Young Leeds Researcher to Meet Laureates at Lindau

A microbiologist from the University of Leeds has been selected to join 600 other young researchers from around the world who have been invited to take part in this year’s Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau, Germany.

Dan Hurdiss, a microbiologist working in the University’s Astbury Centre for Structural Moleclar Biology was selected from thousands of applicants after impressing organisers with his application and commitment to his subject area.

The annual Lindau Meeting this year will also bring together 40 laureates from across Biology, Physics and Chemistry, who will share their ideas and expertise with the young researchers.

Dan, who was named Sir Howard Dalton Young Microbiologist of the Year by the Microbiology Society in 2017, said: “To say I’m thrilled is an understatement; the Lindau Meeting is an incredible opportunity to hear the best ideas and new approaches from scientists who have achieved the highest accolade possible in their fields.

"It’s also a great chance to meet researchers at the same stage in their careers as me and I hope this will help me build the network of international contacts necessary for a career in modern science.

"I’m really looking forward to the visit – it will be busy and challenging, but the new ways of thinking and carrying out research I’m hoping to learn will be a real boost for my future career."

The six-day programme will feature question and answer sessions, masterclasses and poster sessions giving the attendees a chance to present their research to the Nobel prize winners, offering up the possibility of working together in the future.

Among the Nobel laureates Dan can expect to meet are biochemist Professor Joachim Frank who won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his development of cryo-electron microscopy the subject in which Dan has specialised in his research work. Professor Frank has already tweeted Dan to say he is looking forward to meeting him in Lindau.

Professor Neil Ranson, Director of the Astbury Biostructure Laboratory’s cryo-EM facility, who has overseen Dan’s research work and supported his application, said: "The University is incredibly pleased for Dan. This is an unparalleled opportunity to learn and expand his horizons, by meeting eminent researchers from across the sciences.

"He will have chance to hear from and debate with people at the pinnacle of their fields. Bringing together the best ideas and techniques from biologists, physicists and chemists will be key to tackling the world’s problems in the next few years and I’m delighted Dan can immerse himself in the Lindau Meeting, it will set him up for the next phase of his career. I’m very excited to see what he achieves in the coming years."

The Lindau Meeting takes place this year from 24-29 June.