News

The ComeInCell project is ambitious. Supported by funding from Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Doctoral Network (HE MSCA-DN), the ComeInCell doctoral network aims to shed light on complex cellular mechanisms, particularly those involved in neurodegenerative diseases and membrane trafficking, and accelerate drug discovery and therapeutic innovation. To achieve this, the project plans to develop advanced cellular mimics that integrate functional membrane structures and biomolecular condensates. It also offers significant advantages to the young researchers who join the consortium, as it fosters interdisciplinary learning, practical experience and professional development.

We caught up with Rumiana Dimova, researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces in Germany and ComeInCell coordinator, who gave an update on the activities of this MSCA doctoral network.

You’re in the first year of the consortium. What steps have you already achieved?

In the first five months of the consortium, we’ve made great progress in laying the groundwork for a successful programme. We started with a meeting involving the consortium supervisors and the EU Project Officer, which helped to align our goals and expectations.

From the beginning, we’ve made equity, diversity and inclusion a priority. We took part in a workshop on this topic organised by our project manager, Dr. Rafaela Keller. All supervisors have undergone training to ensure that these values are embedded throughout the Consortium – from recruitment and mentoring to the research culture itself.

Recruitment is also on track – we have already recruited five doctoral students, and expect to welcome at least one new student each month between now and October, with a total goal of 17.

Meanwhile, while our publications are still in the pipeline, the ComeInCell supervisors continue to make significant progress in the areas of membranes and biomolecular condensates – the core focus areas of our network. These achievements include:

• Petra Schwille has made significant advances in synthetic biology, especially by developing membrane-coated 3D architectures for bottom-up synthetic biology.
• Petra Schwille and Bert Poolman were awarded an ERC Synergy Grant for the MetaDivide project, which aims to create minimal cell-like systems capable of autonomous division and energy production.
• Evan Spruijt received an ERC Consolidator Grant to work on building controllable synthetic cells and tissues.
• Lorenzo di Micheli brings his expertise in nucleic acid technology to tackle energy management in synthetic cell technologies through the Japan-UK SYNERGY project, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency.
• Rumiana Dimova continues to uncover the fundamental relationships between biomolecular condensates and membrane organelles in her recent work published in Nature Communications.

We’ve also taken steps to connect with our sister network, SigSynCell, and also with SynCellEU to plan future conferences and workshops. These collaborations are designed to foster early networking among PhD students across the network and build a strong, interdisciplinary community.

The MSCA doctoral networks place great emphasis on mobility and training for doctoral candidates. What activities would you like to put in place to facilitate this?

We plan to implement a range of activities that foster interdisciplinary learning, practical experience, and professional development. A key element is interdisciplinary training through scientific secondments. All doctoral candidates hosted in 8 different countries will participate in secondments across Europe and in Israel and have the possibility to interact with academic partners (in Belgium, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK) and industry partners (Dewpoint, Ionera, Nanion, MD.Use and Refeyn) within the network. They will also have the chance to meet editors from the Journal of Cell Science and Nature Communications. These placements and interactions are designed to expose candidates to complementary scientific approaches, state-of-the-art technologies, and diverse working environments. This not only enhances their technical expertise, but also helps them build professional networks beyond their home institutions.

We’re also establishing a robust Interdisciplinary Lecture Series (ILS). This series will include lectures from ComeInCell partners as well as invited external speakers, covering core scientific topics such as membrane biophysics and macromolecule phase separation; essential research tools such as fluorescence microscopy, microfluidics, membrane reconstitution and simulations; and broader themes including inclusion and diversity, responsible science, and data management. The ILS will provide both technical knowledge and career insights, helping students develop a well-rounded scientific and professional skill set.

Importantly, we are also collaborating with our partner doctoral network SigSynCell, with which we have already begun planning joint activities. This collaboration will expand training opportunities, foster cross-network exchanges, and enhance the overall experience for our students by creating a larger, more connected research community.

How do you think the MSCA doctoral networks benefit syncell research and young researchers (i.e PhD candidates)?

MSCA-DNs, such as ours, play a crucial role in advancing synthetic cell research while providing significant benefits to young researchers. One of the key strengths of the MSCA-DN framework is that it offers PhD students formal employment contracts. This ensures not only financial stability but also access to social security contributions, making the PhD route more attractive and accessible to a wider pool of talented students across Europe and beyond. As a result, more early-stage researchers are encouraged to apply, bringing fresh perspectives and energy to the field of synthetic cells.

In addition, ComeInCell places a strong emphasis on collaboration and networking. By creating a structured yet flexible environment for interaction between academic institutions, industry partners and researchers, it stimulates joint planning and execution of scientific activities. This interconnected network facilitates synergies between different projects and promotes a more multidisciplinary approach to solving complex problems in synthetic cell research. Furthermore, with our SigSynCell collaborators, we are planning joint training activities and networking opportunities, further expanding the intellectual and practical horizons for our PhD candidates.

Another distinguishing feature of the MSCA-DN is its focus on communication, dissemination and exploitation of research results. Researchers are actively supported in making their work visible (both within the scientific community and to the public) through outreach and social media platforms. This not only maximises the impact of each individual project, but also ensures that the network’s collective output contributes meaningfully to the growth of the synthetic cell field.

What advice would you give to those wishing to apply for this funding scheme?

This is a fantastic opportunity that can really help your project come to life. Find the right partners for your idea and work together to achieve it. It is also very beneficial to find sister networks to interact with. There’s a lot of helpful material available online to support applicants and make the whole process much easier (such as Doctoral Networks call: 6 steps to prepare your application and HE Program: Guide for Applicants). From step-by-step guides to webinars with tips from past applicants and experts, there’s plenty of material out there to help you feel more confident and better prepared. Definitely worth exploring before you start your application.

Is there anything else you would like to highlight to the syncell community?

We invite the SynCell community to follow our journey via the ComeInCell website and stay connected through our social media channels on ComeInCell LinkedIn and ComeInCell BlueSky. We’ll be posting regular updates on our workshops, training opportunities, publications and other exciting activities within the ComeInCell network. It’s a great way to stay informed and get involved!

We would also like to highlight the upcoming Biomembrane Days 2025, which will take place in Berlin from 29 September to 1 October. This conference promises to be an outstanding event for anyone interested in biomembranes, synthetic biology and synthetic cells. The last edition was overbooked, so we strongly encourage early registration to ensure your participation in this vibrant and growing event.

We’re excited about what’s ahead and look forward to connecting with many of you, both online and in person!

Funded by: ComeInCell is a European project funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement n°101168939. It is also co-funded by UK Guarantee Scheme (cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101168939).