In this episode, we talk to Joleen Masschelein, who is exploring the biosynthetic ingenuity of microbes at VIB-KU Leuven, trying to uncover new antibiotics and bioactive compounds.  

Joleen’s fascination with bacteria took off during her master’s research, when she contributed to the discovery of an antibiotic in bacteria collected from a student restaurant. This set her on a lifelong mission to understand and harness the power of microbes. 

We talk about the thrill of discovery, the challenges of working with stubborn microbes, and why she believes that being proactive and chasing opportunities is the key to success in science. 

Share your favorite discovery in science in the comments!

Ready to take your research further? Join VIB – Where top science meets global talent. Check out our open positions at jobs.vib.be.

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Called to Science is a podcast by VIB. Produced by De Praeters.