Ni hao, I am Laura Medina-Puche. I am a “Laowai” from Spain. I have been developing my postdoctoral PIFI fellowship since 2018 at the Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology (PSC) and the Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences (CEMPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai.

My supervisor Professor Rosa Lozano-Duran and I are both from Spain. Besides us, there are more than 40 foreign scientists at CEMPS and PSC: Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Canadian, Greek and French PIs, Indian, Tunisian, Japanese, Egyptian, Peruvian and Pakistani postdoctoral fellows, and some international graduate students. So as you can see, our institute provides everyone with a diverse and stimulating environment. CEMPS strives to be a world-leading institute fostering ground-breaking discoveries and the development of cutting-edge technology to improve crops for the benefit of mankind. This research center operates on an academic research model that stresses the academic accomplishments of each of its investigators. Additionally, during this period I could enjoy the state-of-the-art in-house core support services that PSC also offers, including in cell biology, bioinformatics and genetics. This was ideal for the attainment of the project, because they offer not only the latest equipment and technology but also personnel of the highest qualifications who in turn offer updated training courses and help with protocols.

During the development of my project, I could combine different approaches and techniques, including cell biology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, biochemistry and virology. The PSC has actively recruited expert scientists in different fields of plant biology, thereby creating an optimal environment to nurture scientific discussion and collaboration. I had the unique opportunity to work side by side with some of these experts such as Professor Chanhong Kim, expert in chloroplast biology and biochemistry; Professor Shingo Nagawa, formerly head of the cell biology core facility team; and Professor Alberto P. Macho, expert in molecular plant-bacteria interactions. The intra-institute forged collaborations undoubtedly have strengthened this project, which has benefited from productive dialogue and discussion among the participants on a daily basis.

In addition, this postdoctoral position in such a young, dynamic, multi-cultural team as the one led by Professor Rosa Lozano-Duran has given me not only the opportunity to expand my scientific training and networking but has also contributed to my training as a mentor through the opportunity to co-supervise MSc and PhD students. Belonging to an international research group, made up of people from four different continents, has not only offered me an enriching framework for discussions about science, but also a broad vision of the world where fundamental values such as friendship, respect, and equality are present every day.

Being a PIFI postdoctoral fellow is an once-in-a-lifetime experience. I had the opportunity to conduct high quality research with my hard-working, helpful and friendly lab colleagues with whom I share a common passion for plant science, in a respectful and pleasant work environment which made me feel at home. Without their support, it would not have been possible to carry out this project in such a fruitful way. As a result, during this period I published seven articles, I got my own grant as Young Principal Investigator from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), I actively participated in several projects led by my supervisor Doctor Rosa Lozano-Duran, I was able to attend several international conferences that allowed me not only to publicize my research but also to expand my network, I supervised the lab work of several students, and I could carry out outreach activities such as the celebration of the Fascination of Plants Day (FoPD) in collaboration with PSC, the Chenshan Botanical Garden, and the European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO). In addition, the PIFI program has given me the wonderful opportunity to establish a close link with the ancient Chinese culture, its history, and its varied cuisine, and even to learn its language.

Another reason that motivated me to apply for this fellowship and to settle in China was that this country is currently at the forefront of scientific investment and promotion of science. In retrospect, I strongly believe that this opportunity has been the perfect launch pad for my scientific career, which has not only boosted my academic development but has also allowed me to become a mature scientist ready to establish my own independent research group.

Source：Laura Medina-Puche,

Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences (CEMPS),

 Chinese Academy of Sciences