Marie Curie Actions: Inspiring Researchers - Imdea

Dream teamAs its name suggests, Teamoholic had a passionate commitmentto teamwork. In fact, many of the scientists involved in the projectsee that as one of the main ingredients of its success.Over its four-year duration, Teamoholic recruited more than40 scientists from across Europe and beyond. The project helpedthese young researchers to gain valuable scientifi c experience andacquire additional skills through training, with a special emphasison industry-related issues.‘My postdoctoral experience in Hungary, as an Ethiopian-bornscientist finishing a PhD in Germany, was very rewardingboth culturally and scientifically. I have gained many friends,published good scientifi c papers, participated in scientifi c trainingand enjoyed scientifi c collaborations with other teams workingnationally and internationally,’ acknowledges Solomon Mamo,an Ethiopian biologist on the project who has since moved totake on a senior research position in Ireland, at Lyons ResearchFarm, University College, Dublin.In fact, Teamoholic has proved to be an excellent careerspringboard for many of the scientists involved. ‘Many of ourresearchers have capitalised on the training they receivedand moved on to pursue industrial career paths with SMEsor the pharmaceutical industry,’ notes Dr Dinnyes.The project has also done its bit to reverse the brain drain andturn it into a brain gain. ‘I left Hungary for several years to workin the United States. Teamoholic helped me tremendously toreverse the brain drain and to secure a long-term position backhome,’ says Krisztina Tar, a Hungarian molecular biologist whosecareer has taken her to John Hopkins University in Baltimore,the University of Chicago and the Medical University of Vienna.Innovative clonesUnlike in some sectors, such as computing, cloning in biology isat the absolute cutting edge. And in true keeping with its mandateto build bridges between industry and academia, Teamoholichas resulted in a spin-off.BioTalentum Ltd, which was founded by Dr Dinnyes in 2005,is a research-based start-up focusing on biotechnologies tobuild on the scientifi c results of Teamoholic, along with severalEU-funded projects.142