What first sparked your interest in biology?

It actually came quite late! In school, I was torn between many interests — literature, chemistry, even woodworking. I only decided on biology in my final year after a great experience with an inspiring teacher. What’s always driven me, though, is the urge to figure things out — to understand how something works or to make something with my hands. Science gives you both: problem-solving and creativity. 

What was your trajectory before joining IMBA? 

I studied in the University of Konstanz, in Germany, where I first got involved in developmental biology during my Bachelor’s Thesis. The first time I saw a zebrafish embryo forming, I was completely hooked! It’s such an incredibly complex choreography of cells that communicate and self-organize to build a whole organism from one single starting cell. 
 
During my PhD at the Francis Crick Institute and University College London, I used the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a model to study organ development. I loved working with flies because of how easily I could engineer their genome and use synthetic biology approaches to study the the principles of early development.  

After your PhD, you switched to a different model. 

Yes, that’s true. I wanted to broaden my skill set and apply what I’d learned to mammalian systems, so joined the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Barcelona, Spain. There, I used a stem cell-based model for mouse gastrulation —one of the first steps of embryonic development —to study how metabolism affects early cell fate decisions and symmetry breaking. 

What is metabolism, and how does it influence embryonic development? 

Metabolism encompasses all the reactions inside a cell that convert nutrients into energy and the building blocks needed to make cellular components. Interestingly, metabolism’s role in embryonic development was hotly discussed long ago, in the 1930s, before the advent of modern genetics, but then it was largely forgotten.  

For decades, people focused mainly on genes and signaling pathways, but we’re now realizing that metabolism influences nearly everything: cell fate, movement, growth. For example, in my postdoc work we found that tweaking glucose metabolism — simply reducing glucose availability — can steer embryonic stem cells toward different fates. It’s a striking demonstration of how a cell’s metabolic state directly shapes developmental outcomes. 

And to continue this research, you decided to join IMBA 

Indeed! I first got to know about IMBA and the Vienna BioCenter during the COVID-19 pandemic, as I was invited to give an online talk for a symposium that’s usually held on campus. Then, in 2021, I received the International Birnstiel Award, presented by the IMP[Research Institute of Molecular Pathology] for my PhD research, which gave me the opportunity to visit the campus in person. 

I immediately realized that this was a different place: the Vienna BioCenter has a special energy, with a dynamic and collaborative community where everyone is genuinely excited about science. When I saw the call for new junior group leaders at IMBA, applying felt like the natural next step. 

How was your experience with the recruitment process at IMBA? 

It was exciting — and a bit nerve-racking at first! I took some time away from experiments to write my proposal, wondering how it would land. But everyone at IMBA was very supportive throughout the process.  

I especially liked the recruitment symposium, where several candidates presented their research projects together. It was a special experience that allowed me to meet other candidates at a similar career stage, exchange ideas, and build connections. I’m still in touch with some of the people I met during that week, which feels like a cohort I can carry into my next chapter. 

How was the transition to Vienna and to setting up your own lab? 

Surprisingly smooth! I had a few months between receiving the offer and moving, which helped me prepare mentally and practically. The IMBA support staff made the process very easy — they quite literally take you by the hand, step by step, helping with everything from hiring a lab manager to setting up new lab equipment.  

Even before I arrived, I was already involved in the Vienna BioCenter PhD Program’s selection process, which allowed me to recruit early and feel part of the community right away. 

Many new PIs say that starting a lab is like a crash course in management. How have you experienced that step? 

It’s definitely a shift! As a postdoc, your success depends mostly on your own hands; as a PI, it’s about guiding others and building an environment where people can thrive. I feel humbled by the responsibility — ensuring that students have a good PhD experience, that projects move forward — but I also find it incredibly rewarding.  

I love working with people, mentoring, and seeing others grow. And I remind myself that you don’t have to know everything from day one: there’s a strong support network here, from senior PIs to fellow newcomers, and everyone is generous with advice. 

What kind of challenges do you expect in these early years? 

Probably adjusting to a new pace. When you’re not at the bench yourself, you lose that direct sense of progress, so patience becomes key. Managing people with different personalities and communication styles will also be a learning curve. But I believe that open communication solves most issues, and I want to foster an environment where people feel comfortable addressing challenges early. 

Could you tell us more about the research focus of your new lab? 

Broadly, we study developmental biology — the question of how one cell gives rise to a whole organism. More specifically, we look at how metabolism shapes embryonic development. We’re interested in how a cell’s metabolic state — the nutrients it senses, the pathways it activates — influences fate decisions and morphogenesis.  

We use human embryonic stem cells to model early developmental processes in a reductionist but powerful way, allowing us to dissect these mechanisms in detail. 

IMBA and the Vienna BioCenter host several developmental biologists working from different angles. How do you see yourself fitting into that ecosystem? 

That’s one of the reasons I was so excited to join! Having colleagues who study development from diverse perspectives creates endless opportunities for collaboration. Metabolism connects to almost everything — protein homeostasis, mechanics, signaling — so there are many crossover points. I already see potential synergies with groups using similar model systems, and I’m looking forward to exploring those intersections. 

How do you decide on your lab’s scientific direction with so many possibilities around? 

I like to think in three thematic areas: how metabolism influences cell-fate decisions, the energetics of morphogenesis, and the impact of the nutritional environment on development. Within those frames, I also want to leave room for exploration. Science rarely follows a straight line — sometimes the most exciting results come from unexpected turns. As long as projects stay conceptually connected and people can exchange ideas, I’m happy to let curiosity lead the way. 

You also have access to world-class facilities here. How does that shape your plans? 

Absolutely. The core facilities here are outstanding, and the people running them are real experts who actively engage with you to improve experiments. For example, having access to single-cell proteomics or advanced metabolomics opens up possibilities I hadn’t even considered before. These resources accelerate discovery by allowing researchers to focus on the science instead of reinventing protocols. 

Building a lab also means building a team. What kind of environment do you hope to create? 

For me, the lab culture is just as important as the science. Good research happens when people enjoy coming to work, feel valued, and can contribute their own ideas. I want my group to be a place where everyone feels ownership of their projects. My role is to guide and support them, not to micromanage. I hope we’ll have an atmosphere of openness, where people challenge each other constructively and grow together. 

What do you look for in prospective students or postdocs? 

Curiosity and enthusiasm — those matter more than specific technical skills. Skills can be learned, but genuine scientific curiosity and the drive to ask meaningful questions are essential. I also value good communication and teamwork, because science is rarely a solo effort. Different personalities bring different strengths, and I think diversity — in background, ideas, and approaches — makes for a stronger lab. 

You mentioned you’ll start with a small team. Are you currently recruiting? 

I’m welcoming two PhD students and a lab manager now, so we’re just getting started. I plan to recruit a postdoc next year, once the lab is fully running. It’s exciting to think about how the group will evolve in the coming years. 

Where would you like to see your lab — and yourself — in five years? 

Scientifically, I hope we’ll have contributed to the emerging field of developmental metabolism, helping to establish it as a central part of developmental biology. Personally, I’d like the lab to remain at a size where I can stay closely connected with everyone. I’d love to see my students grow into confident, independent scientists — and maybe even future group leaders themselves! 

Stapornwongkul Lab