Magdalena Kršić – Academic secondment at the Medical University of Vienna (MUW)
- Post by: fantom
- 19 May 2026
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In January 2026, I had the opportunity to begin the new year in a different academic environment through a one-month secondment at the Medical University of Vienna (MUW). As my PhD project focuses on investigating the tumor ecosystem, cellular interactions, and patient-derived samples, this secondment provided an excellent opportunity to further explore how these interactions can be modeled in vitro.
During my stay, I worked closely with Katarina Misura and Prof. Gerda Egger, whose expertise in 2D and 3D co-culture models greatly enriched my understanding of experimental tumor modeling. Through hands-on discussions and mentoring, they generously shared their knowledge and experience, helping me better understand how bioinformatic findings can be translated into functional biological systems.
Beyond the experimental aspects, we also had many fruitful discussions about the broader direction of my PhD project, potential new approaches, and future research ideas. Their feedback and perspectives were invaluable, helping me refine several aspects of my work.
I also had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Cosimo Lobello, who shared insights from his own PhD journey within a European research network, as well as his postdoctoral experience in the United States. Our conversations were both scientifically engaging and personally inspiring, highlighting the long-term value of international collaborations and interdisciplinary training environments.
Overall, this secondment gave me valuable insight into bridging computational and experimental research approaches. The combination of peer mentoring from Katarina and senior guidance from Prof. Egger created a highly supportive and stimulating learning environment that will benefit the future direction of my PhD project.
