National Postdoc Appreciation Week: Dr. Marine Theret works with adult stem cells and shares her achievement in mentorship

September 20, 2023

In honour of National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW), we spoke with different Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Associates at the CBR to highlight their research, share their stories and celebrate their journeys.

Dr. Marine Theret, Research Associate – Rossi Lab

Tell me about your research.  

I work with a specific type of adult stem cells that are present through the body. These cells play an important role to keep tissue organized at resting state. However, they also participate in the formation of fibrotic scar after changes in the environment that can be due to a damage or infections. These stem cells act on the inflammation by secreting many cytokines. My research aims to understand which signal within these stem cells is regulating their immune functions. Findings from my project can be applied to chronic inflammatory diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis.

What led you to the lab?

I have known Fabio Rossi through his amazing work in the skeletal muscle field. I met him at my first international conference in 2014 during a Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology (FASEB) meeting. At that meeting, he gave one of the most amazing talks I’ve ever attended and I told myself that I should apply to his lab for my postdoctoral training. After a few emails, skype calls, and a visit in 2015, I moved to Vancouver in May 2016.

What do you do outside the lab?

I try to make the most of my time out of the lab by enjoying the outdoors. Lots of my weekend will be spend hiking, camping, backpacking and swimming in lakes. My last trip was 6 day long in the Rockies!

What is an award or achievement that you are proudest of?

The award I am most proudest of is the Neil Mackenzie Mentorship Excellence Award. I received this award from the CBR in 2021. Before, I would struggle with mentoring under stress. I have learned how be more attentive to other’s need and I was thrilled to receive such positive feedback from my students!

Thank you for speaking with us, Marine! Learn more about National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW) 2023 at UBC which recognizes the significant contributions that postdoctoral scholars make to research and discovery.