Discovering the Immune System’s Balancing Act

The laureates Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi uncovered a crucial process in our immune system: it’s not only actively fighting infections but also features a suppressive side to prevent overreactions.

This discovery answered one of immunology’s most persistent questions: How does the immune system kill without destroying us?

This question is important because about 5–8% of the world’s population is assumed to suffer from autoimmune diseases.

It was known that autoreactive immune cells are eliminated right after generation. However, it was unclear how the rest of our immune system would be tamed – especially after an infection was over, or when immune cells encountered the ever-present bacteria inside us.

> The recipients found that specialized cells, called regulatory T cells (Tregs), actively suppress immune activation.

However, the path to this discovery led through irradiated animals, extensive genetic mapping, and even the pursuit of cells that turned out not to exist.

Here is why this discovery is so special and how it was made:

A Shift in How We Saw the Immune System

For decades, immunology emphasized attack – antibodies, immune cells, and inflammatory signaling.

Especially antibodies received a lot of attention.

They became the central focus of immunology in the 20th century because they were detectable, measurable in blood, and could be directly applied in medicine – from transfusions to organ transplants and later diagnostics and therapies.

The B-cell puzzle

After several genetic studies, it became clear that B cells generate countless different antibodies through a genetic process called V(D)J recombination, which mixes and matches gene segments to create millions of unique antibody receptors.

This randomness explained how our immune system could recognize virtually any pathogen – but it also raised a paradox:

If this process is random, why doesn’t it constantly produce antibodies that attack our own tissues?

Central vs. Unknown Tolerance

What scientists soon discovered was what we now call central tolerance.

This mechanism operates primarily in the thymus, where newly formed T cells are tested against the body’s own antigens. If they recognize these “self” molecules too strongly, they are destroyed – a process called negative selection.

But this system isn’t perfect – and that’s where the problem begins.

Some potentially self-reactive T cells escape deletion in the thymus and circulate in the bloodstream. Moreover, why was it that some patients had overshooting immune responses while others didn’t?

A Wrong Idea

In the 1970s, scientists proposed the existence of “suppressor T cells,” based on experiments showing that certain immune cells could inhibit immune responses.

But the evidence was inconsistent, the methods were unreliable, and researchers lacked molecular markers to distinguish these cells from other T-cell types.

Even worse, genetic studies later revealed that the supposed mouse gene linked to suppression (the “I-J locus”) didn’t actually exist.

As a result, the concept of suppressor T cells was abandoned, and the field of immune suppression fell into scientific disrepute for nearly two decades.

The First Nobel Breakthrough

It wasn’t until Shimon Sakaguchi advanced how we think about immune regulation in 1995.

He identified a distinct population of CD4⁺ T cells expressing CD25, the α-chain of the IL-2 receptor.

When these CD25⁺ cells were removed from mice, the animals developed multiple autoimmune diseases affecting organs like the thyroid, pancreas, and stomach.

When the same cells were reintroduced, autoimmunity was prevented.

This provided clear evidence that suppressive T cells existed – and that they were essential for preventing self-destruction.

A Rodent’s Contribution

The next breakthrough came from an unexpected source – a mouse first observed in the 1940s at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, during radiation studies from the Manhattan Project.

This mutant, nicknamed the scurfy mouse, developed a severe, systemic autoimmune disease that proved fatal in males.

Decades later, in the late 1990s, Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell decided to uncover the genetic cause behind this strange immune malfunction.

After genetic mapping, they discovered a two-base-pair insertion mutation in a previously unknown gene on the X chromosome. They named it Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) because it resembled other transcription factors with “forkhead” DNA-binding domains.

The Molecular Key

They could also show that patients suffering from a rare, often fatal autoimmune disorder known as IPEX syndrome had mutations in the human FOXP3 gene – mirroring the scurfy mouse’s disease.

Soon thereafter, Sakaguchi’s team made the connection: FOXP3 is the master transcription factor that defines and controls regulatory T cells. When they introduced FOXP3 into normal T cells, those cells acquired suppressive functions – they had become Tregs.

This was the final piece of the puzzle.

Peripheral tolerance, the counterpart to central tolerance and broader immune regulation in processes such as microbe elimination or wound healing, depends on FOXP3+ regulatory T cells.

