Helleday lab scores double doctor’s hat-trick

20Oct11

- Cheers darling. - That's Dr Darling, my dear!

This Spring and Summer has been an eventful time for the Helleday group, with no fewer than six of our students taking the leap into doctordom.
In the Stockholm group, Ivaylo Stoimenov was first up on the 18th March, bravely testing the water and paving the way for the other three. Four weeks prior to this, he was sat on a hospital ward, holding his wife’s hand as she gave birth to their baby daughter and drawing the last figures for his thesis with the other. They both came out beautifully (the baby and the thesis). Ivo and his examiner, Thierry Nouspikel from the University of Sheffield, turned out to be peas in a pod and had an excellent discussion on the interplay between transcription and recombination repair. They probably could have gone on until the early hours of the morning, but as bubbly wine and canapés were waiting back in the department, the thesis defence was tied up at a reasonable hour and celebrations begun. Ivo is currently enjoying taking the baby for long strolls in Golden Gate Park, San Fransisco, and visiting the terrapins, whilst looking for a suitable postdoc position.
Next in turn, was Petra Groth on 31st March. Ivo had just proved that the procedure was safe, so no reason to panic. He had also set the standard for the others and put the bar pretty high. This did not seem to worry Petra in the least, who took examiner George Iliakis’s, University of Duisberg-Essen, questions in her stride. There were moments where getting a word in edgeways was a challenge, but with the self-confidence of a scientist who has worked on her projects for 4 ½ years and knows what she’s talking about, Petra stepped up to the discussion and showed us all what she got. After a deserved holiday in Mexico, Petra is now tying up her projects in the lab, whilst applying for postdoc positions in other labs.
Cecilia Ström was number three and defended her thesis on 29th April. Hans Krokan, Norwegian University of Science and Technology – Trondheim, popped over from Norway to question Cissi on post-translational modifications in DNA base excision repair. Cissi flew through the cross-examination with flying colours and since becoming a doctor has continued in the Helleday lab, whilst considering her career options.
Last but not least, before the summer break, Ingegerd defended her thesis entitled replication fork stability in mammalian cells, with its cover adorned by a beautifully handcrafted DNA replication fork, made out of beads. Jan Hoiejmakers from the Erasmus University in the Netherlands had been dedicated the task of “grill-master” and seemed suitably impressed by Ingegerd’s excellent performance, which of course resulted in the 4th doctor’s hat of the Stockholm group. Ingegerd currently has a postdoc position at Uppsala University.
Back in Oxford, things were getting similarly hot under the mortar board. Diana Muftic, having experience from both Stockhom and Oxford labs, was first to take the plunge on 9th May. The rest of the group were sat on tenterhooks as Diana was questioned for just over 3 ½ hours. Why was it taking so long? There was, however, no cause for concern, as Diana bombarded them with her many years of DNA repair knowledge and they finally let her go with the best possible outcome. PASS! This was a relief, as everyone was gasping for a glass of bubbly by that time. Diana now works in investment banking in London.
So five down and one to go, now Nick Pedley’s turn. Nick physically left the Oxford lab in September 2010 to move to Leicester and turn his attentions to becoming a Clinical Scientist. During those nine months, Nick has impressively written an excellent thesis as well as passing all his exams with top grades.
Finally, with final exams over and only a viva standing between him and a Doctor’s title, he was beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Thomas and Natalia accompany Petra, Cissi and Ingegerd to their graduation at the city hall in Stockholm.

Nerves were a tangle on the beautiful sunny day of July 22nd, but they seemed unnecessary as Nick sailed through the viva with no problems and is now our 6th doctor of 2011, making it a double doctor’s hat-trick for the Helleday lab. Nick is continuing his training as a Clinical Scientist.
Congratulations Ivo, Petra, Cissi, Ingegerd, Diana and Nick on becoming doctors. We are immensely proud of all of you and wish you the best in your future careers.

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