Comment in 2019

To maximize your scientific career, it is essential to establish research networks and build upon a multitude of mentoring relationships. At the heart of these networks, each scientist has the potential to benefit from the influence and satisfaction of being a mentor and a mentee.

The process of applying for a faculty position requires considerable preparation and thought. Seeking the advice and support of mentors will help during this rigorous and hopefully rewarding experience.

European accelerator-based X-ray facilities came together in 2017 in a consortium that will use their combined expertise to accelerate discoveries, secure funding and guide policy. A year and a half later, the chair of the consortium Helmut Dosch reflects on the ambition and opportunities of this type of cooperation.

Materials research is poised to play a pivotal role in addressing the grand challenges faced by society, from engineering better medicines to providing accessible clean water and renewable energy. However, complex problems require diverse teams. Therefore, there is an urgent need to address the diversity gap in materials science and engineering, especially for women.

Intelligent design of materials for biomedical applications involves the development of technologies that are informed by an understanding of biological systems. Immunoengineers have been making essential inroads in developing therapeutics endowed with designed biofunctionality, particularly in vaccinology, cancer immunotherapy and immune tolerance.