Lang Zou
PhD student
What drove me to choose this lab?
Interesting research topics, good resources and a chance to meet more diverse people in the field
My research project
To investigate the potential cellular interactions in the tumor microenvironment that contribute to invasive colorectal cancer
A funny thing in our lab is
We have more international students than locals, so can hear different languages in the lab
A first impression I had when I arrived
So many mountains in the city/the lab is crowded
A memorable event we had as a lab
The BBQ we did at Yinon’s home with international students from the lab and also his family
In five years I will be…
Finish my project for PhD and continue as a researcher in the related fields to guide young students interested in the field to get start their careers
The Lautenberg center for immunology and cancer research
Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC), Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
POB 12272, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
Tel: 972-2-6757725
Fax: 972-2-6430834
What drove me to choose this lab?
The first trait I noticed was Prof. Yinon Ben Neriah’s wide expertise. The lab works on a wide range of research topics ranging from leukemia to colorectal cancer; ubiquitination to microRNAs, WNT to p53 pathway. I felt this was a great place to start as an early researcher.
My research project
Studies of epigenomic regulation by a newly developed anti-cancer agent in acute leukemia models
A funny thing in our lab
Every lab member has a peculiar laugh and we usually crack each other up. There’s a good chance half of the lab will be laughing without knowing the context :)
A first impression I had when I arrived
The first impression I got was that we like to eat. There were always cookies or chocolates around and, in pre-pandemic times, we used to go out to eat often. It was a great opportunity to get to know people personally and professionally.
A memorable event we had as a lab
All celebrations involve visiting Ponpon (Yinon’s dog).
In five years I will be…
Running half marathons with a dog.
What drove me to choose this lab?
The lab aligned with my research interests and my visible inclination towards therapeutics in cancer. Besides its commendable track record, I saw their unique and versatile approach.
My research project
The role of microbiome in colorectal cancer
A funny thing in our lab
The atmosphere in the lab is very relaxed and friendly. Very often we find something to at least giggle about. If I am to think of one example, is the day when Avanthika brought her polaroid, to take pictures to put on the front door of our lab. This was very welcome distraction and something that brightened the day for all of us.
A first impression I had when I arrived
People in the lab were very welcoming and supportive even before my arrival in Israel. The very first evidence of that was pizza dropped off by one of our PhD students on the first day after my arrival at the dorms for quarantine. It saved not only me, but people I shared the quarantine rooms with.
A memorable event we had as a lab
I’m still really fresh in the group, so almost every week brings something new and memorable for me. Ask me the same question in two years :)
In five years I will be…
Five years is a lot of time in academia. If everything goes as planned, by then I should be finished with my postdoc in Jerusalem. But wherever life takes me, I hope I will have plenty of fond memories of working in my group and my life in Jerusalem.
What drove me to choose this lab?
Parainflammation
My research project
Study of the immune system in AML therapy.
A funny thing in our lab
We have much more international graduate students than the locals.
A memorable event we had as a lab
Hanukah gathering every winter.
In five years I will be…
A person can contribute to society.
What drove me to choose this lab?
I was looking for a PhD position. When I got to Yinon’s lab website I thought that the research was very interesting and meaningful, and I decided I want to be a part of it.
My research project
It seems like every new student that arrives at our lab becomes addicted to coffee for some unknown reason.
My project revolves around deciphering the protective role of p53 mutations in both homeostatic and malignant conditions.
A funny thing in our lab
It seems like every new student that arrives at our lab becomes addicted to coffee for some unknown reason.
A first impression I had when I arrived
When I just arrived, I felt that the lab has a very enthusiastic atmosphere. Everyone was working and talking, and it felt very alive.
A memorable event we had as a lab
There are few events which I would consider worth remembering. We celebrate Hanukkah together, we usually go out to eat when a paper is being published, and sometimes take a little walk in nature to celebrate someone’s birthday.
In five years I will be…
I can’t possibly know, but I hope I will still be doing research.
What drove me to choose this lab?
The lab aligned with my research interests and my visible inclination towards therapeutics in cancer. Besides its commendable track record, I saw their unique and versatile approach.
My research project
I work mostly on “Role of CK1 alpha in colorectal cancer and its therapeutic advantages” alongside another labmate.
A funny thing in our lab
Our lab has a thing for animals (no not the lab mice but animals in general: cats, dogs, tigers, monkeys, dolphins, rats, dragons (yup imaginary too!), frogs, etc.)
Its funny how many animal-related discussions I’ve come across while carrying out experiments.
A first impression I had when I arrived
Being an international student is a struggle in itself, but since the beginning of my course in the lab I’ve seen all my lab mates going out of their way to help out!
A memorable event we had as a lab
My first lab outing was quite memorable. We had a “short trek”, as they said, from the lab to the Ein Karem village. I still can’t believe I walked that much.
In five years I will be…
Probably towards the end of my PhD.
What drove me to choose this lab?
I follwed Yinon’s publucations always with great interest. It is impressive how Yinon for years establishes new Ideas and visions in the cancer/immunology field. To have a visionary as a mentor is great luck, and combining that with cutting edge technologies sounds very promising to me.
My research project
I am working on the clonal evolution of mutant HSCs. Very often aged individuals carry leukemia related mutations in their bone marrow cells without developing apparent pathologies over years or not at all. However, the environmental and cell-intrinsic triggers that really drive mutant clones to expand and transform are mostly unknown. We are using the most advanced technologies to track mutant clones and their environment over time from normal healthy states to leukemia.
A funny thing in our lab
I don’t know what is a particularly funny thing in the lab, but usually the people have a lot of fun.
A first impression I had when I arrived
We are using the most advanced technologies to track mutant clones and their environment over time from normal healthy states to leukemia.
A memorable event we had as a lab
Since I am still a freshman in this lab, the most memorable moment I can remember is the lab celebration we did at Yinon’s in order to honor his admission to the Israel Academy of Science.
In five years I will be…
I believe in numbers and based on the statistics, I can infer that most likely in 5 years I will still be a PhD student in Yinon’s lab 😀
What drove me to choose this lab?
Interesting research topics, good resources and a chance to meet more diverse people in the field
My research project
To investigate the potential cellular interactions in the tumor microenvironment that contribute to invasive colorectal cancer
A funny thing in our lab is
We have more international students than locals, so can hear different languages in the lab
A first impression I had when I arrived
So many mountains in the city/the lab is crowded
A memorable event we had as a lab
The BBQ we did at Yinon’s home with international students from the lab and also his family
In five years I will be…
Finish my project for PhD and continue as a researcher in the related fields to guide young students interested in the field to get start their careers
What drove me to choose this lab?
Yinon was invited to Shanghai to give lectures in my university. That’s how I knew him and got interested in his research.
My research project
Various questions about the immune system in AML therapy.
A first impression I had when I arrived
I was in quarantine when the Hamas rockets attacked Jerusalem. At that night I got a lot of phone calls from my PI Yinon, lab manager Irit, and other labmates whom I haven’t even met. I felt really appreciated.
A memorable event we had as a lab
Too many to pick the best one… Maybe the picnic for the welfare of graduated students (Indranil and Haya). The view was wonderful and the food was great! Every new international student gets some gifts/food at his/her first day in Israel.
In five years I will be…
A PhD student working hard on his thesis in shanghai. (And living together happily with his fiancée)
