"I am happy to join the SLUPA. From the beginning of my research career, I have been seeking new experiences and exploring new fields and types of activities. Currently, I am working on the co-evolution of wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) and its beneficial fungus (Aureobasidium pullulans) in a strawberry research group based in Alnarp. Similarly to the A.pullulans I would love to be helpful and for the SLU postdoctoral association."

-Nataliia Khomutovska