Out of the Bubble
She grew up with three sisters in Pratteln. Chance led her to molecular biology. Claudia Keller Valsecchi, who once studied at the Biozentrum, has now returned as a professor. In this interview, she talks about her love for her hometown and how unlikely it actually was that she would ever be back here again.
You grew up with three sisters. Do you all have a particular interest in the sciences?
No, the four of us each do something different. My older sister is a lawyer and works in Zurich in legal publishing, where she manages the online department. My younger sister currently works at the restaurant on Mount Pilatus. My youngest sister became a nurse. So, looking back, it's pretty exciting where we all ended up.
And your parents?
My father was originally a typesetter but became a nurse in his early 30s – which he remained until retirement. He really enjoyed it. My mother is a biomedical analyst and worked at Viollier for 49 years. That she stayed there for so long has always impressed me.
How did you get into biology and research?
At school, I liked math, chemistry, and physics – biology less so, actually. It was mostly botany and involved collecting, pressing, and gluing leaves – and I'm rather impatient. (she laughs) My path to molecular biology was more of a coincidence: At high school, I wanted to take a math course, but it didn't take place. Instead, I was assigned to a newly created course called "The Molecules of Life." It brought together students who were interested in science. This course – it was about DNA, proteins, and the origin of life at the molecular level – completely captivated me.
Claudia Keller Valsecchi studied molecular biology at the Biozentrum and earned her MSc degree at the FMI. After completing her PhD at the FMI, she worked as a postdoc at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg. Before joining the Biozentrum as an assistant professor, she led a research group at the IMB in Mainz.
After you finished school, you first worked at an investment bank. How did that come about?
Yes, between graduating from high school and starting university, and later during semester breaks, I worked there in Marketing & Communications. I did a lot of translation and quality assurance work, reviewed corporate identity guidelines, and had a lot of client contact. The work was very analytical, almost pedantic, but it helped me for later on with scientific writing and proofreading papers. And I learned: I'm not cut out for large corporations (she laughs).
What do you remember most about your time as a student at the Biozentrum?
It was a great time. For example, Urs Jenal, Markus Affolter, Markus Rüegg, and Silvia Arber were already here. They gave really excellent lectures. I still remember for example some details from Urs's lectures. He is and remains a role model for me.
And how did you end up applying to the Biozentrum?
I had actually only been at the Institute of Molecular Biology in Mainz for a few years and could have stayed even longer. And then I saw the job advertisement at the Biozentrum. I just had to apply, because positions like this don't come up very often, and we as a family also had in mind to return to Switzerland in the long run.
And then?
When I was in Basel for my interview, my husband was sitting in Mainz among moving boxes, and our young son was sick... When Alex told me that I had been accepted for the position, via Skype, one of my first thoughts was: "Oh no, not another move." No, seriously, of course we were both thrilled.
When did you decide to pursue a research career?
It wasn't a life plan, but rather a step-by-step process. An important milestone was my master's thesis at the FMI in Basel. My supervisor at the time was fantastic; she showed me the basics in the lab, how to plan experiments properly, keep my lab notebook, and document them accurately. I then did my doctorate in a different group, also at the FMI – it was about chromatin and RNA in yeast. I've remained in the gene regulation field since then. Afterwards I moved to the Max Planck Institute in Freiburg and later to the IMB in Mainz as a group leader.
What does your group investigate?
We are interested in sex differences in gene regulation – particularly the sex chromosomes. In humans, for example, women have two X chromosomes, and men have one X and one Y chromosome. This means that women would theoretically have twice the amount of X-chromosomal gene products if they weren't silenced. We want to understand how organisms deal with this different gene dosage. We also work with malaria mosquitoes, among other things.
And personally: What grounds you outside of the lab?
As a family, we first wanted to settle in: Our son started Kindergarten here, and my husband is currently managing a lot at home and looking after his mother. He' worked as a facility manager in Mainz, and now wants to take his time looking for something new. And, besides the lab, music has always been important to me.
This is an important topic in malaria prevention: What have you discovered so far?
The surprising discovery was that processes that are essential in other organisms seem to be much more tolerated by Anopheles mosquitoes. Put simply: If you switch off certain dosage compensation mechanisms, the animals don't necessarily die. This is biologically exciting – and also relevant for application, because it influences which genetic strategies are effective in controlling malaria.
Why are mosquitoes an exciting research topic?
Malaria is only transmitted by female mosquitoes. Conventional control relies on insecticides – but there is now widespread resistance to these. Therefore, genetic engineering approaches such as sterility strategies are increasingly being discussed. However, this requires a precise understanding of the sex-specific gene regulatory pathways in the mosquito.
Now you're back in Basel – what does this change mean for you?
Honestly, it feels almost surreal. I would never have thought it would work – and then right at the Biozentrum. The scientific quality here is enormous: university, ETH partners, FMI, industry – seminars, infrastructure, core facilities.
Are you already working with other teams here?
Yes, initial collaborations are already underway, including with Maria Hondele and Sebastian Hiller. In terms of content, it fits very well.
How big should your team be?
A good size is around ten or twelve people – enough critical mass, yet manageable. A good mix of experience is important, from bachelor's and master's degrees to senior postdocs.
And what about teaching?
I'm looking forward to that. So far, I've mainly supervised at the institute level at the Max Planck Institute and the IMB and done less formal teaching. With the planned curriculum change, I'll then join in here – probably with topics like eukaryotic genetics, developmental biology, and gene regulation.
You spent a long time in Germany and are now back in Switzerland. How do you view the two research landscapes?
The way of conducting research is very different in the individual European countries, even though everything is European. In Germany, the administration and regulations are much more noticeable, and the grant landscape also works differently. Here in Basel, the density of excellent groups is particularly high – that's a really big advantage.
Looking back, what was "the" pivotal moment for you?
I actually had two. The high school course "Molecules of Life" – without it, I would probably have ended up in archaeology, pharmacy, or mathematics. And later, my master's degree at the FMI, where I learned what it means to conduct independent research.
And personally: What grounds you outside of the lab?
As a family, we first wanted to settle in: Our son started Kindergarten here, and my husband is currently managing a lot at home and looking after his mother. He' worked as a facility manager in Mainz, and now wants to take his time looking for something new. And, besides the lab, music has always been important to me.
What instrument do you play?
I play the trumpet and piano. I used to play in the Musikgesellschaft in Pratteln and in several bands, where I also met my husband. Making music is the best way for me to relax because it immediately focuses me and changes my breathing.
What would you like to pass on to young researchers?
First: Hands-on expertise counts – clean experiments, good notes, and clear illustrations are the foundation for everything. And second: get out of your own bubble! Actively seek out new encounters and perspectives. I've taken many of my paths because I consciously chose "different paths" beforehand: On a hiking day organized by the FMI, for example, I deliberately chose a different tour instead of joining my own group. On the way back, I ended up in a gondola with Marc Bühler. We talked for a long time. A few months later, I started my doctoral thesis with him.