Msc Nicolette Jansen

Research:

The regulation of proteins is a major feature in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. This regulation can be achieved by processes such as post-translational modifications (PTMs). One such PTM is Small Ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO). SUMO has been implicated in numerous cellular processes and is covalently attached to a target protein. It regulates protein-protein interactions and subcellular localization. Years of research have given us insight in the regulatory effects of SUMO, however, a lot is yet to be explored. During my studies, I found that my interest lies in fundamental research. 

Curriculum vitae:

I completed my Bachelors (Bio Medical Laboratory Research) at Avans hogeschool Breda. During this time, I worked for several months on two research projects. One was dedicated to unravelling the influence of TGFβ on integrin signalling involved in adhesion-dependent cell survival and proliferation in the group of Staffan Johansson located at the BMC Uppsala, Sweden.  The other one was focused on the role of PACSIN2 in endothelial remodelling of cell-cell adhesions in response to vascular permeability signals in the group of Stephan Huveneers, Sanquin, Amsterdam. 

After this, I finished my Masters degree (Bio Medical Sciences) at the University of Leiden. During this time I performed three internships in three different labs. The first one was focused on cilia and signalling for detection of environmental cues and sensory capacity in the C. elegans in the group of Gert Jansen, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam. The second one was focused on optimizing ways of fluorescent tagging in a yeast model in the group of Michael Knop, ZMBH Heidelberg, Germany. The last internship was focused on the SUMO protease SENP6 and its role in mitosis by affecting various kinetochore proteins in the group of Alfred Vertegaal, LUMC, Leiden. After having experienced research first hand in all these amazing labs, I decided to stay at the SUMO lab for my PhD, which started in February 2019.