Post by Mariana Colaço-Gaspar

Still can’t quite believe it… but after years of ups and downs, failed experiments, unexpected breakthroughs, and a lot of hard work — I’ve officially completed my PhD in Biochemistry and biomedicine at the University of Graz. This journey has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who supported me along the way. A heartfelt thank you to my PI, Rudolf Zechner, for his guidance, positivity, and trust throughout these years, and to Peter Hofer for all the support, and everything he has taught me. I'm also deeply thankful to all our collaborators — the groups of Monika Oberer, Petra Fromme, and Klemens Fellner— for the inspiring teamwork and support. Along this path, I’ve had the chance to meet some truly amazing people, make lifelong friends in the lab, and grow not just as a scientist, but as a person. I feel incredibly lucky and proud to have been part of this institute and to be able to still stay for some months. Excited to see where the next months lead me to 🚀