About Me
My areas of expertise include cancer and stem cell biology, cellular and molecular neurobiology, cytotoxicity, tissue engineered 2D and 3D in vitro biological models, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, proteomics, flow cytometry, single-cell RNA sequencing, high-throughput and high-content screening, and image analysis. Over my academic career, I have developed in vitro stem cell-based methods for toxicology screening, pre- clinical drug development, and for elucidating mechanisms of developmental neurotoxicity. I have unique expertise in developing techniques that allow the study of complex cellular crosstalk and its role in neurodegenerative diseases to find new targets for treatment. Additionally, I have an extensive mentoring and supervision experience, and I pride myself in the multidisciplinary nature of my research where I work alongside engineers, physicists, medical experts, and biologists and have fine-tuned collaborative skills, in building bridges across disciplines which is a hallmark of my success as a stem cell biologist.
Education &
Employment
2007 - 2012
GRADUATE EDUCATION (PH.D): University of Szeged, Hungary
Ph.D. in Theoretical Medical Sciences
Thesis: “Development of alternative methods to animal testing: Human pluripotent stem cell lines as a tool for the detection of prenatal toxicity”
Graduated with Summa Cum Laude
2007 - 2012
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION (B.SC and M.SC): University of Szeged, Hungary
Biophysics Diploma
Recipient of a thesis award at National Scientific Conference of Students
2021
Research Associate
School of Engineering, Faculty of Applied Sciences, UBC Canada
2020 - 2022
Research Advisor, remote
Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, ON Canada
2018 - 2020
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, ON Canada
2012 - 2016
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, TX USA
2007 - 2012
​​Researcher
Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection, Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, Italy
2005 - 2007
Junior Scientist
Solvo Biotechnology, Hungary
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Recognitions &
Funding
2022
MITACS accelerate grant: The effect of indoor light spectrum and intensity on viability and infectivity of indoor pathogens on different surface materials
2021
MITACS accelerate grant: In vitro evaluation of fabric interaction with skin cells and dominant skin microbiome
Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) grant: Modular Personal Protective Ensembles utilizing omniphobic and antimicrobial coatings for enhanced protection
2015
Top read article award: Scientific Reports
Best presentation award: Regenerative Medicine at the Texas Medical Center, TX USA
UT Brain seed grant: Novel neuromuscular junction model to study mechanisms of muscle atrophy
2014
Travel award: American Society for Neural Therapy and Repair, Tampa, FL USA
2010
Travel award: Leadership Course in Novartis International Biocamp, Basel, Switzerland
2009
Travel award: Quantitative Proteomics Course, Tallinn, Estonia
Presentation award: Embryonic Stem cell-based Novel Alternative Testing Strategies (ESNATS) 1st Annual Meeting, Zermatt, Switzerland
2007
Thesis award: National Scientific Conference of Students, Hungary