Jakub Jeżowski, student of a joint programme of the the Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology (MCB) and the Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, has been awarded an EMBL fellowship for predoctoral researchers, allowing him to join the EMBL International PhD Programme and conduct his PhD thesis at EMBL Heidelberg.

Jakub Jeżowski has recently defended his Master's thesis, which he prepared while working as part of the Max Planck Research group led by Dr hab. Sebastian Glatt and the Cell Biochemistry Department led by Prof. Joanna Bereta. His research is focused on understanding specific human tRNA modification and how mutations in the PUS3 gene are connected to intellectual disorders.

He will shortly be joining the group of Julia Mahamid, where he will apply state-of-the-art cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) to investigate macromolecules in cells. CryoET is a new, powerful method which allows us to observe what’s happening in the cell on the structural level. As he himself put it, 'it is an exciting opportunity to look closely at the way how native cells work and how these cells change during disease'.

EMBL International PhD Programme (EIPP) is an excellent starting platform for a successful career in science by fostering early independence and interdisciplinary research. It promotes excellence and provides comprehensive interdisciplinary training combined with close mentorship and creative freedom. EIPP is a highly competitive programme with an acceptance rate lower than 3%. The enriching encounter of different nationalities, the friendly and collaborative atmosphere, and the passion for science are what unite EMBL’s diverse staff and provide the ideal setting to forge long-lasting connections and make studying at EMBL a unique formative experience.