The Mechanism of Control

Regulatory T cells act as the immune system’s “brakes” through several complementary mechanisms:

• Release of inhibitory cytokines like IL-10, TGF-β, and IL-35.
• Induction of cytolysis in other cells.

• Starving effector T cells by consuming IL-2, depriving them of a growth signal.

Several other mechanisms, such as cell–cell contact with dendritic cells or the release of adenosine, might contribute to their functions as well.

Why the Discovery Was Nobel-Worthy

The combined discoveries provided the missing molecular and cellular foundation for understanding immune self-control.

This work didn’t just explain immune tolerance – it redefined it. It connected basic immunology, genetic discovery, and clinical pathology into a unified framework that now drives new therapeutic strategies.

Ever since then, Tregs have become fundamental in immunological research and teaching.

Today, more than 200 clinical trials are exploring ways to modulate Tregs – from expanding them to treat autoimmune diseases, to selectively disabling them in cancer therapy.

Why Did the Nobel Prize Go To…

Building Truly Versatile Materials

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for developing metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) – materials that combine metals and organic molecules into highly ordered, porous structures.

MOFs are like molecular scaffolds: they have rigid frameworks with vast internal surface areas where gases such as carbon dioxide or hydrogen but also ions, and larger molecules can be stored or react.

Roald Hoffmann once said, “In two or three dimensions, it’s a synthetic wasteland.” The laureates changed that. Here is how:

The Birth of Predictable Frameworks

Richard Robson was among the first to show that one could build extended crystalline networks with precision rather than luck.

In 1989, he assembled copper ions and rigid organic molecules into a diamond-like 3D structure with open cavities – a feat previously deemed impossible by many scientists.

From Fragile to Functional

Susumu Kitagawa advanced this concept in the 1990s by creating frameworks that could adsorb and release gases like oxygen, nitrogen, and methane without losing structure.

Kitagawa also introduced the idea of “soft porous crystals” – frameworks that can shift their shape in response to temperature, pressure, or guest molecules.

This concept redefined solids as dynamic, responsive materials rather than fixed lattices.

The Game Changer: MOF-5

Meanwhile, Omar Yaghi took the field to new heights. In 1999, his group created MOF-5, a zinc-based framework with enormous pores and record-breaking surface area – almost 3,000 m² per gram.

Yaghi then formalized the field through the concept of reticular chemistry – the deliberate linking of building blocks into predesigned networks.

This systematic approach allowed chemists to vary linkers, pore sizes, and functions, leading to families of “isoreticular” MOFs with shared structures but different properties.

Why MOFs Matter

MOFs are now central to materials chemistry because of their unparalleled tunability:

• Their internal surface areas can exceed 10,000 m² per gram.
• Their pore sizes can be customized to trap specific molecules – from hydrogen to greenhouse gases to toxins.
• They can act as catalysts, filters, gas reservoirs, or drug carriers.

Today, MOFs are being developed for carbon capture, clean hydrogen storage, pollutant removal, and even water harvesting in deserts. More than 90,000 MOF structures are now known, and industrial-scale production is already underway.

By making it possible to predict, design, and build porous crystalline materials atom by atom, Kitagawa, Robson, and Yaghi changed how chemists think about matter itself, revealing that even solids can breathe, flex, and adapt.

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Written by Patrick Penndorf
Connect with me via LinkedIn

For many researchers, the idea of using social media to advance a scientific career can sound like a joke. At best, it’s a distraction after work.

• Yet, social media has quietly become one of the most powerful tools in modern communication.

It’s easy to associate platforms like Instagram or TikTok with viral dances, memes, and silly jokes.

> However, platforms like LinkedIn, Reddit, ResearchGate, and even educational YouTube channels are all forms of social media.

When used strategically, social media enables scientists to amplify citations, connect with peers and build visibility for their work.

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Is Social Media For Senior Scientists?

Yes – despite their limited time. In my latest LinkedIn posts, senior scientists represent the largest group of viewers (>37%).

Not only can they discover new inspiration, team members, or events, but they are also a valuable and highly sought-after part of the ecosystem due to their experience. A successful LinkedIn presence can be maintained with as little as 10 minutes per day (and grown with just 1–2 posts per week.)

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In addition to conferences, social media is now tge central space where science is discussed, shared, and discovered.

Here are 8 benefits of Social Media – and some tips on how you can reap the benefits that sound interesting to you:

Scientific Advantages

1. Increasing Awareness and Citations

Social media allows you to share your findings with a wider audience. This helps increase awareness of your work, boost citations, and attract future collaborators.

