Member Highlight Interview: Samuel Philip Nobs, Ph.D. and 2024 Sidney & Joan Pestka Post Graduate Award Winner

Samual Nobs in Negev desert
Samual Nobs on a recent hike in the Negev desert, Israel
Samual Nobs in Negev desert
Samual Nobs on a recent hike in the Negev desert Israel

My main research interest is to decipher how signals such those of the microbiota and metabolism regulate inflammatory diseases and infections of the respiratory tract. I am about to launch my independent scientific career and I am very grateful for the support of the ICIS through the Sydney and Joan Pestka Postgraduate Award. I love to collaborate with other scientists sharing my passion for Immunology and I am very much looking forward to meeting more Cytokine enthusiasts in Korea this year!

Please tell us your name, degree, where you currently work, and position.
My name is Samuel Philip Nobs, I am currently a Senior Postdoc in Systems Immunology at the Weizmann Institute of Science and I am joining the University of Zurich as an Assistant Professor this fall.

Where did you do your training?
Undergraduate – Victoria University of Wellington
Masters and PhD – ETH Zurich
Postdoc – Weizmann Institute of Science

Briefly, what is your research about?
I am interested in investigating how signals in particular those of the microbiome and metabolism control lung inflammation and the response to respiratory pathogens.

Tell us your thoughts about ICIS: how has being involved in the Cytokine Society helped your career?
It is really great to engage with other researchers interested in cytokine research in the ICIS and I am also deeply grateful to the society for receiving the Sydney & Joan Pestka Postgraduate Award, which is a huge boost when I am about to start my lab this Autumn.

Are there any particular friendships or collaborations that came specifically out of Cytokines meetings?
Since I joined the ICIS only recently, I did not yet have the chance to form any collaborations, but I am very much looking forward to doing so in the future!

What Cytokines meeting(s) have been your favorites? Tell us about any special memories or anecdotes.
The meeting in Korea this year will be my first meeting and I cannot wait to meet other cytokine enthusiasts!

What do you like to do when not in the lab?
I like to travel, read books on world history and be out in Nature.

What is the best life/career advice you’ve ever received?
The best thing I learned from my postdoctoral mentor Eran Elinav was that failure in science is normal and the key thing when things don’t work out is to get back up and keep trying.

What book or TV show are you reading/watching right now that you recommend?
I am a history buff, so I can highly recommend “Shogun” as a masterpiece describing 17th century Japan.

What is your favorite cytokine?
Definitely GM-CSF, a critical player in lung immunity!

Your Twitter/X account: @NobsSamuel