University of Groningen
Nonribosomal peptide synthetases
Zwahlen, Reto Daniel
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Publication date: 2018
Link to publication in University of Groningen/UMCG research database
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Zwahlen, R. D. (2018). Nonribosomal peptide synthetases: Engineering, characterization and biotechnological potential. University of Groningen.
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Acknowledgements
It has been a lengthy, but throughoutly exciting path I came to follow over the past years. A path which has enlightened me not only scientifically, but also socially, revealing what are the most important aspects of life. I have had the chance to cross paths with many interesting people in a variety of more or less probable setups, creating unforgettable memories. Writing these lines is still surreal and it seems to be an impossible task to do justice to all your contributions to this work and my wellbeing and entertainment during this period, though I will try!
Without an opportunity there is no place to start, thank you Arnold for giving me a place, in which I could grow as a Scientist and person alike. The hours of constructive talks, meetings but also travel tale telling, have tre-mendously contributed to the evolution of this work and mind.
Roel, your unique way of thinking, explaining and rationalizing have al-ways given me the comfort to approach you with new ideas and your input was absolutely invaluable. Never have you failed in keeping a cool head and a positive attitude, not even at the peak of the most heated scientific dis-course, thank you for everything.
Today would be also be entirely impossible without the continuous help and friendship of my two paranymfs, thank you for being there for me in times of need Sabrina and Riccardo. I met you during very different times of my journey, Sabrina, from a “you, the German girl, wanna join our BBQ?” to “Ermaghherd!” you have always been full of energy, ambition and enthusiasm, Thanks you for all the good times and always be yourself. Riccardo, I can`t imagine anyone else more suitable for continuing this line of work, your in-tellectual input and quick ability to learn and adapt along with your wit have in many ways contributed to this thesis. Amazing how you found the time to so meticulously keep your beard groomed and in shape!
A big thank you also goes to all the people I had the chance to meet during my time in Delft. Even though the beginning of the work at DSM, in the middle of an ongoing project, has not been the most structured project start of my life, Ulrike and Remon have never lost confidence in me and were always there to reach out to in case I was overwhelmed by the collection of constructs, reports and ongoing experiments. We got very close to solving the AmoxiGreen mis-tery, but unfortunately only very close, though I have enjoyed the constructive time with you and wish you better for your coming challenges!
After this short intermezzo into a new place, getting to know company life and many new people, it was time my new group in Groningen. It is never easy to become part of grown group, but the MolMic evergreens in person of
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Stefan, Sasha and Jan-Pieter have definitely made me feel welcome if also leaving me in doubt about the state of my sanity from time to time.
As I still have distant memories to the old biological centre in Haren, I was more than happy, that window-free offices were a thing of the past! Ei-ther way, the people you share said space with make the experience. Ciprian, Fabiola and Min, you were not only my Pen group members, but also my of-fice mates and made every ever so grey and rainy day more fun and pleasant. Our collaboration was not only scientifically fruitful, but also during count-less trips to the super market in preparation for the next Borrel.
I want to furthermore thank Carsten and Susan for the countless hours of time spent on experiments putting this story together! It has been a pleasure to collaborate with you on every level. Also my greatest appreciation to the entire Pen group, Zsofie, Fernando, Annarita, Laszlo and Ahsen, you have been great colleagues and even more wonderful friends. Also a big thank you to Marten, thanks for all the shared time drinking coffee and worrying about the MS… hope it will be going smoothly, at least till the end of your research J and many thanks for helping me with the Dutch translations in this book!
I would like to also thank my lab mates over the years, Jeroen, you were not only the all-knowing oracle of the lab, but also a first class Dutch tutor, Dank je wel! Also many thanks to Aleksandra and Niels, even though you have only shared a space with me briefly, it was great having you around.
The years in this lab have also given me the chance to work with and supervise a considerate number of students, Sven, Fleur, Simone, Arjen, Catalin, Kate, Sebas (and all the ones on shorter projects), thank you all for contributing to this work one way or another, you have taught me, that teaching is not only essential, but also fun!
I would also like to express my gratitude to Greetje and Janny, this group would not work in such a fine manner without you two! Also a big thank you to Bea and Anmara, you have always been incredibly helpful and patient to even the silliest questions. Overall a huge thank you to all the parts of the MolMic group, it has been an honour being part of this construct with all its facets for these years, I would not be the person and scientist I am now without this outstanding environment!
