Rebecca Snabel will obtain her doctorate at the Department of Molecular Developmental Biology at uu77 Nijmegen at the end of this year. 'I trained as a biologist specialising in medical epigenetics. This involves learning a lot about molecular biology and getting acquainted with bioinformatics. My PhD research builds on my Master's studies and teaches me to work with big data.'
Human stem cells
The PhD candidate focuses on human stem cells, from which cardiac muscle cells are cultured. 'A colleague at the University of Twente cultures the stem cells into cardiac muscle cells. She "packages" these cardiac muscle cells in tubes, with one cell per tube. She collects about four hundred tubes on a plate', explains Rebecca Snabel.
Since the cardiac muscle cells are kept at minus 80 degrees Celsius, they are sent from the University of Twente to uu77 on dry ice via a special courier. 'I unpack the cells in the laboratory for further research and work on ice as much as possible', says Rebecca Snabel.
'My first step is to add fluid to each cell separately. I do this with a pipetting robot that I programme via computer. The amount of fluid you add has to be extremely precise. The fluid breaks open the cell, allowing me to begin my research.'
Cells with specific functions
'It's important to look at how the cells develop over a longer period', emphasises Rebecca Snabel. She zooms out to make it understandable: 'In our body, cells have different functions, but the DNA of all our cells is identical!
Put simply, RNA is the intermediate step in getting from genes on the DNA to proteins, which perform all sorts of different tasks. This is how specific functions develop within cells. Groups of different cells develop into an organ, such as the heart, liver, lungs and so on. Using molecular techniques, I analyse how this functional development works for each cardiac muscle cell separately.'
Statistical programmes
'From a single cell, we can count up to three thousand different RNAs', continues Rebecca Snabel. 'Using statistical programmes on the computer, I turn this data into tables, giving the cells a profile. That's pure data analysis. Besides my own data, I also use datasets from other researchers, for example with cardiac muscle tissue from mice.'
Interface between biology and data science
In addition to her research, Rebecca Snabel supervises students during their internships and assists with laboratory practicals. 'I spend most of my time at the screen, as data analysis is a major part of my project.
I particularly enjoy working at the interface between biology and data science. I want to continue doing this after my PhD. Fundamental science, but with a view to practical application. My research contributes pure knowledge, but also leads to medical applications in the future. For example, to better help people with heart disease.'
Published on