Beyond citation counts, it offers a direct way to amplify the visibility and perceived impact of your research.

How to do it:
Share posts about your publications, methods, or new hypotheses. Engage with others by commenting on or resharing related research to stay visible and recognized.

The first step:
Create or update your professional account on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, or Instagram. Write one post highlighting a recent project and tag your colleagues and institution.

2. Recruiting Students and Team Members

Social media can serve as an effective recruitment tool.

You can advertise open PhD, postdoc, or technician positions to a broad and relevant audience. This increases your chances of attracting motivated and qualified candidates already interested in your field.

How to do it:
Announce open positions. Focus on what makes the role exciting or convey the culture of your lab or team. Tag relevant accounts, institutions, and use hashtags like #PhDPosition or #PostdocJobs.

The first step:
Think about what people will enjoy about working in your lab. Identify relevant groups or channels to tag or post in when sharing opportunities.

Advancing Your Science

3. Staying Informed and Connected

Social media helps you stay up to date with developments in your field. New papers, methods, conferences, and discussions on scientific practices are announced there.

It serves as a real-time news source for the scientific community, offering faster and broader updates than traditional channels.

How to do it:
Follow journals, societies, and leading researchers in your area. Occasionally engage with posts through likes or comments to help algorithms surface more relevant content for you.

The first step:
Identify 5–10 active accounts that consistently share high-quality research in your field.

4. Gathering Input and Feedback

Social media can also be used to crowdsource ideas or gather feedback on research questions.

Posting a well-defined query can attract useful insights from experts worldwide, potentially improving your research design or interpretation.

How to do it:
End your posts with clear, focused questions, and tag experts or communities likely to respond. Asking thoughtful questions in others’ comment sections can also help you engage with specialists and gain their perspectives.

The first step:
Keep a list of questions that come up during your research so you can share them later. Remember, people will focus on your question itself—not on who asked it.

Career Advantages

5. Building a Professional Reputation

Active engagement on social media helps you build a recognizable name in your field. A visible online profile can lead to more invitations to conferences, speaking engagements, and collaborations.

While not the main factor in hiring decisions, a strong online presence can increasingly serve as a valuable differentiator—especially for professorship positions.

A large, engaged following signals visibility, communication skills, and leadership—qualities that universities value as they seek to enhance their institutional reputation and public engagement.

How to do it:
Share posts about your current research and occasionally post educational content. Combine your own insights with curated, high-quality content from others. Keep your tone professional but personable.

The first steps:
Write a short, clear bio that identifies your research field, current position, and interests. Add a link to your lab website, Google Scholar, or ORCID profile. Starting posting or commenting once a week about your research, teaching, or academic reflections.

6. Promoting Events and Initiatives

If you organize conferences, workshops, or seminars, social media is a powerful tool for promotion. Posting about your events can reach thousands of potential attendees, increasing visibility and participation.

This approach democratizes outreach and enables more inclusive engagement beyond traditional email lists or institutional announcements.

How to do it:
Create posts leading up to the event that highlight what attendees will learn and insights you’ve gained during organization. During the event, share live updates or short clips to use the momentum.

The first step:
Ask others what they enjoyed about your most (or what they are looking forward to). Then, design one promotional post and schedule it a few weeks before registration opens.

7. Possible Future Importance for Funding

New funding programs – such as the EU Horizon initiatives, which allocate billions for research in areas like cancer and biomes – already require some form of public communication.

Being able to demonstrate influence and reach through followers, engagement metrics, or a strong online presence can strengthen your funding applications, especially for programs that value science dissemination.

How to do it:
Identify larger accounts or organizations that effectively communicate science on social media. Similarly, observe how marketing agencies and outreach teams operate. Then, adapt their strategies to your field.

The first step:
Find examples of researchers or organizations doing this successfully. Then, learn how to review your social media analytics to benchmark your audience size and engagement rate.

Bonus

An emotional incentive:

Especially on platforms like YouTube and to some extend LinkedIn, it’s not about self-promotion for its own sake, but about ensuring that good science is seen, understood, and valued.

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Written by Patrick Penndorf

Of course, connect to me via LinkedIn : )

I recently co-wrote an article with my friend Simon on why I believe every student can get a scholarship.

