Warwick Academic to Lead Inspiring Workshop at Prestigious Lodha Genius Programme in India

Dr. Darius Köster, a biophysicist from The University of Warwick, will lead a hands-on science workshop as part of the prestigious Lodha Genius Programme in India.

The Lodha Genius Programme at Ashoka University is a multi-year educational programme to nurture India’s brightest young minds, by equipping them with world-class academic support, practical life skills, and access to global experts.

Dr. Köster’s ‘Building Simple Cytoskeletal Networks’, will run from the 9-13 June and forms part of the ‘Great Ideas Seminar series’. The students will gain hands-on experience with fundamental cell biology and biochemistry techniques in a real science lab setting.

“This is likely the first time many of these students have set foot in a lab environment,” said Dr. Köster. “My hope is that by experiencing science in action, they’ll be inspired to explore STEM fields with confidence and curiosity.”

Actin, a major structural protein in all cells, plays a key role in maintaining cellular integrity, enabling movement, and powering muscle contractions via its interaction with the motor protein myosin. Through Dr. Köster’s workshop, students will witness first-hand how actin networks can be reconstituted in vitro, providing them with a unique entry point into molecular biology and the microscopic mechanics that underlie all life.

Dr. Köster continues, “The students taking part in this program are very smart, enthusiastic and curious, and it is a pleasure and privilege to work with them. This one-week program is a combination of small lectures combined with practical lab work, where they will get insights into how we combine physics, biology and chemistry to understand the fundamental mechanisms driving cell shape and function. This teaching format enforces learning of the theoretical content and is modelled after our courses in the first year of Warwick’s MSci Integrated Natural Sciences.”

The Lodha Genius Programme continues to redefine the academic landscape for high-achieving Indian students by blending rigorous science and mathematics curricula with holistic development and access to mentorship networks that extend well beyond the classroom.

 

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Notes to Editors

For more information about the Lodha Genius Programme, visit the website.

For more information on the work of Darius Köster, visit his University profile.