Lab Spotlight: Mariani Lab
Samanta Mariani’s
lab
From
left to right - Hollie Vaughan (PhD student) - Malgorzata Rumowksa (visiting
student) - Samanta Mariani - Hena Modha (Master student) - Eva Doyle (PhD student)
Each month, Simply Blood spotlights a lab contributing to the fields of hematology, immunology, stem cell research, cell and gene therapies, and more. Get to know groups doing cutting edge research from around the world! This month, we are featuring the Mariani Lab which is based out of the Centre for Inflammation Research, The University of Edinburgh.
How long have you had your lab and how many members make up your lab?
Three years now. Brief but very intense. Currently, we have two PhD students, one Master student and one visiting student.
Three years now. Brief but very intense. Currently, we have two PhD students, one Master student and one visiting student.
What is the major research theme of your lab?
Our major interest is to understand how embryonic macrophages interact with hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells at steady-state and in mouse models of infant leukemia, where the leukemic cells first appear in utero.
Our major interest is to understand how embryonic macrophages interact with hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells at steady-state and in mouse models of infant leukemia, where the leukemic cells first appear in utero.
What is the most exciting project in your lab right now?
All our projects are very exciting! We are close to understanding what the unique features of AGM macrophages are and how they interact with nascent hematopoietic cells in the embryo. Also, we have very exciting data on how macrophages react to the presence of leukemic cells both before and after birth.
All our projects are very exciting! We are close to understanding what the unique features of AGM macrophages are and how they interact with nascent hematopoietic cells in the embryo. Also, we have very exciting data on how macrophages react to the presence of leukemic cells both before and after birth.
What is your approach to mentoring students in this lab?
I am new at this and every day I am learning something about what I should do to be a good mentor. It is not easy, and one size doesn’t fit all, but it is an extremely important part of our role as supervisors. I try to be honest, transmit passion for what we do, provide opportunities and show how to think critically and interpret data in an unbiased way. I like to think that the students in my lab feel comfortable when talking to me, but that is actually for them to say.
I am new at this and every day I am learning something about what I should do to be a good mentor. It is not easy, and one size doesn’t fit all, but it is an extremely important part of our role as supervisors. I try to be honest, transmit passion for what we do, provide opportunities and show how to think critically and interpret data in an unbiased way. I like to think that the students in my lab feel comfortable when talking to me, but that is actually for them to say.
What is your lab’s most recent accomplishment?
Both PhD students in the lab scored highly in a recent poster competition. I am very proud of both of them!
Both PhD students in the lab scored highly in a recent poster competition. I am very proud of both of them!
What facilities or equipment does your lab absolutely depend on?
We use our dissection microscopes daily to dissect different mouse embryonic tissues, and we rely heavily on the flow cytometry facility of our institute.
We use our dissection microscopes daily to dissect different mouse embryonic tissues, and we rely heavily on the flow cytometry facility of our institute.
What was the most exciting part about starting your new lab?
Unfortunately, it wasn’t very exciting. I mean, I was super happy because having my own lab has always been my dream, but I managed to get my first fellowship during the SARS-Cov2 pandemic when I couldn’t really share the excitement with anyone else. For the first six months I couldn’t have students or hire any member of staff, so it ended up being underwhelming compared to the high expectations I had.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t very exciting. I mean, I was super happy because having my own lab has always been my dream, but I managed to get my first fellowship during the SARS-Cov2 pandemic when I couldn’t really share the excitement with anyone else. For the first six months I couldn’t have students or hire any member of staff, so it ended up being underwhelming compared to the high expectations I had.
Does your lab attend the ISEH Annual Meeting?
Yes! It is one of the best meetings for developmental hematologists. Nice crowd, amazing talks and great organization.
Yes! It is one of the best meetings for developmental hematologists. Nice crowd, amazing talks and great organization.
What is the most beneficial aspect of ISEH membership for your lab?
Many! The possibility of submitting abstracts for the annual meeting without paying, the opportunity to access very interesting webinars, and not paying the publication fee when publishing on Experimental Hematology.
Many! The possibility of submitting abstracts for the annual meeting without paying, the opportunity to access very interesting webinars, and not paying the publication fee when publishing on Experimental Hematology.
How do members of your lab celebrate accomplishments?
Cake and prosecco!
Cake and prosecco!
Does your lab have any fun traditions?
We are the best lab of our institute when it comes to Christmas decorations!
We are the best lab of our institute when it comes to Christmas decorations!
What is the key to running a successful lab?
I am not sure I can answer this for now. I would need to prove to have a successful lab first...Stay tuned!
I am not sure I can answer this for now. I would need to prove to have a successful lab first...Stay tuned!
What has been your greatest challenge in managing your lab?
Managing people. I am well trained to do research, to design and perform experiments, but I have never being trained to effectively manage people. I think that new PIs would need more training on that aspect. Winning the ISEH enrichment grant, that allowed me to attend the EMBO course for laboratory leadership, it was extremely useful for me.
Managing people. I am well trained to do research, to design and perform experiments, but I have never being trained to effectively manage people. I think that new PIs would need more training on that aspect. Winning the ISEH enrichment grant, that allowed me to attend the EMBO course for laboratory leadership, it was extremely useful for me.
What advice would you have for new investigators just opening their lab?
Take time to be sure to recruit good people and invest energy in creating a nice lab environment. Happy people = productive lab.
Take time to be sure to recruit good people and invest energy in creating a nice lab environment. Happy people = productive lab.
Dr. Samanta Mariani (she/her)
University of Edinburgh
Leukaemia UK John Goldman Fellow & Chancellor’s Fellow
X (formerly Twitter): @SamantaAMariani
Blog post contributed by Simranpreet Kaur, PhD, of the ISEH Publications Committee.
Please note that the statements made by Simply Blood authors are their own views and not necessarily the views of ISEH. ISEH disclaims any or all liability arising from any author's statements or materials.
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