Me (Sam) with UCMR PI Ryo Morimoto and members of the Morimoto laboratory at Umeå Unievrsity.
Hi, I am Sam Sternberg, Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Columbia University.
Last month I had the pleasure of visiting Umeå University as part of the UCMR Distinguished Guest Seminar Series, where I gave a lecture on our laboratory’s work exploring RNA-guided and RNA-templated antiviral defence systems. While the seminar provided the formal reason for my trip, what I will remember most is the opportunity to spend time with the outstanding scientific community that has been built in northern Sweden.
One of the greatest benefits of visiting other universities is the chance to step outside your daily routine and see science through a different lens. During my visit, I had the opportunity to meet researchers and trainees from UCMR, MIMS, and several neighbouring groups. Conversations ranged from CRISPR biology and microbial immunity to career development, mentorship, and the challenges of building a research program. These exchanges often spark new ideas and collaborations, but they also serve as an important reminder that science advances through people and relationships as much as through experiments.
I was particularly grateful to spend time with Ryo Morimoto and members of his laboratory, whose generosity and enthusiasm made the visit especially memorable. I also enjoyed meeting many researchers across the Umeå community, including Lars-Anders Carlson and Vivien Horváth, whose perspectives highlighted the breadth and strength of life science research in Umeå.
Meeting with Lars-Anders Carlson, Ryo Morimoto, and Vivien Horváth during my visit to Umeå.
Beyond the laboratory, I was fortunate to experience a small taste of local culture. By sheer luck, my visit coincided with Brännbollscupen, a uniquely Swedish sporting tradition that drew an impressive crowd and an infectious sense of community spirit. As an outsider, it was impossible not to be swept up by the excitement.
Brännbollscupen, one of Umeå’s most celebrated annual traditions.
Finally, I was struck by the beauty of Umeå itself. Whether walking along the river, enjoying the long northern evenings, or simply taking in the surrounding landscape, I found the city to be welcoming, vibrant, and deeply connected to nature. The visit reinforced something I have long believed: outstanding science can thrive far from the world’s largest cities when it is supported by a strong community, a collaborative culture, and a shared sense of curiosity.
My sincere thanks to Ryo Morimoto, UCMR, MIMS, and everyone who helped make the visit so enjoyable. I left Umeå inspired, energized, and hopeful that this will be the first of many future visits.
The Ume River and northern Swedish skies during a weekend excursion.
