Tomasz Zajkowski, PHD

My research focuses on understanding the role of specific transcription factors and explaining the implication of cortical input in the differential maturation of thalamic neurons. My research focuses on the part of the thalamus that is involved in visual processing: dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (DLG) and lateral posterior nucleus (LP). I am specifically interested in clarifying how diverse are neurons in DLG and LP in terms of gene expression.

I'm also interested in astrobiology because it provides a liberating perspective on mainstream evolution as it highlights the connection between the physical environment, and the evolution of life on Earth and beyond.

PhD, 2016

Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences

"Stabilization of microtubular cytoskeleton protects neurons from toxicity of cytosolic prion protein”

MSc, 2009

University of Warsaw, National Research Institute of Mother and Child

“Molecular basis of Friedreich’s ataxia - analysis of variability of Alu sequence in the first intron of FXN gene”

Zajkowski T., Nieznanska H., Nieznanski K.

“Stabilization of microtubular cytoskeleton protects neurons from toxicity of N-terminal fragment of cytosolic prion protein”,

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta Molecular Cell Research,

1853 (2015) 2228–2239

Nieznanska H., Dudek E., Zajkowski T., Szczesna E., Kasprzak A. A., Nieznanski K.

"Prion protein impairs kinesin-driven transport",

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications,

425 (2012) 788-793

Sobczynska-Tomaszewska A., Oltarzewski M., Czerska K., Wertheim-Tysarowska K., Sands D., Walkowiak J., Bal J., Mazurczak T. and NBS CF working group: Bartnicka-Trawinska M., Gos M., Hryniewicz V., Jurek M., Nawara M., Niepokoj K., Piotrowski R., Swieckowski G., Wasiluk J., Zajkowski T., Zybert K., Jagiello T., Popielarz D., Rozwadowska M., Sienkiewicz M., Szpecht-Potocka A., Kurtyka Z., Lisowska A., Ostrowska I., Gizewska M., Pawlowicz J., Ruszczyk-Bilecka T., Sielska-Rotblum D., Wos H.

"Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis: Polish 4 years’ experience with CFTR sequencing strategy",

European Journal of Human Genetics,

21(4) (2013) 391-396

Hoffman-Zacharska D., Mazurczak T., Zajkowski T., Tataj R., Gorka-Skoczylas P., Polatynska K., Kępczynski L., Stasiolek M., Bal J.

"The Friedreich ataxia is not only GAA repeats expansion disorder - implication for molecular testing and counselling.",

Journal of Applied Genetics,

57(3) (2016) 349-55

2009 Intern

Chair of Neurology and Developmental Biology,

Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz

“Segmental specification of the NB6-4-lineage in the gnathic segments of Drosophila”

2007 Laboratory training course

Chair of Livestock Biotechnology at Technical University Munich

2006 Laboratory training course

Chair of Animal Breeding at Technical University Munich

2016

PhD with honors

2015

Bursary from Federation of the Societies of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (FEBS) to attend 15^th FEBS Young Scientists' Forum and 40^th FEBS congress, Berlin

2013 - 2014

Scholarship for Mazovia PhD students under the European Social Fund

2014

Award for the Best Annual Report of Nencki Institute

Bursary from FEBS to attend FEBS - EMBO joint congress, Paris

2013

Scholarship for the best PhD students of Nencki Institute

Bursary from Polish Biochemical Society to attend 9^th Parnas Conference, Jerusalem

Bursary from Bioimagine to attend 38^th Polish Biochemical Society Conference, Torun

2012

Bursary from Bioimagine to attend 37^th FEBS conference, Seville

Award for the Best Annual Report of Nencki Institute