Who are you and where are you from?
My name is Melanie Greter, from Switzerland, and I am a group leader in the field of myeloid cell biology and neuroimmunology.

Where is your lab/team based and how many people are there?
Our group currently consists of five students and postdocs and we are based in the Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich.

Your research program in one sentence?
We study the development and function of mononuclear phagocytes in health and disease.

What has attracted you in neuroimmunology? And Why? (Please specify basic research and/or clinical research).
I find the interaction of the immune system with the brain fascinating and in particular the role of microglia in CNS homeostasis but also their function or dysregulation in neuropathologies.

What is the most exciting part of your job?
Seeing exciting data for the first time and realizing that you and your colleagues may be the first person to ever to set eyes on a new “fact of life”. Also, to see how these moments have the potential to motivate students, put a sparkle in their eye and watch them design their own path to the next answer.

What would be your best advice for young researchers in neuroimmunology?
Be curious, passionate and don’t be afraid to try things. Just GO for it.

Any area(s) of specialized expertise open for collaboration?
We perform high-dimensional analysis of brain immune cells by flow cytometry and have diverse models and genetic tools to specifically trace or manipulate mononuclear phagocytes in vivo.

If available, add any openings for Masters, PhD students, or postdoctoral/training opportunities?
We are looking for a postdoc and PhD student