Happy New Year

At the start of a new year, what matters most to me is not plans or metrics, but the people in the lab and the work they are pushing forward.

My main wish for 2026 is simple: that everyone reaches the goals they are working toward. Our students are at a stage where results need to be turned into solid papers. That takes focus, persistence, and care. Our postdocs need to publish, lead their projects, and demonstrate real independence. Watching this happen—often unevenly and never linearly—remains one of the most meaningful parts of my job.

I enjoy seeing good science emerge when people work well together. Many of our experiments are complex and benefit from shared expertise and careful coordination. When this works, the science is stronger. At the same time, each person’s individual trajectory matters deeply. Collaboration should support independence, not replace it.

Over the last few years, I have settled into a hybrid way of working – splitting my time between campus and remote work, staying closely connected via Slack and Zoom, and being fully present when I am in the lab. I try to give people space rather than micromanage, while remaining available – always. I am committed to continuing this lifestyle, and there is no going back.

I’m looking forward to the ARO Meeting in Puerto Rico. Meetings like this remind me why I entered science in the first place. At the same time, I’m concerned about the broader environment for science. Instability in funding, shifting priorities, and political pressure make long-term, careful research harder than it should be. This worries me because it directly affects how science is done and who can do it well.

Still, my optimism comes from the people I work with.

I continue to believe that careful, honest, detail-driven science matters—and I intend to keep doing my part to protect it.