Who I am:

Hello! My name is Mariia and I am completing my Master’s degree at Jagiellonian University in Kraków. Currently, I am engaged in performing histopathological staining and analysis of mouse tumor tissues, which will enable me to evaluate the effect of gemcitabine therapy.

I was born in Ukraine and came to Poland to study biotechnology at the University of Łódź for my bachelor’s degree. My grandfather, a chemistry and biology teacher, instilled in me a love of nature and science. My favorite hobby, equestrian sport, brought me up to strive for a goal and have no fear of difficulties. That’s why I’m here 🙂  Also, I love traveling, learning new cultures and meeting people all over the world. Interesting fact: it is very difficult for me to get lost when walking,  and I am good at orienting myself in maps.

Participating in the program will be an interesting challenge that will help me realize myself as a scientist. I am eagerly looking forward to coming to Charlottesville and embarking on this exciting stage of my life.

My BioLAB work in the lab focuses on:

I will be joining the Perez-Reyes lab, which focuses on developing AAV gene therapy for epilepsy. My work in BioLab will focus on studying the role of astrocytes in epilepsy using novel tools and studying microglia and neurons that form epileptic circuits.

I decided to apply for a BioLAB program because:

Participation in the BioLab Program represents an exciting chance to develop at a higher level. First of all, this is a great challenge that I would like to take on, to learn new technologies and improve the skills acquired during my studies. In addition, I find working in English an inspiring challenge, crucial for any scientist, opening up prospects for collaboration in the international arena.

After completing my BioLAB Program I would like to:

After completing the BioLAB Program, I plan to graduate Master’s studies in my university. Also I plan to obtain higher degrees, enrich my knowledge and practical skills. I am convinced that participation in the BiolLAB will help me to choose the field I would like to be in and continue my future career.