This Week in Illinois Research

Shortly before Thanksgiving, I attended the biannual 29th tRNA conference in Kanazawa, Japan with my "research family." Spending time with them brought back fond memories of the last time I was in Japan for this meeting, when I was just launching my career as an assistant professor. I found myself in comfortable territory catching up with my peers from all over the world who I “grew up with.” It was inspiring to reflect on the collective scientific ground we have broken in the time since, and the exciting frontiers we are now approaching, together—through synergy, collaboration, and occasional competition. 

The meeting was a terrific reminder of why we as members of the research community must persist, stubbornly and with optimism, as we navigate the complexities that are inherent in research. As we return to campus after the Thanksgiving break, we’ve got the end of the semester in our sights. Let’s power up and move forward toward our goals, determined to tackle whatever the new year brings us with the same spirit that drives our research and discovery!

Sincerely,

Susan