On December 19, 2023, EMBO announced that Dr. Hsiung-Lin Tu, Dr. Chin-Min Kimmy Ho and Dr. Chien-Ling Lin were selected as the 5th EMBO Global Investigators.
Dr. Hsiung-Lin Tu’s lab creates and utilizes novel tools and assay for quantitative bioanalysis with good resolution and sensitivity. The team focuses efforts on developing integrated strategies for single-cell functional proteomic and molecular analysis, creating bio-interfaces to investigate developmental neurobiology, and applying custom assays to synthesize nature-inspired biomaterials. The team will keep develop and use advanced enabling bioanalytical platforms to address important biological systems including developmental neurobiology and others.
About the selection to the EMBO Global Investigator, Dr. Tu said: “I feel very honored and appreciate EMBO for acknowledging our effort in the past few years. This recognition undoubtedly goes to all present and past lab members. I am also sincerely grateful to the support from Academia Sinica, collaborators, and colleagues at the Institute of Chemistry. With the support from EMBO, we are very looking forward to upcoming interactions, idea exchanges and possibly establishing collaborations with European and global researchers.”
Dr. Chin-Min Kimmy Ho’s lab is interested in understanding the development of the leaf epidermis. As the front line of plants, the leaf epidermis controls CO2 uptake for photosynthesis and protects plants from dehydration. Currently, the team is focusing on identifying key players that modulate the composition and pattern of the epidermal cells in response to climate change. They hope that their findings will one day be used in agriculture to improve crop growth in an ever-changing environment.
Dr. Ho said: “We are deeply honored and humbled by this award. It is recognition not only for me, but for the past and present members of the Ho lab. I especially appreciate the resources and support from Academia Sinica and the Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology. Academia Sinica, with its rich history and commitment to academic excellence, has provided the fertile ground for my passion to flourish. Receiving the award is not only an honor, it’s also a responsibility. I feel encouraged to be dedicated, excellent and passionate about my research. I would like to express my deep gratitude for all the opportunities I’ve had in my career including the recognition from the EMBO. I look forward to strengthening the links between Taiwanese and European plant researchers and cooperating to tackle the global climate challenges.”
Dr. Chien-Ling Lin’s lab is interested in decoding the post-transcriptional regulation scripted in the genome. The team integrates tools from molecular biology, bioinformatics and statistical modeling to predict alterations in RNA splicing, stability and translation efficiency resulting from non-coding mutations. The lab’s enduring focus lies in elucidating the impact of mutations within gene non-coding regions, namely, introns and untranslated regions, on susceptibility to various diseases. They aim to uncover fundamental rules of gene regulation, so as to contribute to genetic interpretation for precision medicine.
About her selection as the EMBO Global Investigator, Dr. Lin said: “We extend our sincere thanks to the EMBO Global Investigator Network for this invaluable opportunity to foster connections among researchers in Taiwan and the broader EMBO community. We are honored and enthusiastic about expanding our research alongside new colleagues around the world. Gratitude is extended to the unwavering support from our institution, collaborators, and IMB colleagues, which has been influential in our endeavors. Special thanks to our dedicated team for their shared commitment on this journey.”
EMBO is an organization of more than 2,000 leading researchers that promotes excellence in the life sciences in Europe and beyond. The major goals of the organization are to support talented researchers at all stages of their careers, stimulate the exchange of scientific information, and help build a research environment where scientists can achieve their best work. Each year, EMBO selects promising group leaders as Global Investigators who receive four years financial funding for networking, collaboration, and career-enhancing training activities.
For more information: https://www.embo.org/press-releases/embo-announces-new-global-investigators/