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Nika Žibrat, a PhD student at the Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia, spent three months during spring 2024 at EMBL Grenoble as part of internship funded by Instruct-ERIC. Below she shared some afterthoughts on the visit.

“After hearing about Instruct-ERIC at a conference, I was immediately intrigued. Since I began my PhD studies, my goal has been to solve at least one crystal structure, and I have encountered many experimental setbacks that have hindered my experimental goals. Crystallography is part science, part art, where experience is paramount.

This spring (8. 3. – 9. 6. 2024), I spent three months at EMBL Grenoble as part of an Instruct-ERIC funded internship. The decision to apply proved to be the right one. During the internship, I was supported by staff from the HTX group, was able to apply for a comprehensive course in macromolecular crystallography at EMBL and also had the opportunity to visit the European Synchrotron Facility in Grenoble. The time I spent at EMBL Grenoble provided two crystal structures, enriched me as a scientist and as a person and gave me self-confidence and a better understanding of professionalism in academia.”

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