MINGZ Funded Conference Participation: Rodrigo in London

13. Januar 2026

Foto: UHH/Alarcon

The MIN Graduate Center supports doctoral researchers by travel grants for conferences and research stays. The experiences on these trips are diverse and very interesting. Here is a report by Rodrigo Alarcon about attending the international conference 'Nanopore London Calling 2025' in London:

My participation at the conference “Nanopore London Calling 2025” as a poster presenter was both insightful and valuable.

My main goal was to present my PhD research to a broad scientific audience in order to receive feedback and ideas on how to best proceed with my project. I also wanted to assess the level of interest from the scientific community and explore ways to make my research more engaging.

The conference was organized by Oxford Nanopore Technologies and attended mostly by researchers in the field of molecular life sciences. One of the most interesting aspects for me was seeing the interface between industry and academia, and how closely they depend on one another.

The program included plenary sessions, breakout talks, poster sessions, and networking events. The main talks were diverse and innovative. I learned about state-of-the-art research in my field, RNA biology, as well as major developments in applied genomics, proteomics, personalized medicine, and bioinformatics.

The poster sessions were lively and engaging, and many people showed genuine interest in my research. I particularly enjoyed speaking with researchers whose work forms the foundation of my own project. I also connected with other early-career scientists working on related topics.

Overall, I achieved my goals for the conference. It was a rewarding experience that will positively influence my PhD work and has helped me strengthen my ties with the scientific community. I will definitely keep these new connections in mind for future collaborations and career opportunities.