The Thrill of Scientific Discovery and Leadership with My Group

Valentina Greco's lab, awarded the 2016 Early Career Life Scientist Award, made significant strides in understanding tissue regeneration, particularly through live imaging of skin stem cells in mice. They discovered that stem cell fate is influenced by their niche and that cells can switch roles to maintain tissue function. Their research revealed that hair follicle stem cells can act as phagocytes and that epithelial cell death is niche-regulated. They also found that β-catenin can induce tumor growth independently of the niche. Greco emphasized a leadership model that values group contributions, adapts to feedback, and compensates for personal weaknesses to enhance collective productivity. The document underscored the importance of an inclusive and responsive lab culture, recognizing the support from family, friends, colleagues, and collaborators as crucial for the lab's success.