Go!RNA Structural Biology Group

Theses, courses, workshops, internships

Thesis projects

We welcome students interested in doing a Bachelor, Engineer or Master's project in our laboratory. Contact us for more details and also check APD.

Examples of possible topics, ranging from molecular and structural biology to organic chemistry and biochemistry:

  • Screening of PROTAC candidates for antibiotic discovery
  • Preparation and structural characterization of protein(s) and their domains
  • Mapping protein-protein interactions in a protein family
  • Defining RNA ligand specificity for proteins
  • Development of RNA-based tests for pathogen detection

Past completed thesis topics:

  • Search for new ligands of the ClpXP proteolytic system in Escherichia coli towards the development of new antibiotics based on targeted protein degradation - Natalia Żebrecka, Eng. in Medical Chemistry (2025)
  • Establishing detection of virulence-associated mRNA of Listeria monocytogenes toward the development of a rapid molecular test for listeriosis - Artur Bąk, Eng. in Medical Chemistry/MISMaP (2025)
  • The search of naturally occurring degraders in Salmonella Typhimurium - Martyna Pęczek, Eng. in Medical Chemistry (2024)
  • Purification, crystallization, and enzymatic activity studies of Trypanosoma brucei ALPH1 protein - Justyna Zawada, M.Sc. in Biology (2023)
  • New bifunctional molecules as tools for targeted protein degradation in bacteria - Matylda Izert-Nowakowska, Ph.D. in Chemistry (2023)
  • Studies of the structure and function of human antiviral IFIT protein complexes - Natalia Karolak, Ph.D. in Chemistry/TriBioCheM (2023)
  • Purification, crystallization trials and characterization of the FASTK protein and its interaction with RNA - Dawid Dzadz, B.Sc. in Chemistry/MISMaP (2023)
  • Synthesis of new functional derivatives of acylated depsipeptides and their influence on bacteria from the Staphylococcaceae and Enterococcaceae families - Kamil Szostak, M.Sc. in Biotechnology/MISMaP (2022)
  • Testing the influence of SsrA- and SspB-derived degrons on eGFP protein degradation in Escherichia coli - Patrycja Szybowska, M.Sc. in Biotechnology/MISMaP (2022)
  • Studies of the interactions between human FAST and eIF4E proteins - Ammar Danazumi, M.Sc. in Biotechnology, Warsaw Technical University (2022)
  • Determination of interactions between degrons and the adaptor protein SspB - Piotr Twardowski, B.Sc. in Biotechnology/MISMaP (2021)
  • Introduction to a new approach in the synthesis of potential antibiotics - acyldepsipeptides - Kamil Szostak, B.Sc. in Chemistry/MISMaP (2021)
  • Mutagenesis, purification and functional studies of human FASTK protein - Mikołaj Kuska, M.Sc. in Molecular Biophysics (2020)
  • Characterization of antiviral IFIT proteins in Danio rerio - Adrianna Dąbrowska, M.Sc. in Biotechnology (2019)
  • Using spectroscopic methods in investigations of the secondary structure of IFIT3 - Mikołaj Kuska, B.Sc. in Molecular Biophysics (2018)
  • Characterization of RNA binding by IFIT5 for development of biotechnological applications - Matylda Izert, B.Sc. in Chemistry/MISMaP (2018)*

*Winner of the main award for the B.Sc. thesis with the highest commercialization potential in the University of Warsaw 2019 competition

Courses

We participate in teaching the following classes at the Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw:

Internships/Visitors

As part of our science outreach and scientific exchange, we also host students, volunteer internships and visitors:

  • 2024:

Adam Borys (University of Gdańsk / Medical University of Gdańsk)

Małgorzata Kowalska (University of Warsaw)

  • 2023:

Barbara Myck (University of Warsaw)

Natalia Żebrecka (University of Warsaw)

  • 2022:

Mohammed Hawash, PhD (An-Najah National University, Palestine / Erasmus+)

Mira Tafa (Istanbul Technical University, Turkey / Erasmus+)

  • 2021:

Vanessa Morante (University of Naples Federico II, Italy / Erasmus+)

  • 2020:

Hayet Bellahcene (Polytech Clermont-Ferrand, France / Erasmus+)

Enerel Ariunbold (Technische Universität Berlin / DAAD RISE Worldwide / DAAD BARI)

Tymoteusz Typrowicz (V Witkowski Lyceum, Kraków / Polish Children's Fund)

  • 2019:

Jule Kortendieck (Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen / DAAD RISE Worldwide)

Leen Adnan Humos (Birzeit University, Palestine / EMBO YIP Summer Fellowship)

Clara Delaunay (Polytech Clermont-Ferrand, France / Erasmus+)

Jonasz Patkowski (University of Warsaw)

Gabriela Filipowicz (Poznań University of Life Sciences)

Zuzanna Uzdowska (Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin)

  • 2018:

Muhammed Talha Uğurlu, MD (Turkey)

Zofia Piszka (University College London)

Adrianna Dąbrowska (University of Warsaw)

Weronika Piotrowska (VII Słowacki Lyceum, Warsaw / Young Chemist University)

Aleksandra Suchołbiak (VII Słowacki Lyceum, Warsaw / Young Chemist University)

Jakub Magdziak (XIV Staszic Lyceum, Warsaw / Young Chemist University)

  • 2017:

Belén García Sintes, B.Sc. (University of Barcelona / Erasmus+)

Nurullah Sati (İzmir Yüksek Teknoloji Enstitüsü, Turkey)

Michał Kozdrowicki (I Kopernik Lyceum, Jarosław / Polish Children's Fund),

Małgorzata Ciężkowska (Warsaw University of Technology)

  • 2016:

Anna Marczyńska (II Batory Lyceum, Warsaw)

Maja Czub, B.Sc. (Warsaw University of Technology)

Public outreach

We engage in public educational initiatives at our Department (photo gallery available of selected events):

2018, 2019, 2022, 2023: Krystalizacja białka (workshop)

2018, 2019, 2022, 2023: Jak pracuje nowoczesne laboratorium? Wycieczka od genu do białka (workshop/lab tour)

2018/2019 Jak wygląda życie na poziomie molekularnym – wycieczka w głąb struktur białek

2017/2018: Oczyszczanie i dobór warunków dla krystalizacji białek z rodziny deubikwitynaz (DUB) (workshop)

2017/2018: Jak wygląda życie na poziomie molekularnym - wycieczka w głąb struktur białkowych (lecture)

2016/2017: Biochemia białek uczestniczących w procesie fotosyntezy - oczyszczanie chromatograficzne i krystalizacja (workshop)

2017/2018: Optymalizacja ekspresji i próby krystalizacji białek wiążących RNA

2017/2018: Badania struktury białek USP – poszukiwanie nowych leków przeciwnowotworowych

  • Lab tours and workshops for the public during Biologists' Night (Noc Biologów)

2018, 2019: Jak pracuje nowoczesne laboratorium? Wycieczka od genu do białka. (workshop)

Published popular science articles and media