> Still, the next question is: Which scholarship should you pursue?

To explore this, I spent some time browsing different websites to see whether they were actually useful.

My conclusion: yes, they can be very valuable in your search. However, success requires the right mindset.

Let me share the platforms I found helpful, along with some tips on how to navigate them:

Which Platforms exist

Based on my experience, I would categorize these platforms into three types:

• Broad – platforms listing scholarships from all over the world
• Focused – platforms listing scholarships only in the U.S. or from one specific program or university
• Hybrid – platforms that list scholarships alongside loans or travel opportunities

In my experience, most of them cover scholarships across several fields, not just science. That’s not a problem, though, since most platforms provide filters to help you narrow down to your specific field.

Of course, there are many such websites and databases. The key is to find those that are (A) recently updated and (B) enjoyable for you to navigate.

Further below, I share some curcial tips to use these platforms effectively. However, at first I want to give you the list of platforms that I found interesting – along with a short description of what you’ll find there:

Broad Platforms

International Scholarships
A simple but practical website. You can filter scholarships by subject, study destination, and country of origin.

Scholars4Dev
This site lists a wide range of scholarships. While the interface isn’t the most modern, the detailed descriptions and explanations are a real strength. They not only help you evaluate each opportunity but can also inspire you by showing the different types of funding that exist.

IEFA Scholarships
Clear layout with a strong filtering function. You can search scholarships by the region where you want to study as well as your home country.

Global Scholarships
The site has a nice design and often links directly to the official program or scholarship pages. However, some information can be confusing or occasionally inaccurate, so double-check details.

Program-Based

Erasmus+
One of the largest funding programs in Europe. Erasmus and Erasmus+ offer a wide range of opportunities for students from and within the EU, covering study, internships, and exchanges.

Country-Based

Scholarships.com
A well-organized site with a clean design. It even offers weekly email updates. The main limitation: it only covers scholarships in the U.S.

EduCanada Scholarships
If you’re from Canada or want to study there, this is a good place to start. You can filter scholarships by eligibility, though it doesn’t specifically highlight science-focused options.

Campus France
The official portal for scholarships and bursaries for studying in France.

University-Based

LMU Munich Scholarships
Scholarship opportunities specifically for international students at LMU Munich.

Oxford University Scholarships
A comprehensive A–Z listing of scholarships for graduate students at Oxford.

Hybrid Platforms

Pathways to Science
Focused on opportunities in the U.S., this platform is especially strong for STEM students. It includes not only scholarships but overall resources and program information.

GoAbroad & GoOverseas
A broad platform for searching experiences abroad—whether study, internships, or travel-related opportunities.

Bonus

IUBMB & IUBMB TI
Many research organizations provide a number of scholarships, so does the IUBMB. Also, the previous IUBMB TI Chair Cathy invited all Trainees to add scholarships from their institutions in order to create a list of trustworthy opportunities. It is still a work in progress, but you can visit it here.

In my opinion, these platforms an easily overwhelm you without the right approach. Here is my experience:

Tips for Handling the Platforms

Most platforms host more scholarships than you will ever be able to apply for.

> Therefore, your mindset is the key factor that decides whether you can get value from any platform.

My number one tip: patience.

If you had seen me during my first searches, you would have laughed (or had a stroke). I’d open a page and immediately click around—“Where’s the filter? Click, click… oh no, wrong tab, scroll up, click back, forward, search again… wait, wasn’t that in the other tab? Open it again…”

I wanted to get things done quickly, just like you probably do. But the better approach is to take a breath and get an overview first. Let’s be honest—what feels like “I will waste hours” usually turns out to be just five minutes if you actually used a stopwatch.

The same applies to taking notes. It feels tedious and unnecessary, but otherwise you’ll end up doing the same search three times because your working memory simply cannot handle all the information presented.

No doubt, not all platforms have the filters you’d wish for, so don’t get intimidated if you suddenly see 76 results. Start filtering step by step. As outlined before: eliminate the ones that clearly don’t fit. Then move on to eligibility, and so on.

My second tip: coolness.

Unfortunately, some platforms will make the task of finding a scholarship seem impossible: words you don’t know, links that don’t work, descriptions that don’t make sense.

Stay cool. No matter how amazing an opportunity seems, it is not the only one. Trust me. And no matter how overwhelming it feels, don’t give in.

