Since 2024 - PhD in the Irwin lab.
2023-2024 - Master student in the Nordborg lab under supervision of Dr. Yoav Voichek
2023 - Intern at NARIC Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, Hungary, Gödöllö.
2022-2024 - Sc in Agricultural Biotechnology at Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Hungary), MSc at University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Austria).
2019-2022 - Technician and Bachelor student at Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology of Russian Science Academy, Russia.
2018-2022 - BSc in Biotechnology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia

Gold medal to team LMSU for project “ASCEND” in iGEM 2021
emPLANT+ Erasmus Mundus scholar 2022-2024

The role of horizontal gene transfer in eukaryotes

In my PhD project, I investigate the role of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in eukaryotic evolution using green algae as a model system. I aim to identify protein families in green algae that originated through HGT, trace their evolutionary origins, and analyze their diversification patterns. Furthermore, I will functionally characterize genes that were independently acquired via HGT by multiple eukaryotic lineages. This comparative functional analysis will demonstrate potential scenarios of evolution of HGT-acquired genes in different eukaryotic contexts.

I'm fascinated by eukaryotic diversity. Specifically, I am interested in how this diversity evolved and how environment and interaction and coexistence with other organisms impacted these processes. I am also curious about “weirdness and creativity” in eukaryotes, meaning unique functions and solutions.