DR. MONIKA STEFAŃSKA

Monika is a biotechnologist interested in genomics and cancer research. She obtained her Master of Science degree from the Agricultural University of Krakow in 2008 and, shortly after, started her PhD study at the Cancer Research UK- Manchester Institute (United Kingdom). Her PhD project focused on the embryonic origins of haematopoiesis, especially the process of the generation of primitive erythrocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells.

From 2014 until 2019, she was employed at Selvita Services as a senior scientist, where she learned more about commercializing research projects in oncology. Later, she decided to return to academia, and since 2021, her research interests have mainly focused on single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, mostly on mouse models of autoimmune myocarditis.

In 2024, Monika became a member of the Azuma group to acquire structural biology knowledge as well as to utilize her molecular biology skills for studying the guest packaging of the Vitamin B2 biosynthetic compartments.

Outside of her profession, she is a dedicated mother of three children. She enjoys traveling, especially hiking in the mountains and skiing in the winter. In her free time, she enjoys playing board games.