Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings: an “extraordinary” week at the heart of scientific excellence, as told by two young researchers from UPCité

Left photo: Marie Robert (left) and Katalin Karikó, 2023 Nobel Prize laureate in Medicine.

Right photo: Luca Ferrini (left), Alexandre Vulic, Consul General of France in Munich, Marie Robert, and Federica Namor.

Privileged exchanges with Nobel Laureates

Among the many prominent scientific figures present at Lindau, one encounter particularly inspired the two young researchers: that of Katalin Karikó, winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine for her discoveries on nucleoside base modifications in messenger RNA (mRNA).

“I had the opportunity to speak with her several times, and I was struck by her resilience. She was let go and lost her funding, but despite that, she never gave up, she persevered in her path, and it ultimately earned her the Nobel Prize.” Federica shares.

 

“The humility and sincerity of her testimony, particularly as a mother, left a deep impression on me.” notes Marie.

Beyond the scientific talks, Federica and Marie especially remember the richness of the exchanges.

“Many Nobel Laureates took the time to talk with us over lunch or during coffee breaks. It made me realize how important it is to pass on knowledge and experience, including through informal exchanges.” Federica shares.

 

“I was immediately struck by a discussion between three Nobel Peace Prize laureates, whose testimonies were powerful and compelling. Several sessions then led us to reflect on the role we should play, as young scientists, within the society around us and in relation to current issues.” Marie adds.

Interdisciplinarity, a driving force for advancing research

By bringing together researchers from a wide range of fields, the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings highlighted the importance of crossing perspectives to spark new ideas.

“I’m convinced that opening your mind to other fields is a major source of progress. You make connections between your own work and different disciplines that you would never have thought of otherwise. Interdisciplinarity pushes the boundaries of your knowledge.” Marie explains.

Federica shares this conviction.

“Meeting other young researchers working in fields different from mine sparked my curiosity for other areas and gave me new ideas to apply directly to my own work that I wouldn’t have come up with by only talking to colleagues in my own discipline.“

An experience that fuels their commitment to research

This international immersion strengthened our two young scientists’ passion for research and opened up new perspectives for them.

“As a scientist, opening up to other disciplines sparks my curiosity even further, and I’m coming back with new ideas for my research projects. On a personal level, this week has led me to reflect on the place of scientists in today’s societal challenges.” Marie explains.

A week that restored Federica’s hope.

“What struck me most was the sheer passion for research that ran throughout the conference. It gave me immense hope for the future of the research world, and it reignited my own passion, even in a sociopolitical context where research often takes a back seat.“

Université Paris Cité’s Graduate Schools, a supportive framework for scientific career development

Marie and Federica were able to live this unique experience thanks to the support of the SMARTS-UP Graduate Schools programme. Their journeys fully embody the mission of the university’s Graduate Schools: to offer training by and for research, supporting students in building their scientific careers.

Federica highlights the importance of this support as early as the master’s level.

“I received a SMARTS-UP Graduate Schools grant that really helped me during my master’s. It shows that the university continues to place strong value on supporting young students in their first steps as researchers.“

Marie, whose medicine-science path also involves other training programmes, underlines the essential role played by her academic environment.

“My doctoral school, BioSPC, and the Graduate School G.E.N.E. provided me with tremendous support throughout these three years of my science PhD.“

About

Federica Namor is a PhD student at the Saint-Louis Research Institute (IRSL – Université Paris Cité/Inserm), working within Dr. Lina Benajiba’s team. Her research focuses on identifying new therapeutic targets in acute myeloid leukemia.

Marie Robert is a young PhD graduate from the Center for Research on Inflammation (CRI – Université Paris Cité/Inserm/CNRS/AP-HP) and the Institut Pasteur (Translational Immunology – Institut Pasteur/Université Paris Cité), having defended her thesis in December 2025. She is also a medical resident at AP-HP. Her research aims to study the role played by the immune system in diseases such as sarcoidosis and tuberculosis, to improve their diagnosis, and to develop innovative treatments.