Here is what I would advise:

• Slang or jargon you don’t know – ask ChatGPT or Google, and keep a glossary of these terms.
• Outdated information – always check the program’s official website.
• Inaccuracies – for example, some platforms list “Free Tuition” options for internationals as if they were scholarships (they’re not). If something seems odd, just check the entry on another platform or Google it to verify.

It can, and probably will, be frustrating, but remember: the academic system is messy. It’s not always the platform’s fault—sometimes it’s the programs or institutions themselves. For example, I once found this on a German university website:

“There are no tuition fees at the University of Würzburg.
But all students have to pay a semester contribution of €168.50 before they can be enrolled (Breakdown: Student Services fee: €72.00 + semester ticket: €96.50).”

So basically, there are fees—just not tuition fees. Fair, but initially confusing.

In essence: Use these platforms as a faster Google. Don’t expect too much, and don’t get FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). In the end, they open the door to endless opportunities that you would otherwise only discover if you searched the website of every single university and scholarship program worldwide.

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Written by Patrick Penndorf
Biochemist and recipient of the one or other scholarship ; )

As I visited the webpage of one of the world’s biggest funders, I read:

“Wellcome will only fund research that is conducted responsibly. To be responsible, research must be conducted in an environmentally sustainable way.”

Starting in 2025, Wellcome and Cancer Research UK will only support labs that can prove their sustainability — certified through programs like LEAF or My Green Lab.

Other funders have followed suit. For example, Germany’s DFG already requires applicants to outline which sustainable practices have been implemented in their labs — similar to the existing requirements for statements on animal use and statistics.

We’ll share the full story in our online summit if you’re interested — but here’s what you need to know:

What Exactly Is Happening

Research is resource-hungry. Globally, labs produce more than 5 billion kilograms of plastic waste and consume over 100 million liters of solvents each year.

Furthermore, we can estimate that healthcare and biotech together contribute more than 4% of the world’s carbon footprint.

Funders are no longer willing to ignore this.
While Wellcome Trust took the bold first step, several other funding bodies have followed:

In October 2024, seven major European funding bodies signed the Heidelberg Agreement, recognizing the role of sustainability in funding decisions.

While funding agencies in the US or Asia haven’t yet implemented similar requirements, we’re seeing progress:

• The My Green Lab Certification and the ACT Ecolabel Program have been officially recommended in a joint white paper by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Energy, and the University of California, focusing on energy savings.
• Thailand Lab International 2024 dedicated an entire session to the topic.

Awareness is growing — and action is on its way.

Do You Need To Worry?

No — because we’re putting together a webinar to help you prepare for these changes, wherever in the world you are.

We’ll show you how sustainability in labs isn’t just about saving the planet — it’s also about saving time, money, and improving safety. Labs often cut 30–60% of their plastic, reagent, and energy use.

And the best part? It doesn’t take much time, effort, or expertise to get started.

Sustainability in labs touches on aspects we all know from our everyday lives:

• Plastics and single-use items
• Energy and electricity
• Water use
• Chemicals, reagents, and gases
• Instrument use (e.g., freezers, fume hoods)
• Waste treatment
• Travel

Therefore, the key to navigating this transition is simple: don’t get overwhelmed.

It may seem like a lot, but most changes are simple and straightforward – I give you my word.

My tip:

1. Collect ideas on what you could improve whenever they come to mind.
2. Start with easy changes that are quick to implement, no matter how small they are. Early on, taking action is key. For instance, so far the DFG is totally fine with you getting started.
3. Identify teammates who might join you in driving change. This will add motivation and be critical later on.
4. If possible, raise the topic in your next lab meeting – often, you will get more buy-in than you might expect.

👉 Bottom line: Sustainability will no longer be optional. Given the growing environmental impact of science, it’s only a matter of time before funding bodies around the world make it a requirement.

Still, properly understood, sustainability essentially means nothing more than generating data more robustly.

> Plus, it’s a smart way to adapt to budget cuts.

If you want to navigate the transition with less stress and time investment, sign up for the online event we put together for you!

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Written by Patrick Penndorf
Biochemist with +5 years of applied experience in making science sustainable

– A Checklist to Focus Down –

The key to focusing and creating a good mindset is to set a clear aim and define the path that gets you there.

It’s a little bit like walking over a tree that connects two cliffs. You don’t look down to the left or right — you stay focused on what’s in front of you.

