APC Postdoctoral Association
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apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
APC Postdoctoral Association
@apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
29 followers 10 following 41 posts
Towards a better experience for postdocs at @apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social
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apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
UPCOMING ! Coffee with (not a) PI – Thurs, Nov 20, 11am in BSI 1.13 ☕
Join us for a chat with Dr. Lorraine Draper, Operations Manager at @apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social, as she shares her journey from the lab bench to research management.
Naturally, coffee, tea & pastries included ! 😄🍵🥐✨
November 4, 2025 at 8:12 PM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
Join us on 28 Oct for a talk by Dr. Charlene Van Buiten on “Sourdough-Omics” and how fermentation can help reduce food waste and improve health. 🧪
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social
October 17, 2025 at 12:28 PM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
Just wrapped up the APC Postdoc Symposium 🎉 A day of science, skills & coffee-powered networking ☕🦠 Huge thanks to the organising committee, the real chefs behind this recipe for success 👩‍🍳👏 New ideas, new collabs & maybe one too many “final_FINAL.pptx” files!

@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social
September 29, 2025 at 11:42 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
Great company, good laughs, and a really nice evening catching up together. Cheers to a lovely Cheers with the Peers! 🥂
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social
September 3, 2025 at 10:39 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
Warning: laughter, clinking glasses, and epic chats ahead - Cheers with Peers is back!

@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social
August 12, 2025 at 10:23 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
A big thank you to everyone who participated in our quiz! Great turnout, great energy - our quiz event was a hit!
Congrats to all the winners!
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social
August 7, 2025 at 10:12 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
A little friendly competition never hurts - join our Quiz Night!
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social
A little friendly competition never hurts - join our Quiz Night!
July 21, 2025 at 10:11 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
Cheers to an amazing Cheers with the Peers! 🥂 Great turnout! So good to catch up, laugh, and enjoy a great evening together.
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social
July 4, 2025 at 8:56 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
🤝Meet our new committee members!
Morgane Le Dréan – Communication rep

Léa Roussin – Social event manager

Check out their bios in the ALT text.
@people
Dr. Morgane Eileen Le Dréan earned her BSc from Rennes 1 University (France) and Aston University (UK) and a Master’s in Cellular and Integrated Neurosciences from Strasbourg University (France). Awarded a competitive doctoral fellowship in 2020, she conducted PhD research at Nantes University (INSERM TENS U1235 lab – directed by Michel Neunlist - France), focusing on the gut-brain axis in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).After completing her PhD in 2023, Dr. Le Dréan received the prestigious MSCA INSPIRE Fellowship to continue her work at UCC and APC Microbiome Ireland (Cork – Ireland), investigating microbiota-ENS interactions in ASD and exploring microbiome-based therapies for autism-related gastrointestinal disorders. Léa Roussin is a postdoctoral researcher in the Sysneuro team under the supervision of Dr.Colin McNamara, as part of the Brain-Gut-Microbiota Axis Lab at APC Microbiome. She was awarded an MSCA INSPIRE fellowship to lead a project aiming to anatomically and functionally characterize gut innervated neuronal circuits involved in memory. She did her PhD in France at the Micalis Institute (INRAe, Paris Saclay University), working on the impact of microbiota from children with autism on behaviour and autism-related immune, gut and brain parameters in germ-free mice. Overall, her research interests are the interactions between gut, microbiota, and brain, and the mechanisms underlying those interactions. In her free time, she enjoys baking, swimming, and seaside walks around Cork. And of course, she will (almost) never say no to a pint after work!
June 27, 2025 at 7:39 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
🤝Meet our new committee members!
Cristina Rosell Cardona – Treasurer (former Chair)
@crosellcardona.bsky.social
Munawar Abbas – Social media rep

Check out their bios in the ALT text.
@people
Dr. Cristina Rosell Cardona is a postdoctoral researcher in the Microbiota-Brain-Gut Axis group at APC Microbiome Ireland, working under the supervision of Professors Sarah Kittel-Schneider and Gerard Clarke. She was recently awarded the prestigious INSPIRE APC-Marie Curie Fellowship to explore the effects of microbial metabolites on depression using human-induced pluripotent stem cells. Previous research at University College Cork (UCC) was focused on investigating the impact of microbial metabolites on stress, with a particular focus on the gut-brain barriers and synaptic plasticity. She obtained her PhD at the University of Barcelona, where she investigated the preventive effects of protein supplementation on neuroinflammation and Alzheimer’s disease markers in mice. Her research interests center on the interplay between diet, gut microbiota, microbial metabolites, and their roles in gut and brain health, with a particular focus on neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Munawar is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow working with the Tangney Lab at APC Microbiome Ireland and Cancer Research@UCC. His current research focuses on using bacteria as protein bio-factories for immunotherapy. He completed his PhD at the University of Reading (UK), where he investigated the impact of iron deficiency anaemia and supplementation on gut microbiota and metabolism using a piglet model. Outside the lab, Munawar is passionate about philanthropy and community support, finding joy in small ways of helping others and contributing positively to the world around him. He also enjoys reading, exploring new places, and spending peaceful moments in green meadows (especially when the Irish sun makes a rare appearance!).
June 26, 2025 at 8:20 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
📢 We are delighted to introduce our new committee!

