"This stay deepened my expertise in microbial community modeling and fostered meaningful interdisciplinary collaboration"

Sepideh Mofidifar, from the University of Surrey (UK) spent one month on a research exchange at the Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands.

1. What’s your name and where are you from?

My name is Sepideh Mofidifar and I am from Iran. 

I am a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Surrey specialising in systems biology and metabolic modelling. My work integrates genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) with multi-omics data to understand microbial metabolism and community interactions. I am expanding my expertise into machine learning and data-driven modelling to improve predictive accuracy and support innovation in biotechnology. 

2. Which organization do you work for, and where did you do your secondment?

I work at the University of Surrey (UK), and I completed my secondment at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), the Netherlands.

About your experience:

3. What motivated you to take part in this exchange?

I was particularly motivated to take part in this exchange because the host institution, Wageningen University & Research, has a renowned Systems Biology group with strong expertise in microbial community simulation. Their work aligns closely with my research interests, especially in understanding complex microbial interactions using computational approaches.  

4. How would you describe your secondment experience in one sentence?

My secondment was a highly valuable and enriching experience that deepened my expertise in microbial community modeling and fostered meaningful interdisciplinary collaboration. 

5. What project or task did you enjoy the most during your stay? Did you learn anything new or unexpected? What was it?

I mainly worked on generating microbial community models, which was a task I hadn’t tackled before. Initially, I wasn’t sure how to approach some of the challenges, but with the guidance of Professor Maria Suarez, I learned how to view these issues from a systems biology perspective and developed practical strategies to address them. 

This experience significantly enhanced my problem-solving skills and deepened my understanding of microbial community simulation.  

6. What did you like the most about the place where you stayed? 

What I liked the most about the place where I stayed was the beautiful city and its natural surroundings. The combination of vibrant urban life and nearby nature made the experience very enjoyable and refreshing.  

Life outside work:

7. Do you have a fun or memorable story from your secondment? 

During my secondment, I had the chance to visit several beautiful cities in the Netherlands, which was a memorable experience .

Looking ahead:

8. How do you think this experience will help you in your professional career?

This experience helped me develop a new perspective on the challenges involved in microbial community simulation, enhancing my problem-solving skills in this area. Additionally, it strengthened my connection to the BIOREM project by allowing me to meet some of the participants in person, which fostered better collaboration and communication for our ongoing and future work. 

9. What advice would you give to someone about to do a similar exchange?

My advice to someone about to do a similar exchange would be to clearly identify what they want to learn and achieve during their stay. Having specific goals helps to focus their efforts, make the most of the opportunities available, and ensures a productive and rewarding experience.