Moving on to where my roots lay, thank you my Swissies for making my homecomings always freakin awesome! Jasi, thank you for all the time, dis-cussions and bullshit we exchanged and of course to always give us a refuge for our stays in Basel J. Ivo, you have always been there for me and you were never shy of catching a drink... I fondly remember (more or less) our trips to Croatia, Ghent, Hamburg and so many more, never change man! Nikki, we are going way back and I am more than happy, that we still have the chance
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to talk and see each other regularly. Thank you for all the “Schabernack” as well as all the discussions on any topic! Adi, your humour was always at the fine line between inappropriate and awesome, thank you for making me laugh on countless occasions.
Even though Groningen makes the impression of a little student town, it is a ground for so many international people of whom I had the chance to meet and get to know at least a few. Aga, we knew each other since the very early Groningen times, thank you for making my first internship much better, de-spite a window-less office… Kasia, you have always been keen and more than well prepared for my BBQs, thank you for being a part of my life over the years and all the best in London. Ina, you have been a fresh breeze and I will never forget the most fun GBB symposium ever, thank you for bringing fun and randomly awesome moments into my life! I would also like to thank Stef, Cyrus and the Grande Familia for all the great get-togethers, theme evenings and overall anything to make the most depressive Mid-winter days fun!
Next to work, BBQs, travels and more work, I found my balance in doing sports, foremost Floorball, which gave me the unique chance to meet some fantastic players and even better human beings. Simon, I still remember the disbelieving stare across the room when we met at a random house party, the rest is history J Thank you for all the chit chat, beers we shared and all the time you have been there for me! Mike, I am happy to have met such a fine if also chaotic floorball player, thank you for all the random nights out, I would have never experienced KEI week without you! I would furthermore like to thank Joey, Klaas, Reinier, Andy and Paul, you have made every train-ing, game and especially the drives to the latter into a hilarious experience. I hope to see you and the rest of Face Off at the GFO again!
A dere steu möcht I o mine Eutere Merci säge, Müetterli u Pesche, ohni euch Zwöi wär das aues unmüglech gsi! Dir heit mi mis Läbe lang ungerstützt u immer a mi gloubt! Ohni eui kontinürlechi Ungerstützig uf aune Äbene u zu jedere Zyt hät I das nie gschafft. Dir heit mer immer d Chance gäh bi euch I de Bärge mini Energie wiederufztanke u euch u d Umgäbig z gniesse, Merci viu mau für aues, I bi froh das es euch git!
I möcht witer o am Roland Merci säge! Du bisch e ungloublech wichtigi Figur I mim Läbe, I ha so viu vo dir chönne lehre u o we mer üs nüm ganz so viu gseh wi o scho, möcht I dir für au dini Understützig Merci säge u I hoffe das mer de widr d Chance hei üs chli öfters z gseh!
Mis (Haub-) Brüetschli, Philip, mir kenne üs zwar ersch sit churzem u hei üs leider ersch es par mau gseh, aber I möcht dir glich Danke das du e Teil vo üserer Family bisch worde. I hoffe das mer trotz dim stressige autag u dr distanz üs chli meh gseh ir zuekunft.
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Karin, obwohl wir uns in den letzten Jahren nur sporadisch sahen, ziehst du dich wie ein roter Faden durch mein Leben, du hast immer an mich ge-glaubt und mich immer unterstützt auf meinem Weg! Danke das du für mich da warst, vorallem nach dem Ableben Marks. Du hast mir geholfen viele un-beantowrtete Fragen zu klären und meinen Vater in einem Kontext zu sehen und verstehen, in welchem ich persönlich nie die Chance hatte, Danke!
Päpu, obwou mir üs nid immer ganz verstange hei u üsi differenze hei gha, hesch du mir nichtsdestotrotz viu ufe wäg gä. I möcht dir trotz auem fescht Merci säge u du wirsch i mine Erinnerige immer dr abetürluschtig u liecht unor-ganisiert Naturfründ si, I hoffe du hesch dis ewige Plätzli im Universum gfunge. These years have been more than a wild ride, not only professionally, but also personally I have experienced so, so many things. And I would do it all again, go through all the struggle, disappointment and uncomfortable situa-tions, to meet you again, my Tonia! I have never really believed that there is a person out there, which will be my counterpart, sharing the same attitude, interests, humour and appreciation of art, culture, party and travel, but now I know. You are an amazing person, caring, loyal, funny, smart and always cute ;-) Without you I would have never discovered so many corners of this world and myself… and no, there are no bears in the Ticino Alps :-D your enthusiasm and eternal love have made me the man I am today, I could have never walked this path without you on my side and I hope that this was just a little flavour of what we still have ahead of us. I love you my cutie, you are the most important and best thing which has ever happened to me and I hope that you will continue to believe in yourself and see what an outstand-ing and amazoutstand-ing person you really are!