Valentine Turpin – Chair (formerly Social Media Rep)

Elisabeth O'Flaherty – Vice Chair (formerly Secretary)

Check out their bios in the ALT text.
Valentine Turpin is a postdoctoral researcher in the Aburto Lab under the supervision of Dr. María R. Aburto, part of the Microbiome Gut Brain group. She was recently awarded an INSPIRE MSCA fellowship to investigate the relationship between the development of the neurovascular network and the microbiome in the context of autism spectrum disorder. Her PhD focused on how n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids could benefit to the behavioural, molecular, and cellular symptoms in autism spectrum disorder. Outside of the lab, she practices yoga, enjoys reading and long walks with friends (when it’s not raining!). Elisabeth is a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Douwe van Sinderen’s group at the APC Microbiome. She gained a BSc in Pharmacology from the University of Edinburgh followed by an MRes and PhD from the University of Cambridge. Elisabeth’s PhD thesis explored glucose absorption in the gut and the subsequent release of incretin hormones. Her interests include nutrition and host-microbe interactions, and her current research explores this in the context of the human commensal gut bacteria, Bifidobacterium. She is happy to be back in her native Cork and enjoys sea swimming.
June 25, 2025 at 8:17 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
📣 #CheersWithPeers is on! Join us at Tom Barry's, Thurs July 3rd from 6:15PM 🍻 Catch up with APC Microbiome Ireland colleagues over drinks & good vibes. All welcome -especially #EarlyCareerResearchers!
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social
📣 #CheersWithPeers is on! Join us at Tom Barry's, Thurs July 3rd from 6:15PM 🍻 Catch up with APC Microbiome Ireland colleagues over drinks & good vibes. All welcome – especially #EarlyCareerResearchers!
June 23, 2025 at 7:43 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
📢Join the APC forum Tuesday, 1st July 2025 (Online) to hear from Professor Jonathan R. Swann 💊 🧬 A 30-minute Q&A session will follow, dedicated to #earlycareer scientists (2-2:30pm)🥼
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social
📢Join the APC forum Tuesday, 1st July 2025 (Online) to hear from Professor Jonathan R. Swann 💊 🧬 A 30-minute Q&A session will follow, dedicated to #earlycareer scientists (2-2:30pm)🥼
June 20, 2025 at 3:09 PM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
📢Join the APC forum online next week to listen to Shauni Fitzgerald on her journey towards and now in Atlantia Clinical Trials 💊 🦠 Light lunch and coffee provided from 12:30!

@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social #earlycareer
May 20, 2025 at 11:13 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
📢Join the APC forum online next week to listen to Prof. Gregor Reid for his career reflections and future directions as a microbiome scientist 🦠 🥼
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social
April 22, 2025 at 11:14 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
📣 SOCIAL EVENT 📣 After the success of our 1st edition, join us next week for the return of #cheerswithpeers 🍻 It's a nice opportunity to chat with coworkers within @apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social who you run into everyday! All are welcome and of course our #earlycareerresearchers !
April 17, 2025 at 1:15 PM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
📣 Join us next Thursday for a #CoffeeWithNotAPI with
Dr. Gerry Moloney to have a chat over pastries and coffee 🥐☕️ @apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social #earlycareer
April 9, 2025 at 6:43 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
📣 We want to hear your voice! We're organizing an open meeting🫂🤗 You're thinking of joining our committee? You have event ideas to gather APC members? You have some feedback on our recent events? Join us for this open conversation on the future of the association 💪
March 27, 2025 at 10:07 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
📢Join the APC forum next Tuesday IN PERSON to listen to @julientap.bsky.social 🦠🍔🥦 This will be followed by a 30min Q&A session for #earlycareer scientists (2-2:30pm)🥼
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social
March 21, 2025 at 8:38 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
📣 Join us next Thursday for a #CoffeeWithPI with
@hilarybrowne.bsky.social to have a chat over pastries and coffee 🥐☕️
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social

#earlycareer
February 27, 2025 at 8:21 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
📢Join the online APC forum next Tuesday to listen to Dr @drgillesv.bsky.social 🐟🧠🦠 This will be followed by a 30min Q&A session for #earlycareer scientists (2-2:30pm)🥼
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social
February 19, 2025 at 9:03 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
📢Join the online APC forum next Tuesday to listen to Prof. José Manuel Fernández-Real 🦠💊 This will be followed by a 30min Q&A session for #earlycareer scientists (2-2:30pm)🥼
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social
January 22, 2025 at 11:39 AM
apcpostdocassoc.bsky.social
📣 SOCIAL EVENT 📣 Join us for this first #cheerswithpeers event at the New Bar on Thursday 16th from 5:30pm 🍻 It's a nice opportunity to chat with coworkers within
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social who you run into everyday! All #earlycareer researchers are welcome 🙌
January 10, 2025 at 11:54 AM