Lab Experience Personal reflection – Sofia Poggi Longostrevi

In September 2021 I had the opportunity to do my first rotation in the RNA biology Lab at Humanitas University.

This is one of the labs led by Professor Stefano Duga, who sadly left us some days ago.

He was a great Professor and a great scientist but, above all, a wonderful human being. This was perfectly reflected in the spirit of this Lab, which is an environment full of passion and stimuli; at the same time a place where everyone feels belonged, surrounded by a solid team, who almost becomes your family. I always felt completely welcomed and trusted, which I would never take for granted, working in a famous and sometimes competitive research environment.

My mentor was Professor Rosanna Asselta, who was a true guide in orienting my choice in this first lab experience and who is someone I deeply admire and look up to.

My tutor, Letizia Straniero, and the PhD student Giada Melistaccio, who followed me during this experience, have been amazing: they put in complete trust and allowed me to learn-by-doing hands-on, many different lab techniques.

Genetics, being my main field of interest, I followed their work in GBA-mutated Parkinson patients, investigating several SNPs as to identify possible modulators of the disease expression, giving different phenotypes of the disease.

Having had the honor to attend this Lab, I got to see closely the wonderful work and legacy Professor Duga has left behind him, both in the University and in the Research environment.

I really hope that the passion, the enthusiasm and the welcoming spirit that I discovered in this lab will remain in all of us, starting from all the students who had the privilege to meet Professor Duga.

With the deepest condolences to Professor Duga’s family and to the entire Lab team.

Sofia