Here’s how to do it:

A) What is your goal?

Clearly define what you motivation is:
Do your first piece | Get a lot of clicks | Grow your channel | Test one idea versus another | Try a new technique

Be specific because it helps turn the void in your mind into a sharp picture. You don’t need to worry about creating a viral post if you just want to test a new writing or editing technique.
The clearer you are about what you want, the easier it is to ignore everything else. Therefore: one goal only.

B) What is your long-term goal?

Don’t get stuck on making a perfect piece. However, don’t drop your attitude and standards either. Instead, focus on where you want to be.

If you have a larger goal in mind, you will see where you lack skills, experience, or knowledge and still take action — because you know it will get you closer to your goal. Having your final goal in mind will inspire you and make every little misstep or failure along the way feel much less significant.

Ask yourself:

• What do you want to be known for?
• What videos should be on your channel?
• What should the reaction of your audience be?

P.S. Do you notice how envisioning that last point excites you more than scanning for mistakes or obsessing over how to “improve”?

C) What is the first step of each action you need to take?

Just think about the very first action you need to take to get started. This doesn’t mean “turn the computer on.” But rather, “decide on an overall layout” or “gather the papers you want to include before writing the introduction of your manuscript.”

Don’t think about everything at once — just layout (not layout + colors + components + shadows, etc.) or just how to start the introduction (not which writing style + sentence length + transitions). Everything else will come step by step. Break big tasks down.

D) What do you still need?

Sometimes doubt won’t immediately fade even when you know what to do. Then, face your anxiety: What don’t you know how to do? What do you still need (e.g., a list of…, a login for…, figuring out how to upload…)?
You don’t need all the answers. But you do need to identify what keeps your mind distracted.

E) What to prioritize

Now that you know where you want to go, how to get there, and what you still need, you can decide what to take action on.
Prioritizing is hard for many people. But now you’ve got all the puzzle pieces, which makes it easier.

Ask yourself: What can and should I do first?

F) What’s in your way / What should you double-check?

If you have doubts, make a list of things you shouldn’t forget. Again, taking the first step is most important. A list or timeline will help you avoid losing track of what needs to be done later.
The more focused you are on the task at hand, the better.

As a side note: If you are about to give a talk or record yourself, you might think you shouldn’t obsess over the situation — but I’d argue you should go all in. The anxiety comes from not going all in. You’re not focusing on the presentation itself but on what people might think, what questions you might not be able to answer, etc.

G) What will you not be able to control?

In most cases, you have no idea how well you’ll do. Often, our audiences and content vary too much to predict how something will be received.
Remind yourself: what others say has nothing to do with your self-worth.

Do not identify yourself with your creation. You work on the piece — your creation gets the spotlight, not you.
Your mind is trained to latch onto feedback as a judgment of whether what you did was good or not. Leave that aside for now. If you don’t start, you cannot improve. If you don’t try, you cannot know if you’re sitting on a gold mine. If you don’t launch, you cannot receive accolades.

Bonus

If possible, spend time with positive and happy people before you create content. The joy, motivation, and inspiration you get from those who are productive and upbeat is invaluable.

Before we dive into a powerful strategy for writing a convincing CV, we need to clear up one common source of confusion: the difference between a CV and a résumé.

The Curriculum Vitae

A CV (curriculum vitae) is a detailed, comprehensive record of your professional life.
It is often used in academic environments and in medicine. It lists everything: education, work history, publications, awards, conference presentations, teaching experience, and more.
Length is generally not an issue; some academic CVs run over 10 pages.

The Résumé

A résumé, on the other hand, is short (often just one page) and highly selective.
It’s a targeted application document designed to show why you’re the right fit for one specific job. Instead of listing everything you’ve done, it highlights the most relevant skills, experiences, and achievements for that role.

Aspect	CV	Résumé
Length	No strict limit; can be 2–20+ pages depending on experience.	Usually 1 page for early-career, 2 pages max for experienced candidates.
Scope	Delivering an overview of the applicant and his/her potential; including a complete career history	Summarizing relevant information for quick assessments
Detail	Lists everything – every position, paper, talk, course taught, affiliation..	Selective – only includes experiences that demonstrate qualification for the job at hand.

