Karolina was invited as a keynote speaker at the 9th Hungarian Neuroscience Doctoral Conference (HuNDoC 2026), held on January 28, 2026, at the HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences (TTK) in Budapest. The conference brought together undergraduate, graduate, and junior postdoctoral researchers from across Hungary to share their work and discuss the future of neuroscience.
In her keynote lecture, Karolina presented direct cellular reprogramming as a model system for studying neurodegeneration and aging, highlighting how induced neurons and astrocytes can provide powerful human-based platforms for mechanistic research. Beyond the scientific content, she also spoke candidly about her experience establishing an independent research group in Hungary, the challenges of building a lab, and the importance of perseverance, vision, and community in academia.
Her talk resonated strongly with the audience, combining cutting-edge science with personal insights on career development and staying motivated in research. HuNDoC once again proved to be an inspiring forum for early-career neuroscientists to connect, exchange ideas, and shape their next steps in the field.