Marina attended the Genomics to Whole Cell workshop in Sheffield, a three-day event that brought together leading experts from the genomics, whole-cell, and modelling communities. As a first-year PhD student, Marina found the workshop to be a unique opportunity to observe how researchers from diverse fields collaborate to tackle complex scientific questions. It was inspiring and enlightening for her to see how ideas from different fields work together to solve shared challenges.

The workshop focused on current challenges and emerging opportunities in biological research, with a particular emphasis on advancements in AI. What stood out to Marina was the distinctive structure of the event. Unlike traditional conferences, the workshop focused on group discussions instead of lectures and presentations. Participants were divided into small groups and given specific questions to explore, covering topics such as automation, AI, data standards, and multi-model simulations for whole-cell modelling. This interactive format fostered deeper conversations and encouraged collaborative problem-solving.

For Marina, the highlight of the workshop was the strong collaboration across disciplines and the diversity of expertise among attendees. As someone at the beginning of her research journey, she found it incredibly motivating to witness the power of collective problem-solving and open dialogue.

Marina reflected on the workshop, saying, “Overall, the workshop left me feeling energised and inspired. The cross-disciplinary collaboration was a reminder of the importance of working together across fields to tackle the most challenging questions in science. This experience has given me valuable insights and a greater appreciation for the collaborative nature of research, which I look forward to applying in my PhD work.”