Why “CV” Often Means “Résumé”

The phrase curriculum vitae has been used since the 19th century in academic and medical circles to describe a formal, detailed record of someone’s professional life.
Résumé, French for “summary,” was adopted into English in the early 20th century, especially in the US. It became established and popularized as business culture grew, where employers preferred a quick, focused snapshot rather than a full biography.

Here’s where it gets tricky: trends from the US have influenced hiring language globally.
As a result, in Europe or Asia, companies often use the word CV even when they’re really looking for a résumé-style document.
In other words, if you submit a 12-page academic-style CV for an industry role, your key points will likely get lost.

Why Brevity Is Key

If you apply for an industry job anywhere outside the US or Canada, you may need to read between the lines to determine whether they want a résumé-like CV — which is very likely. The reason this shorter format is so widely adopted is:

• The first screen is fast — hiring managers often take only 20–60 seconds to decide if you move forward.
• Relevance beats completeness — your document should show why you fit the role, not everything you’ve ever achieved, especially because business roles are often focused on one function.
• Industry values productivity — they care about practical experience and measurable achievements, not publications, presentations, or posters.

What Each Contains

To drive the point home, here’s a list of what a common CV and résumé should contain:

Résumé / Industry CV	CV
Name & Contact information	Name & Contact information
Summary or objective (often only when no cover letter or statement is requested)	Education (all degrees, with details like thesis title & advisor)
Work experience (only what is relevant to the role, achievements quantified when possible)	Academic positions & employment history (including internships)
Education (brief, often only latest)	Publications (books, journal articles)
Skills section (no soft skills, only what is directly applicable to the role)	Grants, fellowships, and awards
	Conference presentations and invited talks
	Professional affiliations and memberships
	Service roles or Volunteering (editorial boards, committees, peer review)

Some Nuances

Academic CVs usually list sections chronologically – earliest education, publications, and positions first.

Industry résumés use reverse chronological order, highlighting the most recent and relevant experience for quick scanning.

That said, even an exhaustive CV in reverse order is unlikely to hurt your chances (it didn’t for me when applying at Max Planck).

A Photo?

In countries like Germany, France, Spain, China, and Japan, professional headshots on CVs are common and often expected.

In some regions, they’re part of standard application culture, though modern non-discrimination rules sometimes discourage them.

In the US, Canada, UK, and Australia, photos are generally discouraged for most roles

How to Create an Outstanding Résumé/CV

Start by avoiding basic mistakes. If you’re applying for an industry position in the US, read the job specifications carefully — and don’t send an eight-page list of every conference you’ve attended.

My top 3 tips:

1. Focus on relevance. Only include what directly supports your application for this role. Even if you’re an excellent fit, if the hiring manager can’t spot your key qualifications in 10 seconds, you’re unlikely to get an interview.
2. Dig deep, but don’t be overly creative. If you’ve never worked in industry, you may struggle to list qualifications. Adding related skills can help, but keep your document concise rather than forcing connections that don’t exist.
3. Show measurable impact. In an academic CV, you can simply list publications or research topics. In industry, back up achievements with metrics: Did you design a complete workflow? Attract a certain number of attendees? Secure funding? Quantify what you accomplished.

> Putting together your first industry application can feel overwhelming — it’s the same for everyone.

That’s why, in our course, we guide you step-by-step through creating a strong résumé/CV. We’ve collected examples and best practices to help you feel confident and save time.

If you’d like to join, just let me know here.

Hi there,
Welcome to the webpage that will get you started with our Referral Game!

How It Works

It is pretty simple:

1. You share this link with your friends or colleagues:
https://forms.gle/R7tYzT8dMrRh1G7x6

2. They will get to a google form where they get to know about the IUBMB. They can choose to join our free online events but do not need to.

3. They send of the form, mentioning your name

4. You get a point for every person that does it

5. The person with the most referrals wins.

Important:

A) Your referrals must be scientists or science students. However, they don’t need to work in your group or be in your course.

B) Here’s a short script you can copy and paste:

—
Hi there!
I’m currently at a conference where a non-profit is giving away a jigsaw puzzle featuring Amino Acids — and I’d love to win it for us!

It’s part of a fun networking game. If you sign up for their sustainability in science webinar using this form, you’ll give me one point. The person with the most points wins.

Here’s the link: https://forms.gle/R7tYzT8dMrRh1G7x6

Pretty sure we will win!

Thanks a lot : )

—

Fingers crossed for you!