At Center SynGen, we are proud of our scientists for their outstanding research, as well as their ability to inspire, communicate, and connect science with society in creative and unexpected ways.

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A remarkable example is Mona Wellhäusser from the laboratory of Prof. Lennart Hilbert at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). In her entertaining and highly original FameLab presentation, “Wissenschaftlicher Wackelpudding” (“Scientific Jell-O"), Mona transforms Expansion Microscopy - a sophisticated genome research method - into an engaging and accessible story, demonstrating how this method helps scientists visualize and better understand the organization of chromatin within the cell nucleus.

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With humor, creativity, and scientific precision, she illustrates how physically expanding biological samples can reveal details that are otherwise beyond the limits of conventional light microscopy. Her presentation is a wonderful example of how research can be communicated in a way that excites both experts and the general public.

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And we are clearly not the only ones who were impressed. Mona’s outstanding performance earned her both the First Prize and the Audience Award at FameLab Germany 2026, making her the winner of this year’s national competition.

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We warmly congratulate Mona on this fantastic achievement. Her success reflects her own creativity, passion, and scientific excellence, supported by the unique spirit of the Hilbert Lab, which encourages its researchers to develop and showcase their talents far beyond the laboratory.

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It is equally a testament to the vibrant and interdisciplinary environment fostered by the Center for Synthetic Genomics (SynGen), where scientific excellence goes hand in hand with creativity, communication, and innovation. We are proud to see one of our young scientists inspiring audiences and demonstrating that outstanding research can be communicated with both rigor and joy. Congratulations, Mona, on this well-deserved recognition!

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