Spotlight on Charlène Sueur, NORPOD Fellow

Here, Charlène shares her research journey, what drew her to the NORPOD Fellowship, and how life in the Nordics is already shaping her scientific path. 

Tell us about your project and what you are aiming to do. 

The central aim of my project is to explore how gene regulatory elements shape the progression of colorectal cancer and drive therapy resistance. I’m especially interested in how transcription factors and epigenetic regulators interact to fuel tumour evolution and cellular plasticity. 

To tackle this, I will combine genome-wide reporter assays with novel recording technologies that trace both lineage history and gene activity over time. These strategies will be tested in organoids and in vivo mouse models, allowing me to build a dynamic atlas of the regulatory programmes underlying cancer progression. The ultimate goal is to provide a framework for studying cancer evolution and identifying new therapeutic targets. 

This is an ambitious project, one that wouldn’t be possible without the combined expertise of both Biswa’s and Rafa’s labs. Each team brings unique skills that are essential to making this work possible. 

What’s your research journey in a nutshell? How did you get from your hometown to joining the NORPOD programme? 

I started my academic journey in pharmacy, in France, which gave me a strong grounding in human health and sparked my curiosity about the molecular roots of disease. During my PhD in molecular and cellular biology, I focused on a gene silenced by epigenetic mechanisms and linked to chemotherapy resistance. I developed CRISPR-based tools to reactivate it and studied how that influenced tumor cell responses. 

When time came to choose a postdoc position, I was drawn to the Nordic countries. The combination of scientific excellence, quality of life, and the chance to work on ambitious projects with real-world impact was irresistible. The NORPOD programme stood out as a rare and exciting opportunity, so I gave the application process, my all. 

What made you think, “Yes, this is the one for me”? 

What struck me immediately about the NORPOD Fellowship was how perfectly it aligned with my passions: epigenetics, tumorigenesis, and translating discoveries into tangible health impact. The programme uniquely combines cutting-edge technologies, from omics approaches to advanced lineage-tracing, with organoid and in vivo models. 

Equally important, the fellowship fosters collaboration between two dynamic and forward-thinking labs. The promise of strong mentorship and interdisciplinary exchange convinced me this was the perfect environment to push my project forward. From the moment I read about it, I knew that this was the one! 

You’re collaborating across countries: what excites you about this international experience? Using 2 emojis, do you have any fun cultural discoveries so far? 

I haven’t yet had the chance to fully explore Helsinki, but in both countries, I’ve noticed the same pattern: stunning landscapes, a strong sense of well-being, and an active lifestyle. These were exactly the qualities that first drew me to the Nordics, so it’s brilliant to see them come alive in daily life.

☕ One fun surprise: coffee in Norway. In France, I was used to espresso from freshly ground beans. Here, it’s all about filter coffee — and I never thought I’d say this, but it’s actually better than most espresso machines. Simple, but delicious.

🚶‍♂️ Another discovery: pedestrian crossings in Oslo (and, I suspect, in the rest of Norway). Cars stop every time — no hesitation, no stress. Coming from France, this still amazes me. Even after a month, I catch myself smiling whenever it happens. It is early days, however, where do you hope this experience will take you next? For me, science is about understanding aggressive cancers and uncovering new therapeutic strategies. With today’s powerful technologies, we can explore fundamental mechanisms on an unprecedented scale — and that foundation is essential if we’re going to make progress. In the future, I’d love to dive deep into one of these pathways to perhaps even launch a start-up, bringing together diverse expertise around a shared vision. The goal would be to bridge fundamental research with innovation, turning new insights into therapies that truly make a difference. 

About NORPOD

The NORPOD Postdoctoral Programme is the flagship training initiative of the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, funded by NordForsk. Designed to foster the next generation of scientists, it provides postdocs with unique opportunities to work across borders, combining expertise, technologies, and mentorship from leading research environments in the Nordic region.

As part of this ambitious programme, fellows pursue cutting-edge projects while experiencing the collaborative spirit and scientific excellence that define the Nordic EMBL Partnership.