One defining feature of eukaryotic cells is the presence of diverse set of membrane bound organelles, each hosting unique set of functions. The dynamic and complex organization of organelles poses a major challenge on understanding how organelle functioning – maintenance of the characteristic structure, distribution of its functions, and communication with other organelles – is orchestrated and how the organelle size, quantity and position within cell are determined and controlled.
In this talk, I will showcase our application of correlative volumeEM techniques, combined with custom-developed software, to quantitatively analyze the morphology of various organelles and their membrane contact sites. I will highlight our recent findings on the dynamics and structural organization of the ER in dendritic spines and the impact of Golgi organization on stem cell function in the small intestine.
About the speaker
Eija Jokitalo is a Research Director at the Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Helsinki (UH), Finland. With a Ph.D. in cell biology from UH, Eija has extensive experience in biological imaging and cell biology. She is currently a tenured Research Director at UH's Electron Microscopy Unit (EMBI) and Vice-director of Cell and Tissue Dynamics Research Programme.
Eija has a diverse professional experience and has worked as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at Imperial Cancer Research Fund in the UK. Additionally, she has been Director of Biocenter Finland Biological Imaging Platform since 2020, and Director of Biocenter Finland Electron Microscopy Technology Platform during 2009-2019. She is also a member of the Board of Nordic Microscopy Society and the Chair of the HiLIFE Infra Working group for LSRI staff career models (UH).
Eija has over 135 peer-reviewed scientific articles, review articles, book sections, and publications intended for professional communities with an h-index of 45 (WoS). She is also a member of the Executive organizing committee and Congress vice-chair and Life Science-symposium chair of the European Microscopy Congress EMC2024 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Eija's extensive experience and contributions to the field of biological imaging and cell biology make her a highly respected and accomplished researcher in her field.
