Traineeship
I did my exchange as a traineeship in Malta University at the Center of Molecular Medicine and Biobanking Phage Display Laboratory where my job was to culture and identify modified phages displaying antibody fragments capable of binding to specific cancer markers.
Phage display is a laboratory technique used to discover proteins, peptides, or antibodies that bind very specifically to a target molecule. To achieve this researchers have generated a huge collection of DNA sequences encoding different antibody variants. These sequences are then inserted into phage genomes so each phage displays one unique binding molecule, creating a phage library.
Through biopanning phages that are capable of binding to specific target molecule (in our case cancer marker) are selected. After the biopanning individual phage clones are selected and cultivated in e. coli. The binding capabilities of the phage clones to the target molecule is tested using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Most promising clones are then sent to sanger sequencing so that the DNA sequences of these clones can be analyzed.
Spare time
I spent my spare time in Malta exploring the island. With the island being relatevily small I got to see a lot of it during my 12 weeks there. Some of the most visually memorable spots for me were Ħaġar Qim Archaeological Site and the town of Victoria in Gozo. I also made a memorable visit to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Marsaxlokk where I got to see and learn about the conservation eforts made to protect the wildlife of the islands and the surrounding sea.
Comparison to Finland
It is hard to compare work life between Finland and Malta since I have not worked in a reserch laboratory setting in Finland. However, the laboratory methods used are very much the same. The attitude towards working hours is slighty more relaxed. Where in Finland I am used to punctuality many things here work on so called “island time”.
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